MovieChat Forums > The Red House (1947) Discussion > Restored Version?

Restored Version?

posted 18 years ago by orionstarman
6 replies | jump to latest

I just watched this movie on an old VHS tape that I picked up at a yard sale. The picture was dark and grainy and the sound was not very good either. But, the movie was very good. Kind of a slow start but after about 15 or 20 min. I was hooked. What was in those woods? What was Pete trying to hide? I knew that he did something but what was it? Little by little the peices start falling in place. Before the end of the film I knew what he did but, how was it going to end?

A very good movie, but in serious need of being restored. There were some parts where I could not see a thing and I had to turn the volume up so that I could make out what was being said. I understand that there a DVD out that is not much better. Is there a restored version on DVD out there?

[–] maxonemaxtwo 18 years ago

i'm glad you share my sentiment on this film. i saw this as a teenager in the 80's and totally became engulfed in the plot as i watched it. i currently own the dvd version and it is not in the best of shape. as far as i am aware the movie is public domain and is readily available to watch on-line at http://www.movieflix.com/movie_info.mfx?movie_id=1730

[–] nosnojsirhc 18 years ago

No restored version as far as I know and those blips where it is hard to hear are also on the DVD.

[–] taylorje 17 years ago

I have the VHS and just ordered the DVD from amazon. The VHS is dark, grainy in places, and hard to hear. A real shame because this film was a true classic. I'm not getting rid of my VHS until I view the entire DVD and make sure it's all there, not parts missing as other posters have reported.

UPDATE: The DVD was all there, but had the same dark and grainy quality as the VHS.

[–] siksyko 17 years ago

I have a DVD copy that you can see and hear everything. Yes there is scratches but not many.

It is the Edward G. Robinson Triple Feature Movie Marathon that also has Scarlet Street and The Stranger put out by Madacy and found (at least in Canada) Dollarama.

[–] teadm 12 years ago

HD Cinema Classics version (BD & DVD) is the definitive, restored version of this film. Sourced from an excellent 35mm print, the film looks almost brand new. I don't find the DNR excessive, and the comparison with the original shows that no detail was sacrificed in the cleanup process. The sound still isn't the best, but it's clear and perfectly intelligible. I doubt Criterion could've done a much better job of restoring this classic.

[–] thextguy 12 years ago

Yes! The "HD Cinema Classics" version is the one to buy! It comes as a 2-pack, with both a DVD and a Blu-ray disc in the same case. It had an excellent picture (I only have seen the DVD version); the sound was good-probably not as good as the video but still MUCH better than the other versions out there.

Don't get the Alpha video DVD (print full of scratches and grayish blacks in the video) even if it's cheaper. No, no, no! Not in the same class as the HD CC version!

Unfortunately on Amazon, the reviews for all the different manufacturers releases (HD Cinema Classics, Alpha, Synergy, Madacy) of the same movie title are all mixed together, so you can't tell which manufacturer has released the better quality.