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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(aka 'Rififi')
directed
by Jules Dassin
France 1955
A seminal work of crime filmmaking that lead the
young critic Francois Truffaut to declare the best Film Noir I have ever
seen, Jules Dassin's Rififi [Du rififi chez les hommes]
has influenced films as diverse as Reservoir Dogs and Oceans
Eleven since its release. Following, Tony le Stephanois (Jean Servais), a master thief fresh out of jail, wearing a harried look and suffering ill health he refuses to be involved with crime, until he finds his girlfriend shacked up with a rival gangster. With little reason to keep living he plans a final job. Tony sets about finding his crew and meticulously planning the job; a robbery of the jewellery store Mappin & Webb. Rififi revolves around the central heist, famed for its finite detail and incredible tension, but the drama does not end at the heist like so many other crime films. Dassins film is a humanist tale that hinges on the loyalty among thieves and draws on the fatalistic, doom laden lives common to crooks and thieves in pulp literature. *** After making such American noir classics as The Naked City and Brute Force, blacklisted director Jules Dassin went to Paris and embarked on his masterpiece: a twisting, turning tale of four ex-cons who hatch one last glorious heist in the City of Lights. At once naturalistic and expressionistic, this melange of suspense, brutality, and dark humor was an international hit and earned Dassin the Best Director prize at the Cannes Film Festival. |
Posters (Click to enlarge)
Theatrical Release: April 15th, 1955 - France
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Madman Entertainment (Australia) Region 0 - PAL vs. Gaumont - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Arrow Academy (Dual Format) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray vs. Criterion Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
PAL
DVD screenshots courtesy of Ole
1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT2) Madman - Region 0 - PAL - SECOND3 ) Gaumont - Region FREE - Blu-ray - THIRD4) Arrow Academy - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - FOURTH 5) Criterion Collection - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT |
Box Covers |
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Released in a single-disc Blu-ray edition in October 2018: | |||||
Distribution | Criterion
Collection
- Spine #115 Region 1 - NTSC |
Madman Entertainment
Region 0 - PAL |
Gaumont
Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Arrow Academy
Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Criterion Collection, spine #115 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:58:24 | 1:57:48 (No PAL Speed Up?) | 1:58:05.666 | 1:58:13.127 | 1:58:24.514 |
Video | Original
Aspect Ratio (Standard) - 1.37:1 Average Bitrate: 6.71 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
Original
Aspect Ratio (Standard) - 1.37:1 Average Bitrate: 6.21 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s |
Disc Size: 24,576,843,967 bytes Feature Size: 21,061,693,440 bytes Average Bitrate: 21.70 MbpsSingle-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P |
Disc Size: 45,143,228,997 bytes Feature Size: 32,754,892,800 bytes Average Bitrate: 32.95 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P |
Disc Size: 43,969,427,562 bytes Feature Size: 34,905,815,040 bytes Average Bitrate: 34.99 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes |
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Madman Entertainment
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Region FREE - Blu-ray
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Arrow Academy
Region 'B' - Blu-ray
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Criterion
Blu-ray
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Audio | French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), Dub - English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) |
French Dolby Digital 2.0 mono |
DTS-HD Master Audio French 865 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 865 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit) | LPCM Audio French 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit |
LPCM Audio French 1152 kbps
1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit DUB: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps |
Subtitles | (White) English or none | (Yellow) English (removable when the film is running) | French or none | English or none | English or none |
Features | Release
Information: Studio: Criterion Edition Details: • Production notes
DVD Release Date:
April 24, 2001 Chapters
24 |
Release Information: Madman Entertainment (Australia)
Discographic
Information: Layers:
Dual
DVD Release Date:
April 2002 Chapters 20 |
Release
Information: Studio: Gaumont
Disc Size: 24,576,843,967 bytes Feature Size: 21,061,693,440 bytes Average Bitrate: 21.70 MbpsSingle-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P Edition Details: • Jules Dassin:
l'elegance de noir (33:57)
Blu-ray Release Date: February 22nd, 2011Standard Blu-ray Case with cardboard slipcase Chapters 12 |
Release
Information: Studio: Arrow
Disc Size: 45,143,228,997 bytes Feature Size: 32,754,892,800 bytes Average Bitrate: 32.95 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P Edition Details: • Filmed
introduction by Ginette Vincendeau, French cinema critic, scholar and author
(24:08)
Blu-ray Release Date: May 9th, 2011Chapters 12 |
Release Information: Studio: Criterion Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Disc Size: 43,969,427,562 bytes Feature Size: 34,905,815,040 bytes Average Bitrate: 34.99 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P
Edition Details: • Stills Gallery • Trailer (2:45) • Optional English-dubbed soundtrack • One Blu-ray and one DVD, with all content available in both formats PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic J. Hoberman Blu-ray Release Date: January 14th, 2014 Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters 24 |
