Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/direct-chair/kubrick.htm
USA / UK 1962

Newly arrived in Ramsdale, New Hampshire, European émigré Humbert Humbert is smitten. He plans to marry Charlotte Haze. That way he’ll always be close to his dear one – Charlotte’s precocious daughter! Filmmaker Stanley Kubrick explores the theme of sexual obsession (a subject he would revisit 37 years later in Eyes Wide Shut) with this darkly comic and deeply moving version of Vladimir Nabokov’s novel. James Mason plays devious, deluded Humbert: wedded to needy Charlotte (Shelley Winters); rivaled by the ubiquitous Clare Quilty (chameleon-like Peter Sellers); and enraptured to his gelatinous core by the blithe teen (Sue Lyon) with that “lovely, lyrical, lilting name” – Lolita.

***

What a surreal, dreamlike world Stanley Kubrick creates with this intriguing film! The book, a recognized 20th century classic, is at times disturbing, hysterically funny, uncomfortably erotic, and heartbreakingly sad. The film, made in the 60s, captures many of the same feelings generated by the book--but the censorship of the time could only allow Kubrick to suggest the more intimate and erotic aspects of the book--which he slyly succeeds in doing. It is hard to believe now, but when this film was released, it was considered to be unbelievably provocative and absolutely for adults only.

The movie becomes its own artistic statement---Kubrick doesn't merely try to recreate the scenes and storyline of the book--although much of it is there--but he uses the period music, speech, clothes and mannerisms to create his own imaginative and fascinating world. At the same time, we sure do end up caring about the characters. Within the exceptional cast, note the special performance Shelly Winters gives--her character is at once funny and so achingly sad and pathetic. This is a real tour-de-force of acting. In several instances we go from laughing at her to really disliking her, to feeling so very sorry for her. She creates a truly memorable character.'


Excerpt of 'middleberg' review on IMdb found HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release Date: June 13th, 1962

Reviews                                                            More Reviews                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Incidental Reading on Stanley Kubrick (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)

Kubrick: Inside A Film Artist's Maze by Thomas Allen Nelson Stanley Kubrick, Director: A Visual Analysis by Alexander Walker Stanley Kubrick: Interviews (Conversations With Filmmakers Series)
by Stanley Kubrick, Gene D. Phillips
Stanley Kubrick The Complete Films
by Paul Duncan
The Complete Kubrick by David Hughes Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures
by Christiane Kubrick
Narrative And Stylistic Patterns In The Films Of Stanley Kubrick by Luis Garcia Mainar The Making Of 2001: A Space Odyssey Kubrick : The Definitive Edition
by Michel Ciment

Check out more in "The Library"


 Comparison:

Warner Original Version Region 1 - NTSC vs. Warner Re-issued Version Region 2 - PAL vs. Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Thanks to Markus for the R2 DVD Screen Captures 

1) Warner (original) - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT

2) Warner (Re-issue) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE

3) Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT

 

DVD Box Covers

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

  

  

Distribution Warner Original Version Video 
Region 1 encoded (North America) 
Warner Re-issued Version 
Region 2 (Japan, Europe, Middle East)

Warner

Region FREE - Blu-ray

Runtime 2:33:25  2:27:10  2:33:31.243
Video Widescreen - 1.66:1 
Average Bitrate: 5.63  mb/s

NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
Widescreen - 1.66:1 
Average Bitrate:  5.81 mb/s

PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 23,533,105,270 bytes

Feature: 23,104,555,008 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 15.98 Mbps

  NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Original DVD

 

Bitrate:

Reissue DVD

Bitrate:

Blu-ray

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0), DUB - French (Dolby Digital 2.0)

English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono DUB - German Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1107 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1107 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)
Dolby Digital Audio French 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio German 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio Italian 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio Portuguese 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB
Subtitles English, French or None
German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Swedish,
Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Turkish, Portuguese, Hebrew, Polish, Greek, Czech, Hungarian, Croatian, German (captions), English (captions)
English, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, none

Features:

