Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection (Limited Edition) [Blu-ray]

PRODUCT COMPARISON:- "Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection" - 14 Movies (UK/All Regions) [Blu-ray] $49.95 (1-20-17)- "Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection" - 15 Movies (U.S.) [Blu-ray] $88.88 (1-20-17)IF YOU JUST WANT THE BOTTOM LINE OF MY REVIEW — THIS IS IT — BUY THE UK/ALL REGIONS BOXED SET!If your machine plays Blu-rays it should play these and at this price...they're a steal! $49.95 (1-20-17)Whether you are a veteran home video connoisseur or casual viewer of Hitchcock movies, long-time collector or first-time purchaser, already have a Hitchcock collection on standard definition DVD or even older formats and are looking to upgrade to high definition Blu-ray, or you're starting your Hitchcock collection and want to begin with the best available disc technology, this is an excellent set — in my opinion the best currently available — and because it's now into its fifth year on the market, you have an opportunity to purchase Hitchcock on Blu-ray, as of this writing, for $3.57 per movie vs. a list price of more than $16 each when they were introduced in Oct, 2012, not to mention countless hours of fascinating and informative special features, which includes nearly all of the original material released when the standard DVDs were introduced years ago. As I see it, your timing could not be better — 5 Stars!OVERVIEW OF THIS AMAZON CUSTOMER REVIEW — HOW IT'S DIFFERENT:In an effort to add value for readers of this review, written more than four years after this set was introduced, I have read and mined all 195 Amazon customer reviews posted to date and will summarize the highlights and some of the pertinent information I have gleaned from them. I undertook this effort to inform my own purchase decision and will share the results with my fellow Amazon shoppers/home video lovers. When appropriate, I will add my own thoughts and comments, along with analysis of the data mined from nearly 200 Amazon customer reviews.Although this review is admittedly very long, it potentially could be a one stop review, providing you with the data you need to make a wise buying decision while saving you time in the long run. In the event you feel you need additional information, I have identified seven additional reviews, out of the 195 posted (as of 1-20-17), that may contain what you are seeking. They are placed at the end of this review in chronological order as a post script.If you feel I overlooked something or you think something is inaccurate, or have any other suggestions, please leave a comment. I intend to revisit this review periodically and if necessary, I will edit this review and/or incorporate your suggestions into my future reviews on home video media and other Amazon products. Thanks in advance.If this review (and analysis) provides you with something of value, perhaps you would be kind enough to award me a 'YES' for my effort. It costs you nothing yet will mean a great deal to me. Thanks! ··· STICKS-OF-TNTU.S. VS. UK VERSION:Okay, now let's get down to the nitty gritty and take a look at the details that led me to my conclusions and 5-Star rating. To begin, we need to examine the matter of the two geographical versions of this set, the source of considerable customer confusion. Amazon carries two geographical versions of this set, commonly referred to by reviewers here as the 'U.S.' and 'UK' versions. The UK set is substantially less expensive than the U.S. set. The U.S. set will only play on U.S. and Canadian players, which are known as Region A/1 players. The UK discs are multi-regional, sometimes referred to here on Amazon as 'REGION FREE' or 'ALL REGIONS' and should play on ALL Blu-ray players. I have two Blu-ray players, an inexpensive Samsung purchased from Sam's Club and a more expensive Panasonic model purchased from Amazon, each acquired in the last few years. Although I assume they are U.S. (Region A/1) models, I'm not certain and since I have never purchased anything but U.S. Blu-rays in the past, I was a little apprehensive that the UK set might not work in my players. I'm happy to report my new 'UK' Blu-rays worked fine in both of my players. Perhaps in the future instead of referring to them as the 'UK set' we should use the less confusing 'multi-regional' or even better, 'all regions' set since they apparently will work in ALL Blu-ray players (NOTE: Some reviewers have advised it