Taken in my living room with my Nikon D7000. This is my Blu-ray screen capture solution until I can do them directly via computer.
The new 60th Anniversary Blu-ray of Singin' in the Rain features a clean, crisp HD image that properly honors one the most beautiful (and best) motion pictures of all time. The increase in detail from digital cleanup does not diminish grain authenticity or the texture of items on screen. Contrast remains consistent throughout the film, with rich black tones alongside lush, bright colors without diminishing either. What some may perceive as softness in the picture is simply how Technicolor films of the period looked.
It bothers me that the only English track is the 5.1 surround sound mix, as marvelous as it is. Keep in mind that I'm one among very few who like listening to things in the "archaic" configuration in which it was originally released, so this isn't a dealbreaker. Beggars can't be choosers, so I'm glad that the single choice I was given was one that requires no adjustment throughout the entire viewing experience.
Singin' in the Rain is a movie whose plot turns on the introduction of a revolutionary filmmaking technology. Even if the story and music didn't hold up, that we find ourselves in a similar transitional period with technology (digital production and high frame rates) reminds us that the movie is just as relevant today. One could argue that it's even more directly relevant today than the year it was released (1952), almost a quarter century after the move to sound. Color had recently been introduced, but that wasn't as big of a sea change as the beginning of talkies.
The beautiful picture and sound, as well as the reasonable ongoing price point for the single-disc version, make this a Top Shelf Disc.
Blu-grade Advice
Buyer A
To those with $75 to burn and no DVD version of the movie so far: go ahead and grab the big chocolate box full of paper reproductions, a photo book, and an umbrella. It also includes the exact Special Edition discs that were released previously.
Buyer B
To those who want the most economical way to get the Blu-ray and all the extra on-disc features: find the 2-disc Special Edition as cheap as you can used and grab the single-disc Blu-ray for $14.
Buyer C
To those who already have the two-disc DVD Special Edition from a few years ago: do not get rid of it.
If you then get the single-Blu-ray version that Amazon is selling for $14, you gain the only new on-disc features contained in the massive mega-box: the movie in HD plus a new 50-minute fluff documentary.
The New
Singin' in the Rain: Raining on a New Generation (~50 minutes)
This nearly-hourlong talking head festival features loads of professionals who have been inspired by the movie or Gene Kelly himself. The first face is Broadway pro Matthew Morrison, who just so happens to play the teacher on Glee. He's joined by a pile of choreographers, directors, historians, and performers including Paula Abdul, Adam Shankman, Rob Marshall, Rudy Behlmer, Corbin Bleu, Usher Raymond, and Baz Luhrmann.
Not much of substance is discussed here, even by the historians. This featurette exists in the hope that a marketing piece aimed at The Glee Generation (for lack of a better term) will help move copies.
The Old
The commentary with Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Cyd Charisse, Kathleen Freeman, Stanley Donen, Betty Comden and Adolph Green (together), Baz Luhrmann, and Rudy Behlmer.
The "Jukebox" (jump to specific songs)
The trailer (still in SD)
