old movies on hd dvd?

[togar]

Sooner or later new movie releases will be released on hd dvds. What about old movies from the 50s, 60s or earlier? Will it be possible to issue them on hd dvds where the quality will be noticeably better than standard DVDs?

[HDTV-NUT]

It wouldnt really be a true HD-DVD. It would just be a kind of up convert like you see sometimes on HDNET movies when they play old movies.

[Eddie501]

It wouldnt really be a true HD-DVD. It would just be a kind of up convert like you see sometimes on HDNET movies when they play old movies.

Why not? The process for converting a movie shot on 35mm film to HD would be the same for a movie released today as it would for one shot in 1940. Movies are shot on film, not with HD cameras. And film has always had a higher resolution than even today's HD so if the original elements were available, there's no reason it couldn't be 'true HD'. As a matter of fact, I think a lot of the restorations done on older films in the past few years have been mastered in HD. We just don't have the means to view them yet.

[57U]

As Eddie501 says, film, anything 35mm or larger, certainly has enough resolution to be considered HD. If the original film stock has been stored properly and properly telecined, then it certainly will qualify as HD. I've seen several movies from the 50s and several animation projects from the 30s and 40s that have been excellent.

[HDTV-NUT]

ahh. learn something new everyday. that is pretty interesting. thanks

[HDTV-NUT]

so is that what they do on HDNET movies when they play an older movie or is that something different?

[57U]

If it's an HD movie, it's what's been done with almost all movies, new or old, that's why they are called "films".

It's only very recently that some (very few) movies have been shot direct to tape. Examples include recent Star Wars, Once Upon A Time In Mexico, Etc.

http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0285823/technical (See 1080/24P)

These have typically been "Indy" films.

http://us.imdb.com/SearchTechnical?PCS:HDTV%09(1080p/24)

[HDTV-NUT]

thanks 57U good info.

[jco]

Some of those "old" films were shot on formats BIGGER and BETTER than many modern 35mm filmed movies. 70mm, Vistavision, etc. Those should look fantastic on HD-DVD.
That said, I honestly think that a lot of the old films, especially those from prior to WWII will not benefit much at all vs DVD because they are fairly low resolution to begin with...I think consumers will need to be very careful in deciding whether to upgrade their particular DVD titles to HD-DVD because the studios will not give a damn if it really looks better or not if they think they can sell it again in a new format....

[terryfoster]

Movies are shot on film, not with HD cameras.

This statement is a generalization. Few movies are shot with HD cameras.

[57U]

Few movies are shot with HD cameras.The ones that were, are indicated in the last link of post 7.

[Rocko]

Some of those "old" films were shot on formats BIGGER and BETTER than many modern 35mm filmed movies. 70mm, Vistavision, etc. Those should look fantastic on HD-DVD.

"Oklahoma" and "The King and I" on HD disc, instead of the letterboxed discs that are available now? Please make it happen, Fox!