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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "The Leopard" or "Le Guépard")

directed by Luchino Visconti
Italy / France 1963

Criterion product description: Making its long-awaited U.S. home video debut, Luchino Visconti’s The Leopard (Il Gattopardo) is an epic on the grandest possible scale. The film recreates, with nostalgia, drama, and opulence, the tumultuous years of Italy’s Risorgimento—when the aristocracy lost its grip and the middle classes rose and formed a unified, democratic Italy. Burt Lancaster stars as the aging prince watching his culture and fortune wane in the face of a new generation, represented by his upstart nephew (Alain Delon) and his beautiful fiancée (Claudia Cardinale). Awarded the Palme d’Or at the 1963 Cannes Film Festival, The Leopard translates Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s novel, and the history it recounts, into a truly cinematic masterpiece. The Criterion Collection is proud to present the film in two distinct versions: Visconti’s original Italian version, and the alternate English-language version released in America in a newly restored special edition.

***

Italian director Luchino Visconti delivers one of his most ambitious works with this sprawling historical drama. Based on the acclaimed novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, THE LEOPARD is set in Sicily during the 1800s, as the aristocracy found itself being suffocated by a newly democratic fervor. Prince Don Fabrizio Salina (Burt Lancaster) tries to hold on to the past, but it appears that his glory days are waning. This is perfectly exemplified by his nephew Tancredi Falconeri (Alain Delon) and his gorgeous wife-to-be Angelica (Claudia Cardinale). As the revolt gathers steam and begins to affect a real change, the aging prince must come to terms with the new world that surrounds him. With THE LEOPARD, Visconti confirms his status as one of Europe's most masterful directors, particularly with the 45 minute ballroom scene.

Theatrical Release: March 28th, 1963 - Italy

Reviews        More Reviews       DVD Reviews

Comparison:

BFI - Region 2- PAL vs. Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Medusa - Region 2 - PAL vs. BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Gary Tooze and Ole Kofoed for the DVD Screen Caps!

1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL LEFT

2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Medusa - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray RIGHT

DVD Box Covers

 

Distribution BFI
Region 2 - PAL

Criterion Collection

Region 1 - NTSC

Medusa
Region 2 - PAL
BFI
Region 'B' -
Blu-ray
Runtime 2:57:48 (4% PAL speedup) 3:05:54 2:57:42 (4% PAL speedup) 3:05:28
Video

2.21:1 Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.47 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

2.21:1 Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.33 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

2.35:1 Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.99 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1080P / 23.976 fps Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 42,034,842,608 bytes

Feature: 39,164,430,336 bytes

Video Bitrate: 24.69 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

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

Bitrate:

B F I

Bitrate:

Criterion

 

Bitrate:

 

Medusa

 

Bitrate:

 

Blu-ray

 

Audio Italian (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) Italian (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)

Italian (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)

LPCM Audio Italian 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit
Dolby Digital Audio English 320 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 320 kbps
Subtitles English or Commentary Subtitles or none. English or none. English, Italian or none. (Extras is only subtitled in Italian) English or none
Features Release Information:
Studio: BFI Video

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.21:1

Edition Details:
• Full Feature Commentary by David

Forgacs and Rossana Capitano (optional subtitles)
• Interview with Claudia Cardinale (optional English subtitles)
• Director Biography
• Trailer

• 1 page sleeve notes by David Forgacs
 

DVD Release Date: September 27th, 2004
Transparent Keep Case

Chapters 25

 

Release Information:
Studio: Criterion

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.21:1

Edition Details:
• New transfer of of the 161-minute American release, with English-language dialogue (including Burt Lancaster's actual voice)
• Audio commentary by film scholar Peter Cowie
• A Dying Breed, a new hour-long documentary featuring interviews with Claudia Cardinale, screenwriter Suso Ceccho D'Amico, cinematographer Guiseppe Rotunno, Sydney Pollack, and many others
• Interview with professor Millicent Marcus on the history behind The Leopard
• Interview with producer Goffredo Lombardo
• Stills gallery of rare behind-the-scenes production photos
• Theatrical trailer
• 3-DVD Set

