7.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Two talented song-and-dance men team up after the war to become one of the hottest acts in show business. One winter, they join forces with a sister act and trek to Vermont for a white Christmas. Shot in VistaVision.
Starring: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Dean Jagger (I), Vera-EllenRomance | 100% |
Comedy | 100% |
Musical | 95% |
Holiday | 73% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
French: Dolby Digital Mono
Spanish: Dolby Digital Mono
Portuguese: Dolby Digital Mono
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Four-disc set (1 BD, 2 DVDs, 1 CD)
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Paramount has re-released the beloved 1954 film 'White Christmas,' directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney, to Blu-ray. This 'Diamond Edition' Blu-ray includes a mono lossless soundtrack and several new extras. Additionally, the disc carries over the legacy Blu-ray supplements from the well-reviewed 2010 issue. Notably, this release does not include a new 1080p transfer, but the legacy presentation still looks excellent. Finally, this release originally shipped with a CD soundtrack, but now in 2024 the copy I received from Amazon did not. Your mileage may vary. See below for coverage of new audio and supplemental materials. Also note that the film is also being released on the UHD format in November 2024.
This new "Diamond Edition" Blu-ray release of 'White Christmas' appears to contain the same 1080p transfer as the previous 2010 release. That's not a bad thing, because it looked great in 2010 and it still looks pretty solid in 2024. For a full Blu-ray video review, please click here.
One of the main reasons to upgrade to this edition of White Christmas is the inclusion of a new lossless mono soundtrack as opposed to the original release's lossy mono presentation. Does it make a massive difference? Well, no, not to the basic ear test, but certainly the lossless encode brings with it a greater efficiency and some slightly better details across the spectrum of elements (dialogue, music and lyrics, scattered support effects, and even some heavier moments like the shelling at the beginning). There is no sonic revelation or revolution here, and nor should there be. But fans will rightly appreciate the improvement in fidelity, however minor it may be, in delivering the absolute best presentation possible. And, for fans of the film and for film (and audio) purists, the lossless mono track is a most welcome addition. Of course, this disc also retains the 5.1 lossless soundtrack from the original release, and interested parties can check out my review of that track by clicking here.
Probably the chief reason to purchase this new Diamond Edition Blu-ray release of White Christmas is the smattering of new extra content.
In addition to new material, the legacy content from the 2010 Blu-ray is also included. See below for coverage of the new content (which is notated)
and please click here for reviews of the carryover
content. This release also ships with two DVDs that include the film and commentary on one disc and the extras on another disc. This release
supposedly ships
with a music CD, but the copy I received from Amazon in October 2024 did not include it. Your mileage may vary. Mine did not ship with a slipcover,
either. No digital copy is included.
White Christmas is a seminal classic that never goes out of style, and it's better than ever with this new Diamond Edition release. While it retains the same 1080p video from the 2010 issue (which is great), it does offer a new lossless mono soundtrack and a nice assortment of new extras. Do note that buying in 2024 is something of a crapshoot as to whether the audio CD and a slipcover will be included. Either way, recommended! Do note that this same Blu-ray is included in the November 2024 UHD which, heads up, looks really great (see a review for that release here).
1954
Diamond Anniversary Edition
1954
1954
70th Anniversary
1954
75th Anniversary Edition | Plus Holiday Inn: The Broadway Musical - Live
1942
1962
10th Anniversary Edition
2008
Rockin' Rydell Edition
1978
Sing-Along Edition
2018
2-Disc Shake and Shimmy Edition
2007
1951
2003
Extended Edition
2007
2008
2006
2007
2008
2010
Extended Rock Star Edition
2008
1961
Fox Studio Classics
1969
2016
Extended Dance Edition
2009
1967