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.

Posters

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. 

- Gary W. Tooze


Blu-ray Extras

 




DVD Menus

(
Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Carlton - Region 2- PAL - RIGHT)


 


 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Screen Captures

 

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

2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Carlton - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM

 

 


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

2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Carlton - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM

 

 


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

2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Carlton - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM

 

 


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

2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Carlton - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM

 

 


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

2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Carlton - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM

 

 


 

More Blu-ray grabs

 


DVD Box Covers

Distribution

ITV (UK)

Region 'B'  - Blu-ray

Criterion Collection Spine # 76

Region 1  - NTSC

Carlton 
Region 2 - PAL



 


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