may be necessary to update the Blu-ray player's firmware if there is an operability issue. I suspect this would rarely be an issue unless the player is a very old model.)Now for the differences in the two sets. The U.S. (Region A/1) edition has 15 films, including 'North by Northwest'. The UK/All Regions edition has 14 films and does NOT include 'North by Northwest'. The quality of the films is identical — they're the same discs. The difference (other than the UK set being MUCH cheaper) is different packaging and the fact that 'North by Northwest' isn't included. The U.S. version has a 58-page soft cover booklet with movie posters, production drawings and other information about each movie, which was not part of my more basic UK set. As of this writing (1-20-17), the UK set is $49.95, or $3.57 per movie for 14 movies, and the U.S. set is $88.88, or $5.93 per movie for 15 movies, an additional $2.36 per movie for the U.S. set! Now, quite frankly, either amount is a great value as compared to the original list prices of the sets when they were first released in 2012, but still, a savings of almost $39 by purchasing the UK/All Regions set is not insignificant. Here's what you might do with those savings:Instead of purchasing this Region A/1 (U.S.) set:- "Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection" - 15 Movies (U.S.) [Blu-ray] $88.88 (1-20-17)Buy the following items together (18 Movies) — Total price $84.00 (1-20-17):- "Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection" - 14 Movies (UK/All Regions) [Blu-ray] $49.95- "Alfred Hitchcock Collection":   'Dial M for Murder' / 'North by Northwest' / 'Strangers on a Train' [Blu-ray] $22.91- 'To Catch a Thief' [Blu-ray] $11.14NET RESULT:For $84.00 you obtain the one movie not included in the UK/All Regions set, 'North by Northwest', PLUS THREE ADDITIONAL BLU-RAYS OF HITCHCOCK'S VERY BEST MOVIES — 'Dial M for Murder', 'Strangers on a Train' and 'To Catch a Thief' — A TOTAL OF 18 BLU-RAY MOVIES and you're still paying $4.88 less than the U.S. set cost!PRICE HISTORY VIA EXCERPTS FROM AMAZON CUSTOMER REVIEWS:·"Hopefully the price will come down from $225. These are some of the best classic films ever made by my favorite director." (Oct 21, 2012)·"I just saw this at Costco for $163." (Nov 1, 2012)·"Since I got it at an astonishing price of — one day only here — I couldn't resist!" (Jan 5, 2013)·"$120 Amazon special I bought it on." (Jan 23, 2013)·"Found this set on an Amazon 'Deal of the Day' for $120 which is a terrific price for 15 of his best films." (Mar 15, 2013)·"I picked up the collection on an Amazon 'Deal of the Day' just before Christmas and I think it was $101 for the set —an incredible bargain. That's approximately $6.30 per Blu-ray — less money than std def DVDs." (May 7, 2013)·"The set is $107.49 right now...did you get it significantly cheaper than that?" (Nov, 2013)·"Got this set for myself in December, 2013. Price was great." ($107)·"I have most of these on DVD and didn't want to pay for all the Blu-ray upgrades, but the sale price of $97 for 15 of his classics just couldn't be beat." (Mar 9, 2014)·"Awesome collection. Got it on sale for $98." (Mar 31, 2015)·"My edition was only $83 at the time of purchase vs $135-$199 for the U.S. version." (Dec 24, 2015)·"Wish I would've gotten it cheaper – $165 seems high. Oh well, I wanted it!" (Mar 24, 2016)·"I do see there is a UK version listed here for $70." (Jul 26, 2016)·"You should buy the $50 UK set." (Aug 31, 2016)·"A must have for every Hitchcock fan and the price is unbelievable!" (Dec 26, 2016)PRODUCT PACKAGE:Keep in mind the UK/All Regions set is really bare bones in terms of packaging. You get 14 Blu-ray movies on individual discs, in order of year of release, in a book-like case in which each 'page' is a cardboard sleeve holding a single disc. Each movie is presented in an attractive two-page, multi-color spread featuring poster art, promotional type photos and quotes related to each movie and a list of special features included on that movie's disc. The disc for each movie is held on the right side with that 'page' being a sleeve for that movie and, after the page is turned, the reverse of the sleeve being the left side of the two-page spread for the next movie. The entire book, when closed, slips into an attractive cardboard slip case, which combined, make for a very sturdy package with the appearance and size of a hardback book, which should take up a minimal amount of shelf space and