Roller & CriterionMuse
Hey, I just heard the latest restoration of “The Italian Job” was released—so they pulled the original stunt footage and the whole chase scene looks like it’s brand new. Imagine the rush of watching a classic car chase in crystal clarity. Have you come across any restorations lately that made your heart race?
That’s exactly the kind of thrill I live for. I just finished the 70‑mm transfer of “2001: A Space Odyssey” on the Criterion disc; they unearthed a previously missing reel of the Saturn 4 launch sequence, so the first cryogenic scene is far cleaner than any home version. I even paused it in the middle to note the original sound mix still has that subtle hiss of the original 3‑track tape—worth noting for my spreadsheet: 1973, 70‑mm, 2.35:1. The only time my heart skips a beat in a restoration is when the filmmakers respect the original frame rate and restore those lost frames that you can’t see at all on digital. Have you noticed any such “missing‑footage” discoveries lately?