All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) ADDED

[Brent_Reid]

Title: All Quiet on the Western Front
100th Anniversay Collector's Series
Country: US
Region: 1
Releasing Studio: Universal
Case Type: 40-page Digibook
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Anamorphic?: No
PAL or NTSC?: NTSC
Soundtracks: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Subtitles (are they optional?): Yes (English HoH, French, Spanish
Cuts: (and if you know it, precise run time) None (133:17)
Commentaries: None
Extras:
- Introduction by Robert Osbourne (2:40)
- "100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics" featurette (9:14)
- "100 Years of Universal: Academy Award Winners" featurette (9:35)
- Theatrical Trailer (2:30)
Notes: With dual format set; includes digital copy
Easter Eggs: None
Amazon ASIN (UK, French, German, USA releases only): B006FE83T0
Source:* Own copy
Packaged with a 40 page booklet.

DVD also in the "Best Picture Winners Spotlight Collection" (ASIN: B006TTC5SG)

Some other additions and errors to clear up:

The first US DVD (ASIN: 0783230435) is a different transfer entirely and should be noted as one to avoid. It contains a shorter, rougher British release print. The CUTS section should be changed to:

• R1 America- Universal Pictures - Yes: slightly shorter, unrestored British release print (131:08 NTSC).

It's worth noting that in Germany, the exact same DVD has been issued at least eight times (!) including the listed one (missing runtime: 128:06 min). Rather than list them all, I suggest replacing the current ad for ASIN B0006SJWUU, as this is now the most common version. The one currently linked is long-deleted and unavailable.

According to this detailed breakdown, all of the 128-minute PAL DVDs appear to contain an edit of the latest restoration. I don't own any PAL DVDs, so can't check. Can anyone help?

Onto the BDs:

For some reason, Universal mislabelled the "silent version": it's actually the international sound version. Suggested footnote:

• Universal mistakenly labelled the film's international sound version as the "silent version". This version was not "meant for theatres not yet converted for sound." It has a synchronised music, effects and (some) dialogue soundtrack throughout, as per the domestic version, but most of the dialogue was replaced with 'flash' intertitles, meant for substitution in foreign territories with locally-translated titles.

The soundtrack on every listed "silent" version says "Music Dolby Digital 2.0 mono". The word "Music" should be removed, as it actually comprises music, sound effects and some dialogue throughout. In other words, it's a regular soundtrack, only one without much talking on it!

Two BDs have been reissued as regular keepcase editions: US (ASIN B079NBV4FH) and Germany (ASIN B00ISNGBHW).

The DVD details in the US BD listing are wholly incorrect.

BD comparison footnote:
OVERALL: Draw.
Only minor language and subtitle differences, but note the US Digibook edition also has a DVD of the Restored Talkie Version.

Caps-a-holic BD/DVD comparison

Finally, a Movie-Censorship report for the 1979 remake.

[James-Masaki_Ryan]

Unless it's just some crowd banter, I don't see any portions of English spoken dialogue in the "Silent" version on the Blu-ray. As for "Music", that should be the right term for a film without spoken dialogue and has a continuous music track in the background, including synced sound effects. If there is no spoken dialogue and sparse music score, we will just label it with the audio codec, like this: http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/f ... ?fid=36424

Is there any information that this was the international "sound" version? Or any example scenes that have synchronized dialogue? If not, keeping it as "silent" is more accurate.

[Brent_Reid]

As I recall, the sound version has no score and only occasional diagetic music. The "silent version", while it has non-diagetic music, is still very sparse and relies largely on sound effects. Labelling it as per The Tribe's soundtrack seems appropriate, but it's your, ahem, shout.

All Universal's dumbed-down disc art and attendant publicity calls it the "silent version". As far as I can tell, this was for simplified marketing purposes. In most places the film's discussed where people know what they're talking about, it's the "international sound version". I tried to sum up the differences as pithily as possible above. The "silent version" was released and distributed in non-English-speaking territories outside of the US with its current optical soundtrack, on the film itself. Silent films are, well... silent! Adding intertitles to a sound film does automatically make it a silent.
As for specific sources, just search for: "All Quiet on the Western Front" "international sound version".

Hey, I'm just trying to help this site be another little corner of the internet that gets it right, instead of just regurgitating everyone else's cut 'n' paste codswallop!

[James-Masaki_Ryan]

Updated the Blu-ray page first.

[Brent_Reid]

Cheers James. Are you done with the BD comparison? If so, there are still a few corrections.

[James-Masaki_Ryan]

BD page is done.

[James-Masaki_Ryan]

Added and updated DVDs of both 1930 and remake pages.

[Brent_Reid]

Thanks. I've edited the OP and highlighted further corrections in bold.

[James-Masaki_Ryan]

Updated the with some exceptions.

Two BDs have been reissued as regular keepcase editions: US (ASIN B079NBV4FH) and Germany (ASIN B00ISNGBHW).

I'll leave this out. There are too many reissue versions and would rather not link them all as they have only packaging differences.

The DVD details in the US BD listing are wholly incorrect.

BD comparison footnote:
OVERALL: Draw.
Only minor language and subtitle differences, but note the US Digibook edition also has a DVD of the Restored Talkie Version.

A DVD copy does not constitute a note in my opinion.

[Brent_Reid]

Dunno about "too many reissue versions" - like I said, I can only find two: the repackaged US and German.

Ta again James. I see you added the note about poss cuts to the restored German/poss all PAL DVDs. Somene around here must have a copy...