approximate the dimensions of other 'standard size' multi-DVD/Blu-ray sets you may own. Numerous Amazon reviewers have complained about the cardboard sleeves, concerned about them scratching their discs. My research indicates that Blu-ray discs in particular benefit from substantial scratch-resistant coating which, when handled with reasonable care, should prevent scratching. As indicated previously, this set is housed in a compact package which, while still quite artistic and attractive, does minimize shelf space. Generally, I prefer this somewhat minimalist approach to more elaborate, sometimes unwieldy cases, potentially at a much higher set price. Unfortunately, with the cardboard sleeves used in the design of the Hitchcock set, the only way to get the discs out is by grasping the edge with thumb and forefinger, which invariably is going to leave a smudge requiring immediate cleaning. Furthermore, if any foreign particles make their way to the inside of the sleeves, there is a risk of scratching during the extraction of the disc from its sleeve. An additional hazard is the possibility of discs sliding out of loose sleeves. Personally, I would have preferred a design like my '(The) Ultimate James Bond Collection' [Blu-ray + Digital HD], which had 25 slots (23 movies + place holder for then unreleased SPECTRE + a bonus features disc), each disc on its own plastic tray, housed in three disc portfolio cases (standard DVD movie type, just a bit thicker to hold multiple Blu-rays), all three then sliding inside a cardboard slip case with cover. That entire package, with 11 more discs, is even more compact than the Hitchcock collection, just not as 'artistic'.I guess in this particular case, most of us prefer 'function over form'. I'm just not willing to knock off a star for such a great collection available to us now at such an incredible price. Remember, $3.57 per Blu-ray disc containing a classic Hitchcock movie in high definition, loaded with special features. Focus on that. If you really think otherwise, plastic jewel cases to store your discs individually are very inexpensive. At the price I paid, they could have been housed in white paper CD envelopes and it still would have been a good deal.MOVIES IN COLLECTION:Here's what you get in the UK/All Regions set in order of year of release (Same as disc case):1)   'Saboteur' (1942)2)   'Shadow of Doubt' (1943)3)   'Rope' (1948)4)   'Rear Window' (1954··)5)   'The Trouble With Harry' (1955··)6)   'The Man Who Knew Too Much' (1956·)7)   'Vertigo' (1958)8)   'Psycho' ( 1960)9)   'The Birds' (1963)10) 'Marnie' (1964)11) 'Torn Curtain' (1966)12) 'Topaz' (1969)13) 'Frenzy' (1972)14) 'Family Plot' (1976)·, ·· Indicate first or second release in year with two films released.HITCHCOCK'S DIRECTORIAL CAREER & FILMS AT UNIVERSAL PICTURES:The movies in "Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection" are those currently owned by Universal Pictures. The set was released in 2012 as part of the studio's '100 Year Centennial Anniversary Celebration', which is highlighted in a short promotional video at start-up on each disc. (It gets old after you've seen it a few times, but like the FBI warning and other start-up boilerplate, you can't fast forward past it.) The fourteen films in the collection (listed above), spanning the period from 'Saboteur' released in 1942 through 'Family Plot' released in 1976, are the films Hitchcock directed for Universal, or for Paramount, which in 1958 sold much of their film library to Universal in an effort to raise capital when they were struggling financially. In an unexpected move after the success of Hitchcock's previous film, 'North by Northwest', 'Psycho', released in 1960, was a low budget black and white film, which was produced by Hitchcock's own production company and filmed at Universal Studios after Paramount resisted the concept. After that, from 'The Birds' through 'Family Plot', his last six movies, Hitchcock worked exclusively for Universal Pictures.Hitchcock made fifty-two commercial movies over a career of nearly the same number of years, from his directorial debut in 1925 during the silent film era, his first sound movie in 1929, through his final movie, 'Family Plot' in 1976. An aspect of the UK/All Regions set worth noting is that of the fourteen movies, the set includes eight of the last nine films of Hitchcock's career, covering his last twenty years as a director, 1957 to 1976, the sole exception being 1959's 'North by Northwest', the