However, I feel they really should have gone the extra mile for a classic musical of this caliber. The image is as sharp and detailed as it was on Laserdisc, although it isn t as detailed could be had it been given a brand new anamorphic presentation. Colors are usually bright and very vivid, taking on that decidedly 1950 s look. Chroma noise is not a problem and the more intensely saturated hues did not bleed outside their borders in any appreciable way. Blacks are correctly reproduced, although shadow detail is limited to what 1955 film stock is capable of rendering.
Contrast is smooth and pleasant.
The film element used for the transfer displays very few age-related blemishes. The film s soundtrack has been upgraded to a Dolby Digital 5.1 channel mix, although it retains that big, brassy stereo sound of the decade in which it was recorded. Most of the sound remains in the forward soundstage, which lends the production a nice theatrical flavor. Vocals are always very pleasing, plus the film s dialogue is clean and intelligible. Overall, the soundtrack is very well preserved, without any serious flaws.