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TommyEvergreen
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  • From:USA
  • Register:09/15/2009 11:20:52

Date Posted:09/19/2009 04:09:45Copy HTML

White Christmas has always been my favorite Christmas movie--maybe because it was the biggest hit of the year I was born!  I used to watch it every year at my grandparent's house because they had a color TV set and my family didn't.  Anyway, I think that any Christmas movie or music that touched us as a child remains special to us the rest of our lives.  Maybe that's why all of us here love Christmas music so much and want to see the old albums released again.

The current DVD transfer of White Christmas certainly looks better than the pastel, faded-out version that was on videotape years ago, but it still has a lot of problems:  a flat, dull look (very little contrast), lack of sharpness and detail, and a lot of grain--a far cry from the way VistaVision films are supposed to look.  The new DVD transfer from Paramount, called White Christmas Anniversary Edition, has been restored and remastered at last and will be available November 3.  Apparently the restored version was shown in Great Britain last Christmas time, but I've not been able to find out much about it.  The new release will have 2 discs, with the second one containing newly made featurettes concerning Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney, along with Rosemary's commentary and a filmed interview that were part of the original DVD release.  For fans of this wonderfully old-fashioned musical, the restoration of White Christmas is good news indeed!

Christmas Always Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #1
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  • Register:08/28/2006 07:41:07

Re:White Christmas Anniversary Edition DVD

Date Posted:09/19/2009 05:25:26Copy HTML

Thanks for the "Heads Up"  This is one of my favorite Christmas movies.  I too remember watching it on TV growing up and then when it came out on VHS I purchased it.  Then it was released on DVD and I purchased it also.  My TV is an older model, so I really don't notice much of a difference in the picture quality.  I have a portable DVD Player, but can't compare the VHS on an LCD screen.  I can't wait for the Anniversary Edition to come out.  It will be a nice addition to my collection.
Christmas Isn't Just A Day In December, It's A Way Of Life. Susan
loglover Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #2
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  • Register:04/17/2009 12:34:08

Re:White Christmas Anniversary Edition DVD

Date Posted:09/23/2009 01:55:59Copy HTML

Thanks Tommy as I have been wondering when there would be a remastered version of "White Christmas" released for all to see. I will be out looking for this film November 3 and will watch it as soon as I come home that day. Any chance the second disc will have a digital copy on it for my computer ? 

TommyEvergreen Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #3
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  • Register:09/15/2009 11:20:52

Re:White Christmas Anniversary Edition DVD

Date Posted:09/24/2009 12:37:29Copy HTML

As far as I know, the second disc will be bonus features only.
TommyEvergreen Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #4
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  • Register:09/15/2009 11:20:52

Re:White Christmas Anniversary Edition DVD

Date Posted:10/13/2009 11:56:28Copy HTML

Just a note to let you know that the 2-disc White Christmas Anniversary Edition is now on sale in stores, at least at Target, although it's still listed on internet sites as not being available until November 3.

The DVD definitely displays a much-needed improvement in picture quality:  the image is now sharp and detailed with vivid color and practically no grain to speak of.  For whatever reason, however, Paramount didn't give this release a complete restoration.  The picture is still dark and lacking contrast, some scenes need sharper focus, there are problems with flicker (picture instability), and the scene where Bing meets Doris ("Mutual, I'm sure!") is still blurry from misregistration of the film elements.  However, don't let this deter you from purchasing a copy--it still looks much better than the original DVD release.

Disc 2 contains several bonus features about Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye, the making of the movie, White Christmas the song, Irvin Berlin, and the transformation of the film into a musical play.  They are all above average and quite informative.

I firmly believe this DVD is worth a rebuy just for the improved picture quality alone, with the bonus features being the icing on the cake!
Christmas Music Guru Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #5
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  • Register:09/07/2005 11:04:22

Re:White Christmas Anniversary Edition DVD

Date Posted:10/14/2009 03:49:37Copy HTML


Thanks for the tip Tommy; I went right to Target tonight and purchased the new DVD.

And I agree; it's worth the re-buy just for the improved picture quality.


Lawrence F. "Chip" Arcuri Owner/Webmaster | The Yule Log.com
Christmas Always Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #6
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  • Register:08/28/2006 07:41:07

Re:White Christmas Anniversary Edition DVD

Date Posted:11/11/2009 01:50:28Copy HTML

I had pre-ordered my copy from Amazon.com and it arrived the other day.  I watched it last night and though the color and contrast was much better, it almost looked like the lens on the camera was dirty and the audio was slightly out of sync.