one film NOT included in the UK/All Regions version of the set. The fifteenth film in the U.S. set, 'North by Northwest' (1959), is owned by Warner Bros., which I suspect Universal licensed it from in an effort to boost the selling price of the U.S. set. Fortunately, I recently obtained that film as part of the "Best of Warner Bros. 50 Film Collection—90th Anniversary Limited-Edition Blu-Ray + Ultraviolet" (digital HD downloads) I purchased as an Amazon 'Deal of the Day' on Dec 19, 2016 for $70. That exceptional pre-Christmas deal, with an original list price of $598, might be the single best buy I've ever made on Amazon during my 20+ years as a customer, working out to an incredible $1.40 per Blu-ray disc for some of the finest motion pictures ever made. When combined with a ton of special features content, it may take me years to work my way through that entire collection. I have already watched the only Hitchcock film in my new Warner Bros. collection, 'North by Northwest', which has been restored to absolutely pristine condition. When all factors are taken into account, I consider 'NxNW' to be the quintessential Hitchcock film, especially for his non-horror movies. If not #1, every fan must surely have it on their 'Top 10' list of Hitchcock favorites. So if you buy the UK/All Regions 'Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection', as I am heartily recommending in this review, and you don't already own 'NxNW' on Blu-ray, be sure and add it to your wish list of future Hitchcock video purchases.SPECIAL FEATURES:Due to its length, the list of special features on each disc in the collection was moved to the very bottom (below the post scripts). The list of special features was not provided on the Amazon product page for the UK/All Regions set or in any customer review as of 1-20-17.AMAZON REVIEWERS' MOVIE WISH LIST:Many Amazon reviewers, perhaps not realizing this was an exclusively Universal set, bemoaned the failure of the set to include some of their personal favorites. I compiled a list of other Hitchcock films mentioned by Amazon reviewers:1)   'The 39 Steps' (1935)2)   'The Lady Vanishes' (1938)3)   'Rebecca' (1940·)4)   'Foreign Correspondent' (1940··)5)   'Lifeboat' (1944·)6)   'Spellbound' (1945)7)   'Notorious' (1946)8)   'Stage Fright' (1950)9)   'Strangers on a Train' (1951)10) 'Dial M for Murder' (1954·)11) 'To Catch a Thief' (1955·)12) 'The Wrong Man' (1956··)·, ·· Indicate first or second release in year with two films released.Although I have long been a fan of Hitchcock films, going back to my boyhood, Universal's 'Masterpiece Collection' was my first purchase of his movies on home video. Since I'm a value shopper (i.e., 'cheap') I consider it my good fortune to have begun my search at a time when this Hitchcock set was so attractively priced. However, these movies will probably only whet my appetite for more from this brilliant director. It is unlikely I will be able to match this price on future Hitchcock film acquisitions, particularly without duplication of films I already own. Regardless, the above list of Amazon customer favorites will be the focus of my future efforts. It's worth noting that none of the above titles were from Hitchcock's first ten years as a director, 1925 through 1934. Obviously, the first half of those years was Hitchcock's silent movie era, which probably has limited consumer appeal. Several factors may account for lesser interest in the second half, 1929 to 1934. My guess is they might include the more primitive nature of sound films made during that period, Hitchcock still developing his skills as a commercially viable movie director, deterioration of film prints from those years, insufficient consumer interest to make the cost of print restoration of films from that period practical, technical limitations preventing upgrade of film from that era to high definition, or perhaps it's as simple as Hitchcock films from those years just not being available to the public for purchase. By the way, if you want to view the movies Hitchcock directed from the silent era in the 1920s, and his early work in the 30s, they're in the public domain and available free online. Just don't expect the level of sound and video quality you've come to enjoy in restored movies like this Universal's 'Masterpiece Collection'. It costs big bucks to accomplish that.Assuming sometime in the future all fifty-two of Hitchcock's films are restored to the highest possible quality and