SCIENCE & TECH: I review 4K Blu-ray for a living and these 6 discs show what 4K can do for classic movies

At TechRadar, we use 4K Blu-ray for testing the best TVs and best soundbars, and some of us are also collectors, regularly on the hunt for new discs to add to our shelves.

I’ve evaluated a ton of discs for the Blu-ray Bounty, a monthly column where we review picture and sound quality of the latest 4K releases. One area where I’ve seen 4K make a big difference is with classic movies (think 1940s through the 1960s), where a 4K restoration breathes new life into these vintage films.

Below, I’ve picked six of my top ‘classic’ 4K Blu-rays. The list includes black-and-white thrillers from Hollywood’s golden age, like Double Indemnity and Sunset Boulevard, that deliver sensational picture quality with strong contrast.

Two of Japan’s finest exports, Seven Samurai and Godzilla (1954), look particularly good on 4K disc, with textures getting a real upgrade.

The Sound of Music is one of the best 4K discs I’ve ever tested, with spectacular colors and a brilliant Dolby Atmos soundtrack befitting of its iconic tracklist. Lastly, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly shows off 4K’s fantastic detail and again delivers an impressive audio showcase.

Any of these discs played on the best 4K Blu-ray players will make a perfect addition to your 4K disc collection.

6 classic movies on 4K Blu-ray

The Sound of Music

One of the most spectacular-looking 4K discs I’ve watched, The Sound of Music is breathtaking in 4K. Textures are crisp, from the mountains and fields to the characters’ skin. But color is really where this restoration shines. They look bold and bright throughout, with one scene in a fruit market showing stunning oranges and reds, and shots of the green fields displaying wonderful vibrancy.

The Sound of Music’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack delivers one of cinema’s greatest scores with real clarity. Vocals are crystal clear, and the music itself sounds precise and well-balanced. This disc is a real treat for home theater sound systems.

Double Indemnity

Double Indemnity was one of my first experiences of a great 4K restoration of a classic movie. This 4K release from The Criterion Collection delivers strong contrast with deep blacks, crisp whites and a refined range of gray tones. Textures have a 3D-like effect, bringing out the details in clothing.

There isn’t much to write about the sound, as this disc features a monoaural soundtrack. Still, the speech is clear and it balances well with the dramatic score.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly looks sensational on Arrow Video’s 4K release. Sourced from the original 2-perf Techniscope negative, where this restoration shines is its detail. Close-up shots really show dirt and facial hair, as well as weather-beaten skin and frown lines with great accuracy. Colors also appear vibrant, the blue skies in particular.

The DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack I listened to during my evaluation was superb. Ricocheting bullets during gunfights sound accurately mapped, galloping horses deliver real rumble and the film’s iconic soundtrack is bright and clear throughout. This disc sounds excellent when played through one of the best soundbars.

Seven Samurai

This 4K restoration of Seven Samurai was handled by Toho, the original production company, and it did an excellent job. Contrast is brilliant, with a perfect balance of light and dark tones with the gray tones in between. Shadow detail during night scenes is also impressive. Textures are crisp, with clothing and skin looking refined.

With a DTS-HD MA 1.0 soundtrack, Seven Samurai won’t test the limits of your home theater. Even so, dialogue is clear, the score sounds nicely cleaned up and action-packed scenes with clashing swords have a good level of punch.

Sunset Boulevard

Sunset Boulevard is another black-and-white movie that really benefits from the 4K treatment. Light and dark tones are well balanced for strong-contrast throughout, and textures look true-to-life.

The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack has been expertly handled. Speech is crystal clear in Gillis’ narration, and there’s a clean delivery of the movie’s tense, string-heavy score.

Godzilla (1954)

The Criterion Collection’s 4K restoration of Godzilla is visually impressive. Characters and locations look authentic and detailed. Contrast is powerful, with strong highlights such as neon signs during dark scenes. Blacks are deep, and there’s a full range of gray tones. This is another excellent example of how a 4K restoration can freshen up a classic movie.

With a mono soundtrack, there’s not much here to work out your home theater sound system. Still, dialogue is clear, explosions have good impact and Godzilla’s iconic roar is cleanly delivered.

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