The Caine Mutiny - Humphrey Bogart

directed by Edward Dmytryk
USA 1954

Having aligned himself with producer Stanley Kramer after naming names during the HUAC witch-hunt trials, Dmytryk opted for ever more turgidly serious subject matter. This, the last and perhaps the best of his films for Kramer, was an adaptation of Herman Wouk's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about the court martial carried out against peacetime naval destroyer officers Francis and Johnson after they have mutinied against Bogart's Captain Queeg, who panics during a storm. Bogie's considerable charisma is visibly weakened by his tired appearance, and the strong cast is never really allowed full rein by Dmytryk, whose abiding concern that fair play be seen to be done, with regard to all the characters' various motivations, makes for a stodgily liberal courtroom drama.

Excerpt from TimeOut Film Guide located HERE

Posters (click to enlarge)

Theatrical Release Date: June 24, 1954

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DVD Comparison:

Sony - Collector's Edition - Region 1- NTSC vs. Columbia Tri-Star Video Region 1 - NTSC vs. Columbia Tri-Star Region 2/4 - PAL

(Sony (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. Columbia Tri-Star Region 1 - NTSC MIDDLE, Columbia Tri-Star Region 2/4 - PAL RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers Click to order:
Distribution	Sony - Collector's Edition Region 1 - NTSC	Columbia Tri-Star Video Region 1 - NTSC	Columbia Tri-Star Region 2/4 - PAL
Runtime	2:04:20	2:04:24	1:59:32 (4% PAL Speedup)
Video	Widescreen - 1.78:1 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 4.51 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	Widescreen - 1.78:1 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 4.30 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	Widescreen - 1.78:1 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.98 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Sony
Bitrate: Columbia Region 1
Bitrate: PAL
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0), DUB: French (Dolby Digital 1.0)	English (Dolby Digital 1.0), DUBs: Spanish (Dolby Digital 1.0), French (Dolby Digital 1.0)	English, French, German, Italian, Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Subtitles	English, French or None	English, Spanish, French or None	English, French, German, Italian, Hebrew, Czech, Greek, Polish, Hungarian, Dutch, Arabic, Portuguese, Turkish, Icelandic, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish
Features:	Release Information: Studio: Columbia/Tri-star Studios Aspect Ratios: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 ( on opposite side ) Edition Details: • Commentary by Richard Peña and Ken Bowser • Behind "The Caine Mutiny" Part I (18:50) • Behind "The Caine Mutiny" Part II (16:10) DVD Release Date: May 8th, 2007 Keep Case inside cardboard box Chapters 28	Release Information: Studio: Columbia/Tri-star Studios Aspect Ratios: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 ( on opposite side ) Edition Details: • Theatrical trailers: 'The Caine Mutiny', 4:3, (:55) 'Dead Reckoning' , black and white, 4:3, (1:37) • Full-screen and widescreen anamorphic formats DVD Release Date: December 15, 1998 Keep Case Chapters 28	Release Information: Studio: Columbia/Tri-star Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Edition Details: • US trailer in full frame with Dolby Digital 2.0 sound (00:53) • 9 photos in black/white • Incomplete Filmographies for for Humphrey Bogart, Jose Ferrer, Van Johnson and director Edward Dmytryk. DVD Release Date: 1999 Super-Jewel Case Chapters 28

Comments:

ADDITION: Sony - CE - Region 1- NTSC - April 07': I'm pretty sure that I don't care for this new transfer. It appears as though they have boosted reds - to gain and edge in sharpness - but the image is actually softer with some details (like Bogie's wrinkles) removed. I suppose it's is a personal preference. The new CE does have less artifacts but I always kind of liked the grainy look of the Columbia transfers. Certainly though colors have been manipulated. On he positive it does appear cleaner, and of course, is anamorphic and progressive. The Collector's Edition often shows a shade more information in the frame (left edge).

What the new CE has done is add some decent supplements. We have a pretty good commentary with Richard Peña and Ken Bowser. Peña is always good and together they discuss Kramer, Dmytryk and Bogart. I quite enjoyed it as I do most discussions about Bogie. The two work well together and are filled with knowledge. There are also two featurettes; Behind "The Caine Mutiny" Part I running 18:50, and Part II running 16:10. A lot of clips from the film are used and some taking heads (Peña and Bowser again) giving input. Overall I am very happy about the extras although remain somewhat disappointed by the transfer. I really enjoy this film and watch it at least once a year so I am happy to have both editions.

***

Both Discs have fine anamorphic picture quality, but the Region 1 has a little too much red in its skin tones. Both being Columbia Tri-Star discs there are only minute differences. They seem equally as sharp and the R2 shows just a tad more good film grain. The extras go with a slight edge to the R2 PAL for the stills gallery. A great film, with great performances but this is not the edition to sway you to buy an alternate region machine. The R2 is better, but not significantly.

Gary W. Tooze

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(Sony - Collector's Edition - Region 1 - NTSC)

(Columbia Tri-Star R1 - NTSC LEFT, Columbia Tri-Star R2 - PAL RIGHT)