eventually some company is able to overcome the legal obstacles and assemble the rights to market his entire catalog as a single set, it's still doubtful such a dream collection of the master filmmaker's lifetime body of work would be available at a price I would be willing to pay. So as a practical matter, my collection of fifteen Hitchcock films on Blu-ray is not a bad start. If I now focus on the dozen films above recommended by other Amazon reviewers, perhaps someday I'll own at least half of the Hitchcock library at a much more reasonable final cost. The result though is that the half I own, with perhaps a few exceptions, will essentially be 'his best' half, the half worth repeated viewing in the years ahead. As a value shopper on a limited budget, I would be more than happy with that outcome.TESTIMONIALS — NOW CAN I GET AN AMEN?:If you are at all reluctant about acquiring this Hitchcock boxed set, consider the following comments from the reviews of this collection (with light editing for readability) by customers who likely paid a lot more than you will:·"I own literally hundreds of Blu-rays and this is without a doubt my favorite set to date."·"This collection is amazing and is by far my favorite to own — it's a must have!"·"I cannot rave enough about the fabulousness of this set and hope Universal releases a second volume of Hitchcock."·"If you like Hitchcock this set is everything you'd hope it would be."·"I love this collection and could not be happier."·"Fantastic box set! Work of art! Quite possibly my favorite Blu-ray box set of all time."·"Vertigo' is getting rave reviews for the restored image on this Blu-ray. Both Blu-ray.com and Hi-Def Digest.com gave it 4 stars for video and 4.5 for audio. I was knocked out when I saw it – dazzling colors and a crisp clear image. The original mono track has been presented in an all-new 5.1 channel lossless master audio track. Plus there's a lossless 2-channel mono option."·"I love it! It's the best thing the light of day has ever seen — there is just no other way to describe it!"·"This Blu-ray collection is awesome! It was a great price and shipped quickly. I love the artwork, the layout, and of course, the movies. I would recommend this to any Hitchcock fan!"·"The new transfers - especially a gorgeous new one of 'The Trouble With Harry' - will make you see these movies in a new light. The beautiful New England fall foliage captured in 'Harry' was a revelation, with the movie looking like it could have been shot this year."·"If you love movies and everything that goes into them then this collection will keep you mesmerized. Watch the angles, the background, the intensity of every detail. Hitchcock was a genius and this collection makes it fun and scary and all the good things movies can offer!"·"Watch them in chronological order to see how his style progresses."·"Incredible to have all of these great movies on Blu-ray and in one collection. If you like Hitchcock movies and want to collect them, THIS is the collection you first want to buy."·"Best Hitchcock collection going as of 2014."·"For either an introduction to Hitchcock or as part of a completist's collection, this box set is a must-own."·"The packaging is beautiful. The movie posters next to each film make it easy to locate each one."CONCLUSION:If you've gotten this far, you certainly are interested in the film work of the man many consider THE master director, Sir Alfred Hitchcock. If that is the case, I encourage you to buy this boxed set, just as I did. I have already had many hours of enjoyment watching both the movies and special features and expect to have many more in the months and years ahead.Yes, it may have some flaws which, if you were making this purchase when it was introduced in Oct, 2012, at a price of $225 ($16/movie), or later, couldn't manage to catch it as a 'Deal of the Day' or another sale and Amazon's regular price was still north of $140 ($10/movie), those flaws might have made you hesitate. I can't forget the customer in March, 2016 who bought it (the higher priced U.S. version, I guess) and confessed to us, "Wish I would've gotten it cheaper – $165 seems high. Oh well, I wanted it!" But now it's well below that 'point of hesitation' price. As I stated at the top of this review, "If you just want the bottom line of my review – this is it – Buy the UK/All Regions boxed set. If your machine plays Blu-rays it should play these and at this price...they're a steal!" $49.95 ($3.57/movie) (1-20-17)Although