Blu-ray 4K Ultra HD]Death to the Kits

Image 4K : 5/5

Death to the Kits was shot on 35MM film (Mitchell VistaVision Cameras) and 4K Blu-ray, in the respected 1.85:1 format. Note that the 1.85:1 format was the ratio for the United States. The ratio for Europe was 1.66:1. The 4K Blu-ray comes from a 4K master with HEVC compression, a BT.2020 image, WCG and an HDR10 presentation. The feature film was remastered in 4k for the film’s 65th anniversary in 2024, with a new calibration. First, we have to talk about the restoration which, according to some information, was done by scanning the negatives in 13K! And unlike normal horizontal scrolling for a 35MM camera, VistaVision cameras had vertical scrolling, which gave better resolution. We therefore feel that Warner has put the means into this restoration.

And what a restoration! Certainly one of the most beautiful we have seen. On the grain side, it has been preserved. Moderately fine, but it is normal, homogeneous and not set. All defects have been cleaned up. No problem here. The stability of the image is perfect, except for one or two shots in the forest, near Mount Rushmore, but this is borderline anecdotal. And so, comparing with the 50th anniversary Blu-ray released in 2009, there is no photo, we clearly have a huge gain in definition. The details on the faces, especially the close-ups, are just magnificent.

The textures of the costumes (both those of the men and Eve’s different outfits) and the superb sets find a new lease of life here. Whether it’s Townsend’s villa, the hotel, the train, or even Mount Rushmore, we discover a thousand details that we hadn’t seen before. It should also be noted that the special effects work quite well. Certainly, they have the mark of their time, but for a film which is celebrating its 65th anniversary, it is quite remarkable to see their quality. The depth of the image also gains, especially for outdoor scenes (the plane scene or that of Mount Rushmore) or in large rooms (the auction room).

Concerning the new calibration, the film is given a new lease of life. The colors are resplendent and are superbly saturated. Especially for primary colors. The colors of the faces have been enhanced and are much more respected and less bland than before. It is also enough to see the sky, which returns to a magnificent blue, or even the orange of the flames, when the plane enters the truck and explodes. Obviously, the whites have also been enhanced (Eve’s white clothes). Contrasts and blacks have been reworked. Dark, low-light and night scenes greatly improve readability. The car chase scene and the finale offer details never seen before.

In the end, we have one of the most beautiful restorations we have seen. A true rediscovery for this cinematic masterpiece. Some jerks were detected during viewing, but nothing too serious.

Son : 3,5/5

On the sound side, Warner Bros France ( ) offers us a new English track in Dolby Altmos (with a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 core). The previous track was in Dolby Digital 5.1. So, don’t expect a deluge of effects, but this track has some pretty interesting qualities. Powerful as it should be, precise, well distributed and quite ample. In terms of effects, we will obviously remember the scene of the plane, which encompasses all the channels when it passes over Roger. We really have the impression that the plane is passing above us. The second scene that we remember, but with less importance in terms of sound, is the car chase scene. The effects are well mixed on the different channels, but less so on the ATMOS. The different shots also go well. We also have crowd effects, whether in the street, hotels, trains, or even during the auction. The subwoofer is little but well used (the explosion when the plane enters the tanker truck).

The music of Bernard Herrmann is also well highlighted on this mix. Especially for the opening credits and the finale on Mount Rushmore. We feel an increase in its use throughout the feature film, except during the legendary plane scene, where there is none. For the rest, the dialogues are clear. A convincing new track which is more than enough to have a good immersion in the film.

For those nostalgic, the second English track is in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. An original 2.0 mix which allows you to relive the film in the conditions of the time.

The French track remains unchanged. No miracle in Dolby Digital mono 1.0. Everything goes through the center speaker. An experience like we remembered when the Blu-ray was released.

Bonus : 4,5/5

The box contains:

• The Steelbook with the film in 4K UHD and Blu-ray
• 40 page booklet
• 6 Postcards
• 2 Posters double-face A3
• 2 Bookmarks

New bonus

• Death in pursuit : photography, soundtrack and the art of editing (23′)

Old bonus:

• Comments from Ernest Lehman
• Destination Hitchcock : le making-of de death on the trail (39′)
• The master’s touch: Hitchcock’s unique style (58′)
• Death in pursuit : a timeless classic (25′)
• Guided tour with Alfred Hitchcock (3′)

As a new bonus we have Death in pursuit : photography, soundtrack and the art of editing which returns, with different speakers, to the importance of photography, music and editing of the film, and how more than 65 years later, it remains the thriller par excellence.

Test conditions

• TV 4K UHD Sony Bravia KD49XF7077SAEP
• Samsung 4K UHD Blu-ray Player UBD-M8500
• Amplifier Yamaha 4K UHD YHT-1840

Synopsis

Publicist Roger Tornhill mistakenly finds himself in the shoes of a spy. Caught between a mysterious organization seeking to eliminate him and the police pursuing him, Tornhill is in a very uncomfortable situation. He flees across the United States and sets off in search of a truth which will prove very surprising.