Jack the Ripper (1959) UPDATED

[Darrel_Griffin]

Jack the Ripper (1959) Blu-rays and DVDs

DVD:
https://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/ ... ?fid=21393

Blu-ray:
https://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/ ... ?fid=55752


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1. As a general issue, both the DVD page and the Blu-ray page have multiple references to the "Continental version", and also to the "European version". As far as I can tell, these are the same thing. To avoid confusion, I would advise amending both pages and just using one name throughout e.g. use only "Continental version", or use only "European version", or use only something like "Continental AKA European version".


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2. Blu-ray ALL America - Severin [2019 Release] - Standard Edition

The "Notes" section for this release seems to be wrong - it currently includes sections which are about the Limited Edition release only, so these bits should be removed. This Standard Edition release does not include the bonus DVD, nor does it have a slipcase, nor a reversible sleeve with alternate artwork, just a single artwork sleeve.

The Notes should then read:

The British version is from a 2005 HD telecine master.
The US version is from a 2K scan from an archival 1960 theatrical print.
US Score is by Jimmy McHugh & Pete Rugolo & the European / UK score by Stanley Black.
Extras are in 1080/24p unless otherwise stated.


(***before editing it, please read my next point 3, as you might wish to add extra information***)
(***also "European" is used in these notes, so is one instance of what I mentioned in point 1 above***)


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3. I have checked and compared the releases I own (both of the Severin 2019 Blu-ray releases), and this is what I discovered regarding the transfers and the runtimes:

British version (1.33:1) - total runtime 81:05, net runtime 80:48 - equivalent to 84:10 (see below*)

*It seems that, during the transfer, maybe due to the telecine, or a combination of the telecine and subsequent processing, the movie was sped up from 24fps to 25fps, and was then converted back to 24fps by blending occasional frames. Therefore, although the final version runs at 24fps, the runtime is effectively that of a 25fps version (similar to what happens with a PAL -> NTSC conversion). This means for example that a scene in this British version has a shorter runtime than the same scene in the US version, even though there are no cuts to the scene. The net runtime of 80:48 (25fps -> 24fps) is therefore equivalent to 84:10 (24fps).


US version (1.66:1) - total runtime 85:04, net runtime 84:47

Hybrid version (1.66:1) - total runtime 85:24, net runtime 85:07


You may want to use some of this information to amend some or all of the following:

Blu-ray page:

- Blu-ray ALL America - Severin [2017 Release] - Limited Edition - Notes section: mention the British version's 25fps -> 24fps conversion and effect on the runtime
- Blu-ray ALL America - Severin [2019 Release] - Standard Edition - Notes section: mention the British version's 25fps -> 24fps conversion and effect on the runtime
- General Notes on the versions: British version runtime is 84 minutes
- General Notes on the versions: Continental / European version runtime is 85 minutes
- CUTS section


DVD page:

- R0 America - Severin Films [2017 Release] - Limited Edition - Notes section: mention the British version's 25fps -> 24fps conversion and effect on the runtime
- General Notes on the versions: British version runtime is 84 minutes NTSC = 81 minutes PAL
- General Notes on the versions: Continental / European version runtime is 85 minutes NTSC = 82 minutes PAL


Alternatively, the British version's 25fps -> 24fps conversion and effect on the runtime could be mentioned in the General Notes at the bottom of both pages.


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4. Blu-ray ALL America - Severin [2017 Release] - Limited Edition - bonus DVD

On The Blu-ray page, the CUTS section states that the Continental version (on the bonus DVD) is NTSC, but on the DVD page it states that it is PAL, so they contradict each other. One of them needs to be corrected.

Based on the reported runtime of 81:46, I would assume it is probably PAL, or possibly a PAL -> NTSC conversion. Either of these would make it equivalent to 85:10 at 24fps, very close to the Severin Blu-ray Hybrid version net runtime of 85:07.

However, I don't own the Limited Edition release myself, and have not been able to find this information online, so I cannot confirm this.

Updates are required in the following places, depending on its TV System status:

If it is regular NTSC:
on the DVD page:
- TV System for this release
- CUTS section

If it is PAL:
on the Blu-ray page:
- CUTS section

If it is a PAL -> NTSC conversion:
on the DVD page:
- TV System for this release
- CUTS section
on the Blu-ray page:
- CUTS section


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5. R2 Italy - Sinister Film [2009 Release] - Horror D’Essai (Arthouse Horror) #10

Based on my analysis of the Blu-ray runtimes (see point 3 above), and if this DVD's reported runtime of 80:42 is correct, I would assume that it is just regular PAL, not an NTSC -> PAL conversion. This would make it equivalent to 84:04 at 24fps, very close to the Severin Blu-ray British version equivalent runtime of 84:10 at 24fps.

Updates are required in the following places on the DVD page:

- Notes section for this release
- CUTS section


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Source: I own:

Blu-ray ALL America - Severin [2019 Release] - Standard Edition
Blu-ray ALL America - Severin [2019 Release] - Severin Website Exclusive

[James-Masaki_Ryan]

I'm not knowledgeable enough on this to change things myself.

[Eric_Cotenas]

Updated

[Darrel_Griffin]

Thanks Eric - you've clearly put a lot of work into this update.

I noticed a couple of small issues:

1. On both the DVD and Blu-ray pages, in the General Notes sections:

For the continental version, you missed out the word "with", and since the continental version on the Severin Films Limited Edition Bonus DVD is a PAL-to-NTSC conversion, it is effectively running at PAL speed i.e. sped up. So the runtimes for the continental version in the General Notes should be:

~85 minutes at 24fps/~82 minutes at 25fps

This makes sense to me, since presumably the continental version is very similar to the other versions, just with some alternate takes of a few shots, so its runtime should be quite similar, not several minutes shorter.

So overall the line should read:

- the continental version with a score by Stanley Black and has alternate nude takes of some scenes (~85 minutes at 24fps/~82 minutes at 25fps).


2. On the Blu-ray page, in the CUTS section, you could update the following line to include "see notes":

Blu-ray ALL Standard Edition America- Severin - No cuts - Contains the British version (81:05 - see notes) and the US version (85:04)

[Eric_Cotenas]

Fixed

[Darrel_Griffin]

Thanks for that. Actually, I've just noticed another minor error. On both pages, in the General Notes, it is written:

"This film exists in three principle versions:"

However, this is a misspelling, and it should be "principal", not "principle".

See:

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/principal
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/principle


This takes me way back to my primary school days. In my final year, we used to have a spelling test every week, and one week, one of the words was "principal". A few weeks later, the teacher was writing some science information on the board, and wrote "principle". I pointed out that I thought he had spelt it incorrectly, and when pressed on this, I referred him to our recent spelling test. It was only then that he explained that these were two different words with different meanings and spellings, but with the same sound. So I was wrong, and he was right. But on the plus side, the whole class learned about these two different words, and I for one have never forgotten it since!

[Eric_Cotenas]

Fixed

[Darrel_Griffin]

Thanks again Eric, it' all seems good now.

Well, the Blu-ray release has been a bit messy to say the least, but the monochrome picture quality and sound quality are pretty good on all Blu-ray versions, and it is an excellent movie in my opinion, so I highly recommend it to anyone who likes Gothic horror/thrillers or early proto-gialli / proto-slashers.