Duel in the Sun - Jennifer Jones Gregory Peck

(aka "Lust in the Dust")

directed by King Vidor
USA 1946

When I first started watched King Vidor's "Duel in the Sun" I was held in awe by the cinematography, the powerful cast, the Dimitri Tiomkin soundtrack and the director's epic presentation of the story. Back this up with the coquettish intangible charm of Jennifer Jones and I knew I was in for a real treat. Marvelous, marvelous. Yes, I bought into this film totally. Obviously Producer David Selznick was in a tough position - nothing he could have done could compare to his triumph of "Gone With the Wind", but I think this less successful film and his attempt should be both recognized and appreciated.

Jennifer Jones portrays a stunningly beautiful half-breed named Pearl with an unbridled spirit that she cannot contain. Her noble father is executed when he lets his emotions run amok when he murders both his wife and her lover engaged in a moment of passion. She is then sent to live with distant, wealthy relatives in the heart of Texas ranch country. Once there, she meets prejudicial indifference from patriarch Senator Jackson McCanles (Lionel Barrymore). The story revolves around her divided affections between the family's good son Jesse (Joseph Cotten) and his abusive brother Lewton, played with uncharacteristic mean-spiritedness by a young and handsome Gregory Peck. She is seduced by Lewton although her head reminds her of her weak and vacillating choice. The passions of both brothers spins out of control to a stirring climax as Pearl's love/hate feelings morph into a desperate act of vengeance followed almost immediately, and irrationally, by her desires and expression of love.

To me this film represented everything grand about a time in Hollywood that seems almost totally forgotten. When there is nothing of a similar nature produced in 1946, this film should be recognized for David O. Selznick's blazing attempt at cinematic progression and maverick individualism. By today's standards many new critics fail to pay worthy homage to films like this, unfortunately expecting the quick thrills so predominant in the current flavors of the week. Aside from the incongruous ending this is a mammoth film of the Silver Screen with lasting value. I feel I must give it, at bare minimum, out of

Gary Tooze

Posters

Theatrical Release: December 31st 1946 (Los Angeles, California) (premiere)

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Recommended Reading for Western Genre Fans (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)


The Crowded Prairie: American National Identity in the Hollywood Western (Cinema and Society) by Michael Coyne	The Invention of the Western Film : A Cultural History of the Genre's First Half Century (Genres in American Cinema S.) by Scott Simmon	The Searchers (Bfi Film Classics) by Edward Buscombe	The Western Genre by John Saunders	Westerns: Films through History (AFI Film Readers) by Janet Walker	The Encyclopedia of Westerns (The Facts on File Film Reference Library) by Herb Fagen, Tom Selleck	The Western (Inside Film) by David Lusted	Red River (Bfi Film Classics) by Suzanne Liandrat-Guigues

Check out more in "The Library"

DVD Comparison:

MGM - Region 1- NTSC (Roadshow) vs. Anchor Bay (Roadshow) (OOP)- Region 0 - NTSC vs. Anchor Bay (OOP) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. PT Video (Roadshow) Region 2 - PAL

(MGM - Region 1- NTSC LEFT vs. Anchor Bay (Roadshow) - Region 0 - NTSC SECOND vs. Anchor Bay - Region 0 - NTSC THIRD vs. PT Video (Roadshow) Region 2 - PAL RIGHT)

MGM Home Entertainment

Region 1 - NTSC

Anchor Bay Entertainment

Region 0 - NTSC

DVD Box Covers

Distribution

Anchor Bay Entertainment

Region 0 - NTSC

PT Video
Region 2 - PAL

Distribution	MGM Home Entertainment Region 1 - NTSC	Anchor Bay Entertainment Region 0 - NTSC	Anchor Bay Entertainment Region 0 - NTSC	PT Video Region 2 - PAL
Runtime	2:24:05	2:23:55	2:09:20	2:18:05 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	1.33 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.80 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.33 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.58 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.33 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.31 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.49 PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	Bitrates: NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: MGM + Anchor Bay (Roadshow)
Bitrate: MGM + Anchor Bay (Roadshow)
Bitrate: Anchor Bay + PT Video
Bitrate: Anchor Bay + PT Video
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
Subtitles	English, Spanish, French, none	None	None	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical trailer (2:16) DVD Release Date: May 25, 2004 Keep Case Chapters 16	Release Information: Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Coming Soon Trailer • Coming Soon Teaser • Popular Tag (1947) • Widescreen Tag (1954) • Full Length Trailer DVD Release Date: March 6, 2001 Keep Case Chapters 27	Release Information: Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • All Regions DVD Release Date: January 19, 1999 Keep Case Chapters 17	Release Information: Studio: PT Video Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Coming Soon Trailer • Coming Soon Teaser • Popular Tag (1947) • Widescreen Tag (1954) • Full Length Trailer • Photo Gallery • Biographies • Text comments from Martin Scorsese and Gregory Peck DVD Release Date: April 1, 2003 Keep Case Chapters 19

Comments:

NOTE: the MGM is reported as having numerous audio problems. Because of this and the cropping, we immediately switch our recommendation to the OOP Anchor Bay (Roadshow) version. MGM really dropped the ball on this one.

ADDITION: MGM (May 2004) - The image on the MGM is very slightly sharper although I am not overly impressed with the colors which still seem a little too red to me as well as dull. It is the most cropped of the 4 editions - mostly on the left edge. No Extras, but it is the only addition with subtitles. The sound is also flawed on the MGM. Frankly I was hoping for a lot more, although it is dual layered (like the Anchor Bay Roadshow, but there are only 16 chapter stops for a film of almost 2.5 hours which is sloppy by MGM. Stick with the Anchor Bay Roadshow edition (which is way OOP). Find it and keep it - it is the definitive version!

There are some quite striking differences in the initial release from Anchor Bay to the two "Roadshow" edition that directly followed in Region 2 and by Anchor Bay again in Region 1. It is plain to see the initial Anchor Bay release was sloppy and fit on a single layered disc quite easily without using the longer "Roadshow" print. Anchor Bay's initial release is garbage - contrast boosted, color manipulated with No Extras Features although it possibly is the least cropped of the three editions. Anchor Bay's "Roadshow" version is the sharpest of the three and the duplicated colors in the Region 2 PT Video DVD prove the colors are accurate. I see minor cropping in all editions and the most, it seems, in the Anchor Bay "Roadshow". Overall the PT Video version is quite strong. Both Region 1 releases are Out of Print (due, no doubt to Jennifer Jones) which bodes well for the sale of MGM's release in March. Lets hope they rise to the occasion with a sterling image, solid audio and some decent Extras Features.

- Gary W. Tooze

Difference between the Roadshow and regular version is approx. 14 minutes of Prelude/Overture/Exit music by Dimitri Tiomkin.

DVD Menus

(MGM - Region 1- NTSC LEFT vs. Anchor Bay (Roadshow) - Region 0 - NTSC RIGHT)

(Anchor Bay - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT vs. PT Video (Roadshow) Region 2 - PAL RIGHT)

Screen Captures