this review is admittedly very long, it potentially could be a one stop review, providing you with the data you need to make a wise buying decision while saving you time in the long run. In the event you feel you need additional information, I have identified seven additional reviews, out of the 195 posted (as of 1-20-17), that may contain what you are seeking. They are placed at the end of this review in chronological order as a post script.If this review (and analysis) provides you with something of value, perhaps you would be kind enough to award me a 'YES' for my effort. It costs you nothing yet will mean a great deal to me. Thanks!STICKS–OF–TNT (Jan 20, 2017)P.S. SEVEN RECOMMENDED REVIEWS — IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER:Analysis from a technical standpoint of the audio-visual aspects/restoration quality of the films in this boxed set, from reviewers with apparent expertise in the area:·Robert Blenheim on November 2, 2012 (Be sure and read his post scripts.)·Wayne Klein HALL OF FAME/TOP 500 REVIEWER/VINE VOICE on November 4, 2012·William McKeldin Jr. on November 28, 2012Excellent reviews covering multiple relevant areas:·J. Ott VINE VOICE on October 2, 2014·Matthew T. Weflen VINE VOICE on October 23, 2014·Robert Hayes on August 16, 2015Reviews of each movie and its special features:·True Taylor on December 12, 2016SPECIAL FEATURES (NOT PROVIDED ON AMAZON PRODUCT PAGE):Disc #1 - 'Saboteur'·Saboteur: A Closer Look·Storyboards·Alfred Hitchcock's Sketches·Production Photographs·Theatrical Trailer·My ScenesDisc #2 - 'Shadow of a Doubt'·Beyond Doubt: The Making of Hitchcock’s Favorite Film·Production Drawings by Art Director Robert Boyle·Production Photographs·Theatrical Trailer·My ScenesDisc #3 - 'Rope'·Rope Unleashed·Production Photographs·Theatrical Trailer·My ScenesDisc #4 - 'Rear Window'·Rear Window Ethics: An Original Documentary·A Conversation with Screenwriter John Michael Hayes·Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of the Master·Breaking Barriers: The Sound of Hitchcock·Hitchcock / Truffaut Interview Excerpts·Masters of Cinema·Commentary: John Fawell, author 'Hitchcock’s Rear Window: The Well-Made Film'·Production Photographs·Theatrical Trailer·Re-Release Trailer Narrated by James Stewart·My Scenes·pocket BLU App·BD-LiveDisc #5 - 'The Trouble with Harry'·The Trouble With Harry Isn't Over·Production Photographs·Theatrical Trailer·My ScenesDisc #6 - 'The Man Who Knew Too Much'·The Making of The Man Who Knew Too Much·Production Photographs·Theatrical Trailer·Re-Release Trailer·My ScenesDisc #7 - 'Vertigo'·Obsessed with Vertigo: New Life for Hitchcock's Masterpiece·Partners in Crime: Hitchcock's Collaborators·Hitchcock / Truffaut·Foreign Censorship Ending·The Vertigo Archives·Feature Commentary with Film Director William Friedkin·Theatrical Trailer·Restoration Theatrical Trailer·100 Years of Universal: The Lew Wasserman Era·My Scenes·pocket BLU App·BD-LiveDisc #8 - 'Psycho'·The Making of Psycho·Psycho Sound·In The Master's Shadow: Hitchcock's Legacy·Hitchcock / Truffaut Interview Excerpts·Newsreel Footage: The Release of Psycho·The Shower Scene: With and Without Music·The Shower Scene: Storyboards by Saul Bass·The Psycho Archives·Posters and Psycho Ads·Lobby Cards·Behind-the-Scenes Photographs·Production Photographs·Theatrical Trailer·Re-release Trailers·My Scenes·Commentary: Stephen Rebello, author 'Alfred Hitchcock & the Making of Psycho'·BD-LiveDisc #9 - 'The Birds'·Deleted Scene·The Original Ending·The Birds: Hitchcock’s Monster Movie·All About The Birds·Storyboard Sequence·Tippi Hedren’s Screen Test·Hitchcock / Truffaut Interview Excerpts·The Birds Is Coming (Universal International Newsreel)·Suspense Story: National Press Club Hears Hitchcock (Universal International Newsreel)·Production Photographs·Theatrical Trailer·100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics·100 Years of Universal: The Lot·My Scenes·pocket BLU App·BD-LiveDisc #10 - 'Marnie'·The Trouble With Marnie·The Marnie Archives·Theatrical Trailer·My ScenesDisc #11 - 'Torn Curtain'·Torn Curtain Rising·Scenes Scored by Bernard Herrmann·Production Photographs·Theatrical Trailer·My ScenesDisc #12 - 'Topaz'·Alternate Endings·Topaz: An Appreciate by Film Historian & Critic Leonard Maltin·Storyboards: The Mendozas·Production Photographs·Theatrical Trailer·My ScenesDisc #13 - 'Frenzy'·The Story of Frenzy·Production Photographs·Theatrical Trailer·My ScenesDisc #14 - 'Family Plot'·Plotting Family Plot·Storyboards: The Chase Scene·Production Photographs·Theatrical Trailer·My ScenesDisc #15 - 'North by Northwest' [U.S. SET ONLY/NOT INCLUDED IN ALL REGION SET]·Destination Hitchcock: The Making of North by Northwest·North by Northwest: One for the Ages·The Master’s Touch: Hitchcock’s Signature Style·Cary Grant: A Class Apart·Feature Commentary by Screenwriter Ernest Lehman·Stills Gallery·Theatrical Trailer

