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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
Directed by Peter Yates
UK 1971
Iconic actor Peter O’Toole (Lawrence
of Arabia, The
Stunt Man) joins forces with director Peter Yates (Bullit,
The Friends
of Eddie Coyle) in this blisteringly acerbic, wildly entertaining film about the
absurdity of war.
***
"Peter O’Toole (The Ruling
Class) gives one of his most spirited and memorably performances in
Murphy’s War, a blood-and-thunder adventure film directed with grit by Peter
Yates (The
Friends of Eddie Coyle,
The Deep). *** A lone survivor from a British naval ship is obsessed with getting revenge on a German U-boat crew that massacred his shipmates in the water. |
Posters
Theatrical Release: January 13th, 1971
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray vs. Arrow - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Box Cover |
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Bonus Captures: |
Distribution | Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray | Arrow - Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:46:12.532 | 1:46:39.184 |
Video |
2.35 :1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 46,698,561,275 bytesFeature: 31,048,910,016 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.90 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
2.35 :1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 49,467,720,305 bytesFeature: 29,494,844,160 bytesVideo Bitrate: 32.89 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate Indicator Blu-ray: |
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Bitrate Arrow Blu-ray: |
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Audio |
LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit |
LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit |
Subtitles | English (SDH), None | English (SDH), None |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Indicator
2.35 :1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 46,698,561,275 bytesFeature: 31,048,910,016 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.90 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details: • Michael Deeley in Conversation (2008): archival audio interview with the Murphy’s War producer, recorded onstage at BFI Southbank (41:38) • Philippe Noiret on Murphy's War (5:59) • Interview with editor and assistant director John Glen (2022) (31:08) • Interview with focus puller Robin Vidgeon (2022) (17:18) • Video appreciation by academic and film historian Sheldon Hall (2022) (17:17) • Behind the Camera: Douglas Slocombe (1999): archival documentary on the great cinematographer, featuring interviews with Richard Attenborough, Alan Parker and Ken Russell (12:46) • Super 8 version: original cut-down home-cinema presentation (20:15) • Alternate US Ending Credits (1:19) • Textless theatrical trailer (3:20) • Image gallery: promotional and publicity material • Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Julian Wheeler, an archival interview with Peter O’Toole, a look at the production of the film, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits
Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters 12 |
Release Information: Studio: Arrow
2.35 :1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 49,467,720,305 bytesFeature: 29,494,844,160 bytesVideo Bitrate: 32.89 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details: • Running Out of War, a new visual essay by film critic David Cairns (19:49) • A Great Adventure, an archive interview with assistant director John Glen (31:07) • Dougie, Chic and Me, an archive interview with focus puller Robin Vidgeon (17:17) • One Man Army, an archive interview with film critic Sheldon Hall (17:18) • Theatrical trailer (3:17) • Image gallery Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Peter Strain Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by film critic Philip Kemp
Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters 13 |
Comments: |
NOTE:
The below
Blu-ray
captures were taken directly from the
Blu-ray
disc.
NOTE: We have added 48 more large
resolution Blu-ray captures
(in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE
On their
Blu-ray,
Arrow also use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the
original English language. My ears could detect no significant
differences in the audio. Murphy's War
has war-related aggression; planes, machine guns, torpedoes etc. which come through
flat but carrying subtle depth. The film's wonderful music is composed
by
John Barry (Inside
Moves,
The
Whisperers, Boom, Deadfall,
Jagged Edge,
The Chase, Midnight
Cowboy, Dances
With Wolves and the Bond themes
among his many credits) and
Ken Thorne (Juggernaut, Arabian
Adventure, Hannie
Caulder,
Wolf
Lake, The
Bed Sitting Room,
The Outsider) - there
is also My Hat's on the Side of My Head performed by Roy Fox
played on the gramophone and Onward Christian Soldiers sung by
Peter O'Toole. This all sounds clean and consistent with track titles;
The Village, Learning To Fly, The Nurse, Murphy
Watches, Destroy The Enemy and the Finale - superb in the
uncompressed transfer. Arrow offer optional English (SDH) subtitles
on their Region 'A'
Blu-ray.
For extras,
Peter Yates's Murphy's War
is an exceptional film with a stellar cast/crew. It has Peter O'Toole as
'Murphy' - the lone survivor of a sunk British naval ship (filmed
near the Orinoco River in Venezuela) who is obsessed with exacting
revenge on a German U-boat crew that slaughtered his friends - despite
the global status of the war's conclusion. There are some significant
differences from the Max Catto novel - notably in the conclusion. Murphy's War
evokes
The African Queen. Michael Deeley states that he and Peter Yates
turned down the opportunity of
The Godfather (1972) to make Murphy's War. Siân Phillips
was acting opposite her then-husband Peter O'Toole, they had costarred
together in
Becket and
Goodbye, Mr. Chips. The screenplay was written by Stirling
Silliphant (Charly,)
with the intent of focusing on the absurdity of war. The lead was given
to Peter O'Toole who accepted the role for $250,000, after others had
turned it down, including Warren Beatty, Robert Redford and Lee Marvin.
While the Indicator
Blu-ray
has more extras, I appreciated the
visual essay by David Cairns on the Arrow. The
notable difference centers on the image and the colors. The Arrow
Blu-ray
will be a keeper for me. I love the cover too! Definitely worthy of a
double-dip.
***
NOTE: We have added 60 more large
resolution Blu-ray captures
(in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE
On their
Blu-ray,
Indicator use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the
original English language.
Supplements on Indicator's
Blu-ray
We can always count on Indicator to produce
exceptional Blu-ray
|
Menus / Extras
Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Arrow - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
1) Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray TOP 2) Arrow - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
|
More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Indicator Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE
Box Cover |
|
Bonus Captures: |
Distribution | Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray | Arrow - Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Search DVDBeaver |
S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |