Bewitched Blu-ray by IMPRINT

[Bachu]

https://viavision.com.au/shop/bewitc...television-15/

All 74 Season 1 & 2 episodes are presented in 1080p high-definition and LPCM 2.0 Mono sound, in the originally produced black and white picture format.

Added bonuses include colourised versions of each Season 1 & 2 episode (in standard-definition) plus NEW special features including audio commentaries and a documentary on the series.

15-DISC BLU-RAY SET + 172-page hardcover booklet in Limited Edition Hardbox packaging.

Special Features and Technical Specs:

1080p high-definition presentation of all 74 episodes from Seasons 1 & 2, restored by Sony Television from the original elements with LPCM 2.0 Mono audio in original 1.33:1 aspect ratio and optional English HOH subtitles (on HD versions only)
Limited Edition Hardbox packaging with original opening titles animation art
172-page booklet featuring original Story Information for every episode
Option to view episodes in original black and white high-definition, or colourised standard-definition
NEW! Three Audio Commentaries by Bewitched historian Herbie J. Pilato, Chris York (son of actor Dick York), and film & television historian Rob Ray on the pilot episode I, Darrin, Take This Witch, Samantha, Mother, Meet What’s-His-Name and A is for Aardvark
NEW! Two Audio Commentaries by Bewitched historian Herbie J. Pilato, actor David Mandel (Adam Stephens) and film & television historian Rob Ray on Aunt Clara’s Old Flame and And Then There Were Three
NEW! Behind the Magic – Documentary about the making of the series featuring actor David Mandel (Adam Stephens), Steve Olim (Columbia Make-Up Department), Bewitched historian Herbie J Pilato, film & television historian Rob Ray, Bewitched guest star Eric Scott, and Chris York, son of Dick York.
The Magic Unveiled – 2-part featurette about the series (2005)
Bewitched, Bothered and Be-Bloopered! – featurette on continuity errors in Season 2 (2005)
Audio: English LPCM 2.0 Mono
Original Aspect Ratio: 1.33
Optional English HOH Subtitles (on HD versions only)

This set is more costly than MC and only has the first two seasons but I think the picture will be stunning.

[stevea]

A "Behind the Magic" guest, Eric Scott, probably is a "The Waltons" actor.

[likewow]

Packaging looks great! I'd love to have the hardcover book. But the only thing that would get me to buy these is having the original sponsor openings and Liz's 'in color' intros.

[torcan]

Originally Posted by likewow

Packaging looks great! I'd love to have the hardcover book. But the only thing that would get me to buy these is having the original sponsor openings and Liz's 'in color' intros.

According to one source I read online, the episodes are supposed to restored with the correct openings for each season.

It would be wonderful if this was the case - I'd definitely buy it - but I haven't been able to find any confirmation if this is really the case or not. It states the episodes are being restored from "original elements", but that didn't indicate the cartoon opening.

Maybe we have to wait for its release to find out if it's true or not.

Apparently there's two sets coming - one with a couple of seasons at a time, and the other the complete series all at once, but on fewer discs. Both sets are stated to be the exact same.

Crossing fingers for at least the correct openings (sponsors or not) because this is likely our last chance.

[stevea]

Originally Posted by torcan

According to one source I read online, the episodes are supposed to restored with the correct openings for each season.

It would be wonderful if this was the case - I'd definitely buy it - but I haven't been able to find any confirmation if this is really the case or not. It states the episodes are being restored from "original elements", but that didn't indicate the cartoon opening.

Maybe we have to wait for its release to find out if it's true or not.

Apparently there's two sets coming - one with a couple of seasons at a time, and the other the complete series all at once, but on fewer discs. Both sets are stated to be the exact same.

Crossing fingers for at least the correct openings (sponsors or not) because this is likely our last chance.

I'd also like to see the bumpers (Bewitched...back in a moment) restored. I think they were only on the season 8 DVD sets.

About the openers. I do know they changed openers for the black and white seasons (Copyright MCMLXIV, MCMLXV, MCMLXVI) which are totally different from the syndicated ones. Did they change openers during the color years? I'm only aware of the change wit Darrin #2.

[likewow]

Originally Posted by stevea

I'd also like to see the bumpers (Bewitched...back in a moment) restored. I think they were only on the season 8 DVD sets.

About the openers. I do know they changed openers for the black and white seasons (Copyright MCMLXIV, MCMLXV, MCMLXVI) which are totally different from the syndicated ones. Did they change openers during the color years? I'm only aware of the change wit Darrin #2.

Yes! The original opening for season 3 was fast paced, but on DVD they used the slower first season theme.

[Bachu]

https://viavision.com.au/shop/bewitc...3YSob3Ts_ckzj-

8-DISC BLU-RAY SET + 146-page hardcover booklet in Limited Edition Hardbox packaging.