I haven't looked at the bonus disc yet, but will end up keeping my earlier DVD release as the audio isn't out of sync on that one.

I don't have a Hi-Def TV or Blu-Ray but even on a Standard Definition TV, the previous DVD release the picture looked better other than the color and contrast.  I may even still have a BETA copy lying around somewhere.

Does anyone else notice the problems I mentioned?

I know that Commercially made DVD's and CD's like Vinyl Record are Stamped/Pressed and after so many copies are made the have to use another, for lack of a better word, "reverse image/stencil", and there could be a few DVD's that slip through quality control inspection.

I know I'm getting off topic here and I apologize, but I've also noticed that since the "Digital Transition for Television Broadcasting" that the audio is out of sync on a lot of stations on DirecTV and even using an Over The Air Antenna with the Digital to Analog Converter Boxes so we can watch our local channels when the weather is bad and we lose satellite signal the audio is out of sync up to a few of seconds. (Reminds me of the Godzilla Movies lol)

I've called DirecTV and our local TV stations and they tell me to reset the boxes but it doesn't do anything.

When something works and has been working for over 50 years, why change it.  Look at WCBS-FM they changed format to JACK-FM and then went back to oldies, but it isn't the same anymore.  Why can't we leave well enough alone?  To quote Pete Seeger from Where Have All The Flowers Gone? "When Will We Ever Learn?"
Christmas Isn't Just A Day In December, It's A Way Of Life. Susan
bgart Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #7
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  • Register:12/19/2007 12:12:59

Re:White Christmas Anniversary Edition DVD

Date Posted:11/12/2009 02:15:07Copy HTML

I'd advise you to contact Amazon and return it for an exchange -- on the off-chance it is defective.

Good luck!
Christmas Always Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #8
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Re:White Christmas Anniversary Edition DVD

Date Posted:11/12/2009 01:55:39Copy HTML

Thanks, but I probably won't bother being I do have a good watchable version.  I just don't want the hassle of sending it back and waiting for a replacement.  Especially with still settling in to a new apartment.

EDITED: 11/21/09

I watched the 2nd disc last night and it too had audio sync problems.

Also, I learned something new about Vera-Ellen.  There was an interview with Rosemary Clooney and she was talking about how she herself wasn't a very good dancer and how Vera was patient with her and stuff, but then she mentioned that Vera wasn't a good singer and they dubbed her singing.  I don't know if they meant that she sang her parts in a recording studio instead of while the film was being made, or they used another artist for her songs.

Does anyone here know?
Christmas Isn't Just A Day In December, It's A Way Of Life. Susan
RazzleberryDressing Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #9
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  • Register:12/19/2005 03:52:38

Re:White Christmas Anniversary Edition DVD

Date Posted:11/22/2009 01:46:34Copy HTML

Susan,

According to the IMDB page for the movie:

<<Vera-Ellen did not actually sing any of the songs for the movie. Trudy Stevens sang all her songs (with the exception of the song "Sisters", on which Rosemary Clooney sang both parts). Vera's own voice is heard singing only in the "arrival in Pine Tree" scene at the railroad station where the quartet reprises the opening lines of "Snow".>>
Christmas Music Guru Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #10
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  • Register:09/07/2005 11:04:22

Re:White Christmas Anniversary Edition DVD

Date Posted:11/22/2009 10:29:50Copy HTML


Susan,

I hadn't noticed that you edited your last post. Please understand that it is perfectly fine to double-post as long as the consecutive post is the next calendar day; it's same-day double posting that is a no-no on the message board (
click here for a refresher).

I surmised by your question that you don't have the 1954 Decca Records LP Selections From Irving Berlin's White Christmas. If you did, you would have known that Trudy Stevens sang the parts for Vera-Ellen in the movie. While Trudy Stevens isn't pictured on the album cover, she is credited in the lower right-hand corner.

By the way, the reason why Peggy Lee sings Rosemary Clooney's parts on the LP is because Clooney was a Columbia recording artist and was contractually prohibited from appearing on this Decca LP. MCA Records released this Decca LP on CD in 1994, but unfortunately, it is now out-of-print.





Lawrence F. "Chip" Arcuri Owner/Webmaster | The Yule Log.com
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