Release Information:
Studio: Warner Studios

DVD Release Date: June 29, 1999
Package Type: Snap Case

Aspect Ratios:
1.66:1/4:3 Letterbox WideScreen

Discographic Information:
DVD Encoding: Region 1
Layers: Dual


Edition Details:
• Original Theatrical Trailer (00:59 min)
• Black & White, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby
• 42 Chapters

Release Information:
Studio: Warner Studios

DVD Release Date: 23 August 2001
Package Type: Snap Case

Aspect Ratios:
1.66:1/4:3 Letterbox WideScreen

Discographic Information:
DVD Encoding: Region 2
Layers: Dual

Edition Details:
• Black & White, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby
• Original Theatrical Trailer (00:59 min)
• 42 Chapters

Studio: Warner
 

1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 23,533,105,270 bytes

Feature: 23,104,555,008 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 15.98 Mbps

Edition Details:
Trailer

 

Blu-ray Release Date: May 31st, 2011
Standard
Blu-ray case

43 Chapters

 

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray - May 11': I guess the best way to describe the Warner 1080P transfer is "Modest... but satisfying". Black levels, possibly boosted (Mason's hair and the gun), are a notable deviation from the DVDs. Moiring was not a factor but the overall image is darker - and presumably more accurate. This is single-layered, 1.66:1 and has a lowish bitrate for the 2.5 hour film. There is still a softness but that may be inherent in the original production. It easily looks the best, but the improvement may not be as extravagant as some are looking for. There were many scenes where I was impressed with the appearance - it, predictably has a closer resemblance to film. Grain doesn't dominate but what is there seems fairly even. There is some inconsistent movement in the frame but overall we gain a tad of information on most side edges.

Audio remains faithfully mono but tightens up via the DTS-HD Master at 1107 kbps. It is without notable flaw that I could identify and depth is more apparent than on the SDs. There are a lot of foreign language DUBs and subtitle options on the Region FREE Blu-ray disc.

The only extra is a 1-minute trailer in 480i.

I think some may have been anticipating more from the release. I can only say that it gave me a solid presentation and I have my suspicions that the film can't/won't be looking much better for my home theater viewing. Certainly the price is very appealing. Most Kubrick fans will indulge without hesitation.

 

***

 

ON THE DVDs: Aside from the glorious new transfer both discs are identical ( subs and audio aside ). The limited Extras are the same as is the solid Dolby Digital 2.0 sound. Even though the image quality of the new release is miles ahead of the old, and reported as being one of the best of the new group, it still has a shade of edge enhancement. Still, this will be as good as this film will look on DVD in our lifetime I'll wager. The R2 Warner disc (same as the R1 re-issue) is wonderful and the obvious choice.   

Gary W. Tooze

Kubrick on DVD (NTSC) - CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information

Stanley Kubrick Boxset Eyes Wide Shut Full Metal Jacket The Shining Barry Lyndon A Clockwork Orange 2001: A Space Odyssey

Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned To Stop Worry and Love the Bomb

Lolita

Spartacus

Paths of Glory

The Killing

Killer's Kiss



(Warner Original Version Video left, Warner Re-issued Version right)

DVD Menus

 

Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 


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

 

 

1) Warner (original) - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT

2) Warner (Re-issue) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE

3) Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT

 


1) Warner (original) - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT

2) Warner (Re-issue) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE

3) Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT

 


1) Warner (original) - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT

2) Warner (Re-issue) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE

3) Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT

 


1) Warner (original) - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT

2) Warner (Re-issue) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE

3) Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT

 


1) Warner (original) - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT

2) Warner (Re-issue) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE

3) Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT

 

More Blu-ray Captures


Hit Counter


Report Card:

 

Image:

Warner Blu-ray

Sound:

Warner Blu-ray

Extras: Warner Blu-ray

 

DVD Box Covers

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

  

  

Distribution Warner Original Version Video 
Region 1 encoded (North America) 
Warner Re-issued Version 
Region 2 (Japan, Europe, Middle East)

Warner

Region FREE - Blu-ray




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

 CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Many Thanks...