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 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

directed by George Seaton
USA 1970

In the grandfather of all 1970s-80s disaster pics, airport chief Mel Bakersfield (Burt Lancaster) has a handful of troubles. There's a blizzard, a plane is stuck in the snow blocking his best runway, his wife wants a divorce, his girlfriend (Jean Seberg), who is also his assistant) might move to San Francisco, protestors are blocking the sidewalk, a cute old lady (Helen Hayes, in her Oscar-winning role) is a repeat-offender stowaway, and his boss wants him to shut down the airport. He has it easy. Up in the air, pilot Vern Demerest (Dean Martin) has to deal with a pregnant girlfriend (stewardess Jacqueline Bisset) and a disturbed man (Van Heflin) with a bomb in his briefcase.

Even though it's dated, and I've seen a dozen ripoffs and spoofs (most notably Airplane!), this film kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters were believable and likeable, the director juggled multiple storylines effectively, and the script was plausible. I can tell why it provoked so much imitation.

One thing, though, about its... I hate to call it morality, but I can't think of a better word. The film presents a distinctly pro-life viewpoint, with Demerest realizing that the right thing to do is to keep the baby. However, it also presents the argument, using both Demerest and Bakersfield as examples, that men would be much happier and better off if they left their wives for much younger women.

Excerpt from Goatdog's movies located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: 5 March 1970, USA

Reviews          More Reviews            DVD Reviews

Comparison:

Universal (Terminal Pack) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal - Region 2,4 - PAL vs. Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Ole Kofoed for all the DVD Screen Caps!

1) Universal (Terminal Pack) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Universal - Region 2,4 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT

 
Box Covers

Distribution

Universal

Region 1 - NTSC

 Universal
Region 2,4 - PAL		 Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray
70's Disaster Flicks Invasion
Runtime 2:16:31 2:10:58 (4% PAL speedup) 2:16:40.942
Video

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 7.13 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.83 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 41,669,040,552 bytes

Feature: 37,673,312,256 bytes

Video Bitrate: 31.00 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:

Universal (Terminal Pack)

 

Bitrate:

 

Universal

 

Bitrate:

 

Universal Blu-ray

 

Audio DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1

English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono , German DD 2.0 mono

 DTS-HD Master Audio English 3252 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3252 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS Audio French 448 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles English Captioned for the Hearing Impaired, Spanish, French or None. English for the Hearing Impaired, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Norwegian, Swedish or None. English Captioned for the Hearing Impaired, Spanish, None.
Features Release Information:
Studio: Universal

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• Trailer.
• Terminal Pack includes Airport 1975, Airport 77 and Airport 79

DVD Release Date: February 10, 2004
2 Double Sided DVD's in Digipak with Slipcase

Chapters 18

Release Information:
Studio: Universal

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• Trailer.

 

DVD Release Date: February 16, 2004
Keep Case

Chapters 16

Release Information:
Studio: Universal

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 41,669,040,552 bytes

Feature: 37,673,312,256 bytes

Video Bitrate: 31.00 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Edition Details:
• Trailer (3:27)
• 100 Years Universal: The 70s (11:01)

• 100 Years Universal: The Lot (9:26)

D-Box, My Scenes etc.

DVD + Digital Copy

Blu-ray Release Date: August 28th, 2012
Standard Blu-ray case with Slipcase

Chapters 18

 

Comments

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were ripped directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray (August 2012): Quite the impressive upgrade - the 1080P image is a huge improvement over the SD. Notably more I information in the frame - colors get more realistic and detail takes huge strides forward. It doesn't look perfect but is such a massive superiority over the other two digital renderings - its like someone brushed away the cobwebs over the flatter, duller, washed-out DVDs.

The surround bump can surprise via a DTS-HD Master at a resounding 3252 kbps. There are plenty of effects throughout and many get a definitive jump to the rear. Better than I was anticipating. There are optional subtitles on the region FREE disc.

No real extras but the trailer, a coupe of 100-years Universal pieces (quite good), a DVD of the feature and digital copy - plus the usual Blu-ray features (D-Box, My Scenes etc.)

This was probably the first larger-scale initiator the disaster flic and in retrospect it is quite passive compared to what would follow. Deano and Jacki Bissett steal the show for moi - very enjoyable. Sure, for the eye-popping upgrade a fun night in the Home Theater. Recommended!  

***

ON THE DVDs: Without bring overly picky the image quality looks identical in both versions. I see a slight yellow tinge in the Region 2/4 edition. The Region 1 comes in a "Terminal Pack" with the 77' and 79' version and the same trailer as the Region 2/4. My suggestion would be to get the cheapest version available to you if you are not concerned about audio as the Region 1 has it bumped to 5.1 and DTS (both not original by the way).

 - Gary Tooze

 

Menus

(Universal (Terminal Pack) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Universal - Region 2,4 - PAL - RIGHT)
 

 

 

Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Screen Captures

 

 

 

1) Universal (Terminal Pack) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal - Region 2,4 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Universal (Terminal Pack) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal - Region 2,4 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Universal (Terminal Pack) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal - Region 2,4 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Universal (Terminal Pack) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal - Region 2,4 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Universal (Terminal Pack) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal - Region 2,4 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Universal (Terminal Pack) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal - Region 2,4 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

More Blu-ray Captures

 

 

Hit Counter

Report Card:

 

Image:

Blu-ray

Sound:

Blu-ray
Extras: Blu-ray

 

Box Covers

Distribution

Universal

Region 1 - NTSC

 Universal
Region 2,4 - PAL		 Universal - Region FREE - Blu-ray
70's Disaster Flicks Invasion




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Gary Tooze

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