(aka 'Triumphbogen')
Directed by
Lewis Milestone
USA 19
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Paris 1938, city of last resort for the stateless, including a surgeon (Boyer) whose obsession with a Nazi sadist (Laughton) leaves him vulnerable to deportation and ill-prepared for romance with Ingrid Bergman. The original Remarque novel is too hefty to fit into two hours screentime, and if Milestone chooses to focus on the tale of the doctor's revenge and his doomed romance, he also breathes life into an assembly of supporting roles: concierge, café proprietor, a general reduced to night-club doorman, none of whom is played for comic relief. Bergman seems out of place as an Italian/Romanian good-time girl, but Russell Metty gives harsh light and inky shadow to seedy hotel rooms we'll see again in Touch of Evil ten years on. |
Posters
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Theatrical Release: February 17th, 1948
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Comparison:
Kinowelt Home Entertainment - Region 2,8 - NTSC vs. LionsGate - Region 1 - NTSC
(Kinowelt Home Entertainment - Region 2,8 - NTSC LEFT vs. LionsGate - Region 1 - NTSC RIGHT)
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| Distribution | Kinowelt Home Entertainment - Region 2,8 - NTSC | LionsGate - Region 1 - NTSC |
| Runtime | 2:12:28 | 2:12:20 |
| Video | 1.33:1
Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.36 mb/s NTSC 720x576 25.00 f/s |
1.33:1
Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.46 mb/s NTSC 720x576 25.00 f/s |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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| Bitrate: Kinowelt |
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| Bitrate: Lionsgate |
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| Audio | English (Dolby Digital 1.0), DUB: German (Dolby Digital 1.0) | English (Dolby Digital 2.0) |
| Subtitles | German, None | English, Spanish, None |
| Features |
Release Information: Edition Details: •
Documentary on Ingrid Bergman (1:09:32 in English) |
Release Information: Edition Details:
• LionsGate adverts |
| Comments: |
ADDITION: Lionsgate - Region 1 - NTSC: Lionsgate continue to impress us as the most inconsistent of DVD labels. A progressive transfer (and some extras) would have been such a welcome benefit to putting Arch of Triumph on this dual-layered DVD. But alas, it is fraught with errors - some the same as the Kinowelt and also some new distractions. Like the German edition - it has prevalent combing and instances of chroma bug. The Lionsgate image is softer and although contrast is not exceptional it improves on the sepia tinge of the European release. The Kinowelt looks brightness boosted and the Lionsgate shows more damage. Pretty disgraceful overall. The Kinowelt has bountiful extras where the Lionsgate is bare-bones but priced accordingly. Bottom line - both are suitable for CRT viewing and if you might be keen on the German edition's supplements - that is the way to go. If not - the Lionsgate is probably worth $10 for the film alone. It really is a shame that they can't get their act together though. Sigh. *** ON THE KINOWELT: NOTE: The Feature is in NTSC and the bonus features are in PAL! This dual-layered transfer is only suitable for CRT viewing - it is rife combing (an interlaced source) - see last capture. There is also horizontal banding producing abundant macro-blocking and some chroma bug evident (see capture identifying below). None of these deficiencies should hinder television tube viewing to any strong degree. English mono audio is acceptable but not stellar and there is a German DUB optional as are German subtitles. The film is a good war-romance and Bergman's visage steals the show, although some decent camerawork makes it pleasant viewing.
Supplements on disc two include a good hour+ long documentary (in English) on Ingrid Bergman with input from many of her colleagues, contemporaries and friends. This vaults the DVD into recommendation territory. For those keen on the era, or Bergman herself, you will appreciate the package - the only digital edition of the film at present. |
Kinowelt
Packaging:
DVD Menus
(Kinowelt Home Entertainment - Region 2,8 - NTSC LEFT vs. LionsGate - Region 1 - NTSC RIGHT)
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Disc 2
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(Kinowelt Home Entertainment - Region 2,8 - NTSC TOP vs. LionsGate - Region 1 - NTSC BOTTOM)
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(Kinowelt Home Entertainment - Region 2,8 - NTSC TOP vs. LionsGate - Region 1 - NTSC BOTTOM)
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(Kinowelt Home Entertainment - Region 2,8 - NTSC TOP vs. LionsGate - Region 1 - NTSC BOTTOM)
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(Kinowelt Home Entertainment - Region 2,8 - NTSC TOP vs. LionsGate - Region 1 - NTSC BOTTOM)
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(Kinowelt Home Entertainment - Region 2,8 - NTSC TOP vs. LionsGate - Region 1 - NTSC BOTTOM)
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Report Card:
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| Extras: | Kinowelt |
| Menu: | - |
| DVD Box Cover |
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| Distribution | Kinowelt Home Entertainment - Region 2,8 - NTSC | LionsGate - Region 1 - NTSC |
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