The Men - Marlon Brando - Teresa Wright

Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

(aka 'Battle Stripe' or 'The Courage of Man')

Directed by Fred Zinnemann
USA 1950

Marlon Brando set the mark for a brilliant career in Stanley Kramer's THE MEN, his motion picture debut. As a war veteran paralyzed in combat, he returns home to face the torturous ordeal of rehabilitation. The courage and strength of the soldier are betrayed by the fear and insecurity of the man when he learns he will never walk again. Embittered by his condition, he refuses to see his fiancee and sinks into a solitary world of hatred and hostility. Fighting the wishes of her parents, the coldness of a guilt-ridden society and her own self-doubts, it is she who must force him to confront the reality of his condition and break his physical and emotional confinement. When feeling starts to return to his legs, it could be his last hope...or his final downfall.

Poster / Lobby card

Theatrical Release: July 20th, 1950

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Republic Pictures - Region 1 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Republic Pictures - Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	1:26:42
Video	1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.59 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Republic Pictures Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • None DVD Release Date: November 3rd, 2009 Keep Case Chapters: 23

Comments:

In December of 2003 Artisan came out with this, Brando's first feature, in a very lackluster transfer available HERE. It is now listed as 'Republic Pictures' DVD distribution and appears to be the same transfer with, simply, a different cover. It's visually weak and single-layered but progressive and certainly watchable. The first few minutes exhibit the most damage but throughout there are speckles and lighter scratches.

Audio is as limited as the video but dialogue is discernable. There are no subtitles and no extras at all. To be fair the price reflects those omissions. The DVD inferiorities don't take away from the magnificence of the film one iota. Those keen on early Brando, director Zinnemann or the lovely Teresa Wright should probably indulge at this low price. The film alone is surely worth it and there are no plans for a restoration or superior edition anytime soon.