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NOTE : The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray October 2017: The Criterion is cited as a "New 4K digital restoration". The story is, as always, higher resolution - despite the strength of the 2005 SD - it can't complete with the 1080P of the Criterion HD transfer, which also seems to have eliminated the speckles found on the last Warner DVD edition. Detail rises, better layered contrast, better film textures, more information in the frame etc. In-motion Criterion's Blu-ray looks like the film is brand new. Exceptional. Criterion use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) to authentically duplicate the film's flat audio. Minimal effects but the light Franz Waxman ( Dark Passage, Rebecca, Bride of Frankenstein, Rear Window, Sunset Boulevard) score adds further to this delightful romantic-comedy. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles on the region FREE The Philadelphia Story disc. Criterion stack the disc with supplements starting with including the pleasing audio commentary from 2005 featuring film scholar Jeanine Basinger. It's still relevant and interesting. In Search of Tracy Lord is a new, 22-minute, documentary about the origin of the character and her social milieu. Playwright Philip Barry and actor Katherine Hepburn, both experiencing career downturns in the late 30's, worked closely together to create the iconic character Tracy Lord, Philadelphia's "Main Line" socialite, for Barry's play The Philadelphia Story. This new documentary by Criterion explores Tracy's real life origins and includes interviews with Barry Scholar Donald Anderson, Barry granddaughter Miranda Barry, and Janny Scott, the granddaughter of one of the Main Line socialite said to be an early model for the character. There is also a new 19-minute piece about actor Katharine Hepburn’s role in the development of the film. Filmmakers David Heeley and Joan Kramer have produced several documentaries about the stars of The Philadelphia Story including three books about Katherine Hepburn, as well as coauthoring a book, In the Company of Legends. In this new documentary, produced by Criterion, Heeley and Kramer describe Hepburn's single-minded focus on rescuing her career by way of The Philadelphia Story, first onstage and then on-screen. There are also two full, hour-plus, episodes of The Dick Cavett Show from 1973, featuring rare interviews with Hepburn, plus a 1/4 hour excerpt of a 1978 interview from that show with director George Cukor. There is also a Lux Radio Theatre adaptation of the film from 1943, featuring an introduction by filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille, a brief, but informative restoration demonstration and a trailer. The package has a liner note booklet with an essay by critic Farran Smith Nehme. I thoroughly enjoyed watching The Philadelphia Story on Blu-ray - they DO NOT make films anywhere close to this nowadays. Fun with the greats stars... what a great disc, a pristine presentation, endless extras - our highest recommendation. *** ON THE DVDs: NOTE: Although there are some minute differences in the image of the new 2-disc editions, it can be considered negligible, but at the same time very interesting. We use first-frame matches and not slightly different damage marks from the PAL to the NTSC - nothing outrageous though. I would say on of the major differences are in the subtitle font. Other than that we have the same menus, same extras and if I was forced to choose a superior image - it might very well be the PAL. The PAL edition has more DUB and subtitles options as often the case with European vs. North American releases. BOTTOM LINE: I'd be happy with either new DVD edition, and buy where you find the most reasonably priced Amazon shipping. *** The biggest areas of improvement in the new SE package are 1) The extras, 2) the contrast level, and 3) slight more screen information on the right, top and bottom edges of the frame. The new edition has far superior black levels. this was the most noticeable improvement to the image. I found the sharpness to be the same. Minimal damage and dust still appear in the same spots in the new edition and good film grain is still present. Subtitles on the new edition s are less intrusive and we find superior. Audio also appeared to be an improvement, although my ears have trouble detecting anything more than major differences. The extras on the new disc are tremendous - short cartoons, extensive bio featurettes, audio radio inserts etc. etc. I was initially suspicious of this new SE when I saw the similar damage marks on the new transfer, but the host of extras and convincingly strong black levels have sold me. We recommend the new edition whole-heartedly. A solid DVD of a classic and wonderful film. P.S. LOVE The Homeless Flea short cartoon addition. I wish there was more of this with classic films put to DVD these days. - Gary W. Tooze