Strategic Air Command coming out on Blue Ray

[JohnB]

I just noticed the long awaited Blue Ray DVD of Strategic Air Command will be released on Oct. 16th.
At Amazon, the cost is just under $20.

It's your big chance to see B-36s and B-47s shot in wide screen (VistaVision, IIRC) color.

Should be fun on a big screen TV, and even better if you have surround sound.

Lay in some snacks and schedule a special film night.

[wendovertom]

Nice!

Tom P.

[Pogo]

For those of us who are severely tech-challenged, and seldom watch TV or movies, could I please get a run-down on why Blu-Ray is a good thing? I ask as a guy who has a small stack of now-useless VHS, and now use DVD to watch my space documentaries, instructional vids, and M. Python oldies on every once in a while. I have been wanting to get Strategic Air Command for a long time now, since the B-36 fascinates me and I like Jimmy Stewart, but the movie on DVD has always been a little rich for my ever-frugal blood. Also, DVD's pis ... er, peeve me off too often for having troubles playing correctly even though I'm careful as can be to keep 'em pristine. Is Blu-Ray any better?

I hope this is considered warbird-related. There are tons of vids with warbirds in 'em, amiright?

[p51]

For those of us who are severely tech-challenged, and seldom watch TV or movies, could I please get a run-down on why Blu-Ray is a good thing?

Blu-Ray really only gives you a benefit for movies shot in HD-quality. You won't get much more from an older movie than if it was on DVD.

[Chris Brame]

Are there any extras on the Blu-Ray? Would be great to have 24 Hour Alert as an added short subject.

[JohnB]

The Amazon listing doesn't mention any.

As far as the quality, it depends whether the film was re-mastered for Blue Ray or whether it's just a Blue Ray version of the regular DVD.

From what I've read on the subject, all things being equal Blue Ray will still be better due to more data and higher quality disk and player production.
There should be hope since it's being released by the original studio and it's a well known film with a famous star.

Since I have a Blue Ray and a HD tv, I tend to pay the little extra if it's a film I think would benefit from it. So an aircraft film or epic, sure...some silly comedy (not that I buy them) no.

[Nathan]

For those of us who are severely tech-challenged, and seldom watch TV or movies, could I please get a run-down on why Blu-Ray is a good thing? I ask as a guy who has a small stack of now-useless VHS, and now use DVD to watch my space documentaries, instructional vids, and M. Python oldies on every once in a while. I have been wanting to get Strategic Air Command for a long time now, since the B-36 fascinates me and I like Jimmy Stewart, but the movie on DVD has always been a little rich for my ever-frugal blood. Also, DVD's pis ... er, peeve me off too often for having troubles playing correctly even though I'm careful as can be to keep 'em pristine. Is Blu-Ray any better?

I hope this is considered warbird-related. There are tons of vids with warbirds in 'em, amiright?

I made the announcement a couple weeks ago and people were overjoyed. LOTS of people are eager to get a copy-including me! Basically the Blu-ray DVD's have better quality film and audio. You will soon be able to hear the enhanced audio of the B-36 flying over the baseball field. Something you will not find anywhere else.
SAC on Blu-ray is going to be a big hit!

[Craig59]

I think Strategic Aid Command contains one of the greatest and most underrated aerial sequences ever put on film. With Jimmy Stewart aboard for a short flight, "one takeoff and one landing," the camera parallels the taxiing B-36 at a height of about ten feet or so. As the B-36 begins its takeoff roll, the camera tracks from the same height and stays in perfect formation as the thundering Peacemaker rotates and becomes airborne. Filmed from Paul Mantz's B-25 camera ship, N1203 ,"The Smasher," it's an amazing shot and a testament to the genius of Mantz. He was not just an outstanding pilot but, a superb cinematographer as well.

Here beginning about 3:45. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fgbwKeWoVCw

[Pogo]

Well, appears DVD is also part of the re-release deal, or whatever's going on here, so yippee for me and my old fashioned 19" x 70 lb TV with itty bitty built in speaker!

I'm really can't get too worked up about the sound anyway, seems they did the same thing too many Youtube vids do and pollute the soundtrack with a bunch of hideous music that somebody, somewhere, thought was groovy or something.

[AG pilot]

I just received my Blu-Ray version, and what little I have watched so far is awesome. Both the image and sound quality is excellent!

[JohnB]

I received mine a week ago, between the time I pre-ordered and it was shipped, the price went down to $12.99. Not a bad deal.

Coincidentally, I watched it just last night and was very pleased. They must have used the studio master for the transfer, the picture quality was perfect...not a jumpcut, hair or dustmark anywhere.
The high altitude B-36 shots were first rate.

I don't have a regular release, but if you have a big screen TV and a blue ray player, you might want to get this.
I'd like to see it on one of those new curved screen TVs....

[AG pilot]

I really enjoyed noticing the fuselage ahead of the wing, wrinkle and un-wrinkle as a B-36 was turning and braking while taxiing.

[JohnB]

Also in the scene where they discuss the fuel leaks, a lot of oil seems to be on the aft fuselage and aft wing root.

Other fun things to notice:

-The B-45 on the Carswell ramp, (a quick but nice shot).
-The fact that the C-124s don't have the weather radar at that fairly late date...1953 or 4.
-The models on the offices...The small scale B-36 ashtray, and in the last scene set in the CINCSAC's office...a F-102, a large metal F-89 (which I haven't seen on eBay), a large F-86D, and on a bookcase in the back of the room (visible in the shots of Stewart) the large Allyn 1/72 scale C-124.
Also, a large model of the XB or YB-52.

[L-188]

I think Strategic Aid Command contains one of the greatest and most underrated aerial sequences ever put on film. With Jimmy Stewart aboard for a short flight, "one takeoff and one landing," the camera parallels the taxiing B-36 at a height of about ten feet or so. As the B-36 begins its takeoff roll, the camera tracks from the same height and stays in perfect formation as the thundering Peacemaker rotates and becomes airborne. Filmed from Paul Mantz's B-25 camera ship, N1203 ,"The Smasher," it's an amazing shot and a testament to the genius of Mantz. He was not just an outstanding pilot but, a superb cinematographer as well.

Here beginning about 3:45. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fgbwKeWoVCw

Roger that, Supposedly it's still the longest "non-process"? shot in film. the way it was explained to me is, process photography involves piecing together different shots to make them look like it's one shot, with obvious results. Probably the best example of that is the movie Midway. Something like that anyways. I've lost count how many times I've watched Strategic air command. A true classic. Try making a movie like it today. Couldn't be done.