Comments: |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - January 13': So Criterion take their kick-at-the-can for Dassin's noir-ish crime thriller. Their 1080P is slightly darker and more technically robust than the Arrow (with a max'ed out video bitrate) - it also shows quite a bit more information in the frame - on all 4 sides - than any of the other digital editions. While I have no proof - I suspect it is the most theatrically accurate - the contrast shows a richer, texture-filled image that just reeks of 'dark cinema'.Criterion's linear PCM mono track sounds exactly like the Arrow but they also offer an English DUB (same as the old SD) but not in lossless. Of course, English subtitles are available on the region 'A'-locked Blu-ray disc. Extras duplicate the Criterion DVD from 2001 with the 1/2 hour interview with director Jules Dassin from 2000 (also found on the Arrow Blu-ray which trumps the Criterion digital supplements) There is a Stills Gallery and trailer. This is another dual-format edition with one Blu-ray and one DVD, with all content available in both formats and included is a booklet featuring an essay by critic J. Hoberman. I could watch Rififi yearly for the rest of my life. One of many Dassin flics I could say the same about. Strongly recommended! *** ADDITION: Arrow Academy Region 'B' Blu-ray: April 2011: The Arrow image is excellent - a significantly higher file size and bitrate but looking from the same strong source gives the UK 1080P Blu-ray transfer the nod with a nice sheen of textured grain and the equally clean and impressive appearance with strong detail and contrast. It may be slightly darker than the Gaumont Blu-ray - or that French disc may have some minor brightness boosting. Without being picky - both discs produce strong visuals but technically the Arrow Academy is superior appearing, in my opinion, a shade more film-like. For audio - the UK disc goes with a linear PCM track in original mono. In sampling I couldn't note much difference between the two lossless tracks. The most important attribute to the Arrow is the optional English subtitles (see sample below) but the disc is coded region 'B'-locked. No commentary but the Arrow has some excellent extras including an introduction by Ginette Vincendeau, French cinema critic, scholar and author for almost 25-minutes, a 1/2 interview with Jules Dassin and a 37-minute Q&A with the director at the BFI Southbank, London. There is also an original theatrical trailer (2:51) and a comprehensive booklet featuring brand new writing on the film by writer and filmmaker David Cairns, author Alistair Phillips (Rififi: French Film Guide), Francois Truffaut and John Trevelyan. The Artwork presentation packaging includes three original posters and a newly commissioned artwork cover. There is also a PAL - Region 2 DVD included in the 'Dual Format' release. NOTE: The enclosed DVD has the features and some of the extras but omits the Jules Dassin interview and the Q&A with the director at the BFI Southbank, London which are exclusive to the Blu-ray. Wonderful package for fans of the film and Dassin - along with the Masters of Cinema Antonioni packages this is one of the best Blu-rays to come out of the UK so far this year. Absolutely recommended! ***
ADDITION: Gaumont Region FREE Blu-ray: March 2011: Okay - short story the single-layered Gaumont Blu-ray is region FREE... but has no English subtitles (but does offer French ones). We will assume the upcoming -in May 2011 - Arrow (UK) Blu-ray HERE will be of similar strong transfer quality (solid detail and minimal artifacts) and hopefully will also be region FREE. We intend on adding it to this comparison as soon as it is released. *** ON THE DVDs: Although it appears as though the Australian Madman version has duplicated the Criterion extras they certainly couldn't duplicate the image quality. Hazy and washed-out the Madman release, from an unconverted NTSC source - see 'ghosting', displays green and sepia hues. The Criterion on the other hand is sharper (see the Umbrella top in capture #3 but has some edge-enhancement). My other complaint with the Criterion was two reels were out of sync with the sound being slightly early - This was corrected in a 2nd printing. Picky, I know. The Australian release has inaccurate and incomplete sub-titles. Go with the Criterion all the way on this one. Aside: Unclear throughout the narrative of the film, the cabaret song in the show that details what the word "rififi" means 'for the rough and tumble', as an active sexual reference. |
Recommended Reading in Film Noir (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
Film Noir: An Encyclopedia Reference to the American
Style by Alain Silver, Elizabeth Ward |
The Dark Side of the Screen: Film Noir by Foster Hirsch |
Somewhere in the Night: Film Noir and the American City by Nicholas Christopher |
The Art of Noir: The Posters and Graphics from the
Classic Era of Film Noir by Eddie Muller |
The Little Black and White Book of Film Noir:
Quotations from Films of the 40's and 50's by Peg Thompson, Saeko Usukawa |
Film Noir by Alain Silver |
Detours and Lost Highways: A Map of Neo-Noir by Foster Hirsch |
More Than Night: Film Noir in Its Contexts by James Naremore |
(Criterion left,
Madman Entertainment right)
DVD Menu
Gaumont - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Arrow Academy - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
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Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Subtitle sample
1) Arrow Academy - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion Collection - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP2) Madman - Region 0 - PAL - SECOND3 ) Gaumont - Region FREE - Blu-ray - THIRD4) Arrow Academy - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - FOURTH 5) Criterion Collection - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP2) Madman - Region 0 - PAL - SECOND3 ) Gaumont - Region FREE - Blu-ray - THIRD4) Arrow Academy - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - FOURTH 5) Criterion Collection - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP2) Madman - Region 0 - PAL - SECOND3 ) Gaumont - Region FREE - Blu-ray - THIRD4) Arrow Academy - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - FOURTH 5) Criterion Collection - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP2) Criterion - edge-enhancement halos - SECOND 3) Madman - Region 0 - PAL - THIRD4) Gaumont - Region FREE - Blu-ray - FOURTH 5) Arrow Academy - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - FIFTH 6) Criterion Collection - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP2) Madman - Region 0 - PAL - SECOND3 ) Gaumont - Region FREE - Blu-ray - THIRD4) Arrow Academy - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - FOURTH 5) Criterion Collection - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP2) Madman - Region 0 - PAL - SECOND3 ) Gaumont - Region FREE - Blu-ray - THIRD4) Arrow Academy - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - FOURTH 5) Criterion Collection - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
More Criterion Blu-ray Captures
Report Card:
Image: |
Criterion Blu-ray |
Sound: |
Blu-rays (Criterion also offers English DUB) |
Extras: |
Arrow Blu-ray |
Box Covers |
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Released in a single-disc Blu-ray edition in October 2018: |
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Distribution | Criterion
Collection
- Spine #115 Region 1 - NTSC |
Madman Entertainment
Region 0 - PAL |
Gaumont
Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Arrow Academy
Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Criterion Collection, spine #115 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
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