Brief Encounter Blu-ray Trevor Howard David Lean

directed by David Lean
U.K. 1946

From Noël Coward’s play Still Life, legendary filmmaker David Lean deftly explores the thrill, pain, and tenderness of an illicit romance in the dour, gray Britain of 1945. From a chance meeting on a train platform, a middle-aged married doctor (Trevor Howard) and a suburban housewife (Celia Johnson) enter into a quietly passionate, ultimately doomed love affair, set to a swirling Rachmaninoff score.

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Theatrical Release: February 11th, 1946 - UK

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Comparison:

ITV - Region 'B' - Blu-ray vs. Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Carlton - Region 2 - PAL

1) ITV (UK) - Region 'B' Blu-ray LEFT

2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Carlton - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	ITV (UK) Region 'B' - Blu-ray	Criterion Collection Spine # 76 Region 1 - NTSC	Carlton Region 2 - PAL
(click titles for DVDBeaver reviews) Criterion (without the extras) also available in The Essential Art House - 50 Years of Janus Films - a 50-disc celebration of international films collected under the auspices of the groundbreaking theatrical distributor. It contains Alexander Nevsky (1938), Ashes And Diamonds (1958), L'avventura (1960), Ballad Of A Soldier (1959), Beauty And The Beast (1946), Black Orpheus (1959), Brief Encounter (1945), The Fallen Idol (1948), Fires On The Plain (1959), Fists In The Pocket (1965), Floating Weeds (1959), Forbidden Games (1952), The 400 Blows (1959), Grand Illusion (1937), Häxan (1922), Ikiru (1952), The Importance Of Being Earnest (1952), Ivan The Terrible, Part II (1958), Le Jour Se Lève (1939), Jules And Jim (1962), Kind Hearts And Coronets (1949), Knife In The Water (1962), The Lady Vanishes (1938), The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp (1943), Loves Of A Blonde (1965), M (1931), M. Hulot's Holiday (1953), Miss Julie (1951), Pandora's Box (1929), Pépé Le Moko (1937), Il Posto (1961), Pygmalion (1938), Rashomon (1950), Richard III (1955), The Rules Of The Game (1939), Seven Samurai (1954), The Seventh Seal (1957), The Spirit Of The Beehive (1973), La Strada (1954), Summertime (1955), The Third Man (1949), The 39 Steps (1935), Ugetsu (1953), Umberto D. (1952), The Virgin Spring (1960), Viridiana (1961), The Wages Of Fear (1953), The White Sheik (1952), Wild Strawberries (1957), Three Documentaries By Saul J. Turell plus the hardcover, full color 240-page book.
Runtime	1:26:27.041	1:26:15	1:22:27 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	Disc Size: 16,061,894,524 bytes Feature Size: 13,827,992,064 bytes Total Bitrate: 21.33 Mbps Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.17 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.13 PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes
Bitrate: Criterion
Bitrate: Criterion
Bitrate: Carlton
Audio	Dolby Digital Audio English 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) - Film and Director Commentary	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
Subtitles	English, and none	English, and none	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: ITV DVD Disc Size: 16,061,894,524 bytes Feature Size: 13,827,992,064 bytes Total Bitrate: 21.33 Mbps Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 Video Edition Details: • A Profile of Brief Encounter (24:05) • Restoration Featurette (3:27) • Stills Gallery • Theatrical Trailer DVD Release Date: February 2nd, 2009 Thick (UK) Blu-ray Case Chapters 8	Release Information: Studio: Criterion Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 Discographic Information: DVD Encoding: Region 1 Layers: Single Edition Details: • Audio commentary by film historian Bruce Eder • Restoration Sample (1:59) • Restored Theatrical trailer (2:49) • 2 page insert essay by Adrian Turner • Luminous Digital Transfer With Restored Image And Sound DVD Release Date: June 27, 2000 Keep Case Chapters 20	Release Information: Studio: Carlton Visual Entertainment Ltd Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 Discographic Information: DVD Encoding: Region 2 Layers: Single Edition Details: • "A Profile of Brief Encounter" documentary (24:48) • Still Gallery (9) • Un Restored Theatrical trailer (2:31) • 8 page insert with bios by Robyn Karney and Photos • Biographies (Celia Johnson, Noel Coward, Trevor Howard, David Lean) DVD Release Date: 19 February, 2001 Transparent Keep Case Chapters 15

Comments:

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

ADDITION: ITV - Region 'B' Blu-ray: There are a few disappointing aspects to this new Blu-ray from ITV in the UK. This looks like it may be the first Blu-ray from that company that is region 'B' locked - making it unplayable on most standard Region 'A' and 'C' Blu-ray players. It is undoubtedly restored, and looks much cleaner, but I have a few issues with the transfer. The feature is only 13 Gig of the single-layered disc and the image quality seems a big inconsistent with contrast appearing much stronger at certain times but more bland in others. In some scenes the ITV Blu-ray seems horizontally stretched (or vertically squished) which may be noticeable to some from the screen grabs below. On the positive grain is present and all the light scratches removed. In toggling back and forth between the hi-def and the Criterion, I'd say that the 1080P image is a bit sharper, less noise and in general terms is simply better (contrast, cleaner, tighter) but is certainly imperfect. I'd say from my expectations that this is somewhat of a disappointment. I'm certain it could still look even better with a Criterion dual-layered Blu-ray transfer. Perhaps one day.

Audio may be marginally improved as well, but I can't make a definitive statement about that. It sounds quite clean with audible dialogue. The Blu-ray also offers optional English subtitles.

Extras are only in PAL but aren't a bad lot at all with 25 minutes of A Profile of Brief Encounter (also found on the Carleton) with historical input from many participants and fans. There is a 3.5 minute 'Restoration Featurette', a Stills Gallery and Theatrical Trailer. There is no commentary or new featurette material.

As I commented, I am a bit disappointed but still believe this to be the best image presently available. As consistently regarded as one of the top 10 British films of all time lets hope a more competent Blu-ray (Criterion?!?) comes along sooner rather than later.

****

ON THE DVDs (written in 2002): Well, it appears as the film progresses the Carlton quality decreases (or the Criterion improves). I don't have any explanation for this, it is just something I observed. The Carlton is darker and less sharp. Criterion for the image all the way. The Criterion commentary is extremely illuminating so it just beats out the nice 25 minute documentary on the Carlton in the Extras department. Overall the Carlton is not a bad disc, especially for the money, its just that the Criterion is great disc. I am glad I saw the documentary on the Carlton and I suppose die-hard fans of the British icon film will want both editions. Who can blame them, but the definitive version is certainly the Criterion.