Special Features and Technical Specs:

1080p High-definition presentation of all 60 episodes from Seasons 5 & 6, restored by Sony Television from the original elements with LPCM 2.0 Mono audio in original 1.33:1 aspect ratio and optional English HOH subtitles
Limited Edition Hardbox packaging with original opening titles animation art
146-page booklet featuring original Story Information for every episode
NEW Audio Commentary by Bewitched historian Herbie J. Pilato, featuring Steve Olim (from the Columbia Make-Up Department) and Chris York (son of actor Dick York) on Mirror, Mirror On The Wall
NEW Audio Commentary by Bewitched historian Herbie J. Pilato and guest star John Whitaker on Samantha and the Beanstalk
Audio: English LPCM 2.0 Mono
Original Aspect Ratio: 1.33
Optional English HOH Subtitles

[torcan]

Bad news: apparently the openings for the color seasons are still the ones seen in syndication. I don't know why they'd updated them for the black and white seasons but not correct them for the color seasons.

Major disappointment. I'll probably pass on this as I have DVDs already.

[cloggedmind]

Yeah. Apparently Imprint asked the Sony people if they could supply the proper themes OR if they, Imprint, could harvest them from some other source and add 'em on to the video files. Sony people were like, "No. Furthermore, you can't make any changes to what we send you otherwise we can't do business with you. You use what we give you or no soup for you!"

It would have been sooo easy to make this set just perfect. And, even if some dippy, young "suit" making decisions about shows made 40 years prior to their birth didn't want the shows themselves changed, why not include the original openings as bonus features? Just not allowed.

Some effects have been "fixed", too, like monofilament that makes objects move by "magic" got digitally scrubbed and some of the process shots where layers of film were used have been cleaned of the extra dirt from the printing process. Some good changes, some are "meh". At least they didn't take liberties with the pop-in/pop-out effect when people disappear by editing magic. Those are still delightfully clunky!

I understand, too, that the I Dream Of Jeannie opening theme on Blu is the same as the majority of the dvd versions that use the same theme for all the color seasons that has the rhythm-spoiling splice in it. Where the title comes up and you should hear:

Daa-daaa. Dat-dat-deya-dat-daa-daaa..

It's more like:

Daa-daaa. Dat-dat-dey/t-daa-daaa..

Just enough to be off-putting and wrong. And the cute part is that 2 or three episodes on the dvds HAVE the full theme in place without the stupid glitch! Included by mistake? There were one or two instances of a different, jazzier end theme on the dvds, too. But for the opening, why couldn't the non-glitch theme be used if that was going to be the arbitrarily chosen, de-facto theme for the bulk of the series?

I never got the Jeannie blu-rays, so I don't know if the other-other audio issue with some episodes got fixed: Some of the later, color episodes had this warbly flutter effect in the soundtrack like a tape dragging sound that ran throughout the entire program. Not a lot, but a handful of episodes are like that and I'm like, how did this get through QC?

[stevea]

Originally Posted by cloggedmind

I never got the Jeannie blu-rays, so I don't know if the other-other audio issue with some episodes got fixed: Some of the later, color episodes had this warbly flutter effect in the soundtrack like a tape dragging sound that ran throughout the entire program. Not a lot, but a handful of episodes are like that and I'm like, how did this get through QC?

I've heard that the Jeannie Blu-Rays were just up-converted SD, even though Sony had actually remastered the series in HD. If true, typical large company.

All of the old Screen Gems shows were heavily altered/edited by Viacom, so there's no telling what the true condition of these shows is. Sounds like, not good.

[cloggedmind]

Originally Posted by stevea

I've heard that the Jeannie Blu-Rays were just up-converted SD, even though Sony had actually remastered the series in HD. If true, typical large company.

All of the old Screen Gems shows were heavily altered/edited by Viacom, so there's no telling what the true condition of these shows is. Sounds like, not good.

Blecchhh!! You know, I read that, too, now that you mention it. I knew there was a reason I stayed away from the Blu-rays.

I am glad Sony relented and allowed access to elements to The Monkees for that Blu set. Rhino/Warner got full distro rights but Sony kept ownership of the masters. And as legend has it, going all the way back to that first, big box set of remastered from "elements" (not original, just old prints!) they were reaching deep into their bag of excuses as to why they wouldn't allow access to the negs and mag tracks. Cost, retrieval, storage location issues (there were claims they didn't know where the masters were stored!), paperwork..

I guess like in Shawshank Redemption, Andrew Sandoval hounded the folks at Sony enough until they finally said, "Here, take everything we've got and copy it. Just leave us ALONE!!" According to photos he released of some of the stash, they really did send every-thing involving the original format from the vaults.

What I'm getting at is that it is a shame Sony/Screen Gems (does SG reeealy exist, now, or is it just a legacy/branding for recognition thing?) couldn't allow the same access for these broader appeal properties like Bewitched and Jeannie. If they did we would have proper themes and, possibly, original sponsor openings could be special features-- Beverly Hillbillies and Andy Griffith Show did it! If there's leeway, it can be done.