Will it be an upgrade at all? I'd assume the original recording is about the same resolution as a DVD, so the extra resolution of a BD would be wasted. (if I understand it correctly)
The one recording that will definitely benefit from a BD recording is PASSION, which was recorded on film and not tape. Unfortunately, last I heard Image Entertainment do not actually have any copies of PASSION on film to do the transfer.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
I've always hoped that when it's released on Blu Ray that we'll get a commentary track with Sondheim & Peters like we did for SUNDAY IN THE PARK (but without Mandy ruining it). However, I think it would have been in the press release if it was going to happen.
Pointless, as it was only taped in NTSC (720*480) back in the eighties. Very little benefit in upscaling to HD. Things worth releasing in HD are the recording of the 'Kiss Me Kate' revival with Brent Barrett, 'Hey Mr Producer!' and the 10th anniversary Les Mis concert. All of which were actually taped in HD.
No 720*480 is the digital resolution of NTSC and DVD, non-widescreen. That is even higher than the resolution of the analogue video tape used to record Into the Woods, so no quality loss there. Utter pointlessness releasing it on Bluray . Updated On: 9/6/14 at 11:45 AM
As everyone else has said--barely worth an upgrade. I would LOVE a commentary track though one could hardly be as funny as Sunday's with Sondheim constantly correcting Mandy's hyperbolic stories.
And come on Image, get off your ass and finally release Pacific Overtures. They planned to and then said the quality of the video was too far gone and they couldn't afford a remaster--but the bootlegs circulating lately are of decent quality, and it deserves a release.
A Blu-ray release of INTO THE WOODS (Original Broadway Cast) could benefit most in the audio department if it is released with DTS Master Audio. The picture quality would be a slight upgrade from the DVD. Depending on how the shots were "framed," it might be possible to matte the top and bottom of the image and present it in an anamorphic widescreen aspect ration of 1.78:1. This is done often, but if the original shot is not framed for this, the results could be not-so-great.
^^^^^^ I would hope that if it was shot is 4:3 they would leave it that way instead of cropping it into artificial widescreen.
Is there any chance it was actually shot in widescreen but edited down to 4:3 for TV? Unlikely I suppose since it was always intended for TV broadcast.
I can't imagine it was shot wide and edited to 4:3, considering it was taped on video. All we'll get from this is possibly slightly better audio and hopefully some extras, though I probably won't hold my breath. Not exactly the release of the century unless there's some curveball in there somewhere.
Looks like they're piggybacking off of the Disney design.
As for extras, I wouldn't count in it since Image is notorious for its absolute bare bones releases. It would be nice but i think this is just a rushed release to profit off of the upcoming film release.
Is it a horror movie where Little Red gets attacked by a vicious cow? Or is Little Red the mysterious threat that roams the woods? Can't wait to find out!