Here are my reviews of the films. Where I thought the extras were particularly good, I have included them too. North by NorthwestMistaken identity. Cary Grant is not George Kaplan but nobody will believe him? What follows a fantastic movie-long chase across America.Brilliant movie that, in typical Hitchcock style, brings you to the edge of the cliff, literally in one scene, and then pulls you back. The suave, sophisticated Grant is perfect as the advertising executive, Roger Thornhill, not really satisfied with his life, who upon raising his hand at exactly the wrong time in a hotel reception area is kidnapped by two nasty heavies. And then the fun begins.There are many quality set-pieces.The murder in the United Nations building.The penultimate scene on Mount Rushmore.Grant and Eva Marie Saint ordering dinner on a train. (Charged with sexual chemistry)The drunken Grant nearly driving over a cliff.To name a few.Thoroughly enjoyable, high-class Hitchcock.ButNot only do you get a superb movie but a feast of extras is included. The best one is "Hitchcock's Signature Style" in which directors like John Carpenter and William Friedkin discuss what is unique about Hichcock and his films.RopeA man is murdered. Can the two murderers conceal his body from the people who keep popping into their apartment?Not my favourite Hitchcock film. A good performance by James Stewart holds it all together but a bit too talky for my liking.The Trouble With HarryWhat do you do with a dead body?A bit like "Rope" in that the premise is the same but much more light-hearted. A pleasant, undemanding film.SaboteurAfter the success of "Rebecca" Hitchcock turned to the spy genre again. Robert Cummings is accused of fire-bombing an airplane factory and murdering his best friend. Again, the film leads us across country with Cummings trying to find the truth, culminating in the brilliant Statue of Liberty scene. Exciting and fast-paced, this is one of Hitchcock's best spy thrillers.ExtrasWatch out for the fascinating interview with Norman Lloyd, Fry in the film, who talks affectionately about his long collaboration with Hitchcock and gives some insights into the making of the film. Highly recommended.PsychoA woman tries to escape her dull life to be with her lover, stealing $40,000 from her employers on the way. She drives to her new life only to make the fatal error of stopping at a Motel just off the highway.I remember watching this home alone many years ago when it came on network TV for the first time. I was 14 at the time. I ended up watching with one eye on the screen and one eye looking behind me. I had never seen anything as frightening. But, again, as Hitchcock would say, I was thrilled to be frightened.As time goes by, you realise how for a relatively small budget, a ground breaking horror film had been made.The magnificent performance of Anthony Perkins as the tortured Norman stands out in movie history. The much reviewed shower scene meant that Janet Leigh would only take baths in later life.The eerie old house where Norman and Mother lived has now become a film icon.A top drawer horror film that influenced so many this has to be in the top 5 of all Hitch's films.ExtrasPossibly only matched by "North by North West" for quality, comprehensive extras to be found on this disc. Standout - "In The Master's Shadow: Hitchcock's legacy"Shadow of A DoubtSmall town America made rotten by the appearance of Joseph Cotten.Supposed to be Hitchcock's favourite. A man on the run may be a serial killer. Has he left too many clues for his young niece ? Great game of cat and mouse ensues.The Man Who Knew Too Much 1956Doris Day and James Stewart try to get back their kidnapped son and fight spies along the way in Morocco.Enjoyable enough but not the master's best work.Torn CurtainA lot of trouble on the set on this one. Paul Newman wanted to act in his own inimitable style and Edward Hermann, the composer, after a long partnership with Hitchcock gets fired.A decent enough espionage thriller. Memorable scene, "The Oven".Frenzy"The Wrong Man" theme again. A serial killer threatens London only for an innocent man to be accused who has to go on the run to prove his innocence.Hitchcock, back in the UK, takes advantage of the relaxed censorship laws to give us a really terrifying film. Some of the murders are unforgettably "real".ExtrasGood archival footage of Hitchcock on the set of "Frenzy"."Family Plot"Hitchcock's final film is a dark comedy. Great performances from Bruce Dern and Karen Black. Not one of Hitch's best but definitely entertaining in a quirky sort of way.Rear WindowA photographer breaks his leg and has to convalesce at his apartment.Bored, he uses the long lens on his camera to "spy" on his neighbours. But wait a minute, what is Raymond Burr up to?Great climactic scene. Tension simmers nicely. Comic relief by Thelma Ritter. Highly enjoyable film.Well decked out with extras.Best Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of the MasterBreaking Barriers: The Sound of HitchcockMasters of Cinema (Archival Interview)The BirdsWhat if our feathered friends got their revenge on us for hunting and caging them?Genuinely scary at times. The experiences of Tippi Hedren on the set have been well documented in recent years. The scene in the attic is oh too real.ExtrasBest one is "All About The Birds".TopazRussian missiles and Nato spies.Not one of my favourites but good enough to watch on a cold, Saturday afternoon.VertigoA man hires an ex-detective to trail his errant wife whom he fears is losing her mind. But the detective, James Stewart, becomes obsessed by the woman leading to the uncovering of a sensational plot.Considered the best film ever made by critics, this is Hitchcock at his most stylish. The set design is imperious, Kim Novak's costumes are exquisite, the music by Bernard Hermann is hypnotic and Robert Burks' camerawork is sumptuous. The storyline is like a few of Hitch's films, a little over the top but you'll soon forget that when you get drawn into the psychological intensity of "Vertigo". Highly recommended.ExtrasInformative commentary by William Friedkin.Interesting docu about the restoration of the film.Hitchcock's collaborators.The CollectionVery GoodPrint quality good to excellent.ExtrasPsycho, North By North West, Rear Window, Vertigo: Outstanding

This is a fine collection of classic Hitchcock movies. Many hours of enjoyment for a very reasonable price.

Lots of extras besides the great movies themselves.

Anúncio está errado e é enganoso. Nenhum dos filmes tem áudio ou legenda em português. M e senti ludibriado.

Esta colección salió al mismo tiempo que otras del mismo director, como por ejemplo la edición con forma de álbum fotográfico que salió en Reino Unido; esa edición era muy buena e incluso costaba menos que esta. Después salió la edición de las latas, que para mi gusto era la mejor y costaba unos dos mil pesos, lástima que era una edición limitada numerada y se agotó muy rápido, además la pintura de las latas se caía fácilmente. Esta edición tuvo una versión europea y una americana (que es esta), la europea costaba la mitad que esta pero era de muy mala calidad. Esta la verdad vale mucho la pena, además trae una película adicional: North by Northwest. La calidad del audio y la imagen es muy buena en todas las películas. Sin duda un artículo de colección.

Premessa. Edizione dvd regione americana, per cui se comprate questa edizione assicuratevi di avere un lettore region free.Trovato in offerta, usato condizioni accettabili, ad un prezzo irrisorio. Purtroppo mancava il booklet ma va bene così, edizione molto bella esteticamente con un digibook molto ben curato. Consigliato. Ricordo che in questa versione i film non hanno ne audio ne sub in italiano. Sono presenti però i sub inglesi

I bought this collection but didn't get far with it. The first disc I took out to watch, containing the movie 'Vertigo', had a long and conspicuous scratch on the playing surface. Not unexpectedly the movie froze and the set had to be returned. Obviously the production house has no quality controls.

Got the set for a song on a sale, and while I love many of the films included the lack of a fifth star is because of the package. I really don't like having to slide discs out of cardboard pages, especially since many modern cases can hold 15 discs on hubs while keeping a relatively slim profile. Even if they would have had two cases with 7-8 discs each, it wouldn't have been any wider, but the movies themselves wouldn't have been as likely to scratch over time.