DVD Release Date: June 8, 2004
Keep Case

Chapters 32

Release Information:
Studio: Medusa

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• Interview with producer Goffredo Lombardo (19:33)
• About the restoration of the movie (11:13)
• Featurette: Il gattopardo - un viaggio nella memoria (20:46)
• 2 newsreels (3:01) (0:43)
• Gallery of customes, scenography and behind the scenes,
• Theatrical trailer
• 68 pages booklet (In Italian)
• 2-DVD Set (There is also an OOP LE edition which include a soundtrack CD)

 

DVD Release Date: 2001
Keep Case

Chapters 28

Release Information:
Studio: BFI Video

 

1080P / 23.976 fps Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 42,034,842,608 bytes

Feature: 39,164,430,336 bytes

Video Bitrate: 24.69 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:
• Full Feature Commentary by David

Forgacs and Rossana Capitano (optional subtitles)
• Interview with Claudia Cardinale (optional English subtitles) (9:53 in HD!)

Theatrical trailer in (3:16 in HD!)
• 
26-page liner notes booklet with essay by David Forgacs
 

DVD Release Date: February 15th, 2010
Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 25

 

Comments

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

ADDITION: BFI - Region B Blu-ray - November 09:

There are some issues about this release - so let's get them out of the way first. It has been reported that this disc has difficulty playing on modified Oppo Digital BDP-83 Blu-ray players. It supposedly has wobbly and / or jumpy movement that can corrupt the viewing experience. While I own the Oppo - I have been lazy to try region-free'ing firmware since I also own two Momitsu's (the 899 and 799) which are both region free by punching a code via the remote control. Oppo have been informed and may be working on a firmware fix. Secondly, this disc is currently only available from HMV in the UK. While we have considered becoming associated with this chain - I, and other ListServ members, have reported exorbitant shipping fees for international clients (this occurred while buying The Red Shoes when they had that 'exclusive'). It turned me off HMV completely and DVDBeaver does not endorse them. Luckily Amazon in the UK (one of the most reliable and customer friendly e-tailors in the world) have this listed for February of 2010. Plus there is another problem (see below).

How does it look on my Momitsus? Stunning with an imperfection in the last hour of the film. This is one of the more beautiful films I think I've ever seen - and certainly worthy of a 1080P transfer. Like the 2004 BFI DVD (of which this source is seemingly based) this is in the 2.21 aspect ratio. The entire spectrum of colors jumps to life with brighter more vibrant hues on Blu-ray. Detail takes a large step forward, grain is readily apparent and, despite the films extensive running time filling almost 40 Gig - with a mid 20's bitrate, the transfer encapsulates some real depth at times. While it supports the Criterion DVD transfer in appearance - absolutely everything I can judge is improved - and with a film of this grandeur - it can often be overwhelming. But.....

NOTE: The last Blu-ray disc file (14.5 Gig - 00011.m2ts) has a predominantly darker transfer than we've seen from the DVDs (see our ballroom screen grab below). Rest assured - we will investigate - but it almost looks like moiring at times as the black levels are so uncharacteristically pitch.

Audio gives two options - Linear PCM 2.0 channel track Italian at 1536 kbps and an English Dolby Digital offering. It sounds almost as good as it looks with some range limitations in the original 2.0 channel stereo. Nino Rota's symphonic original score is a real beauty and it sound very nice with a crisp high-end and supportive bass response. There are optional English subtitles for the feature and the commentary as Rossana Capitano's beautiful accent may be a shade difficult from some to interpret at times.

Nothing new in the supplements - I had forgotten how informative this commentary (a Herculean project for the, staggeringly deep, 3 hour film) is - and we get the same 10-minute Cardinale interview (with optional subs) in HD but also now a 3:15 trailer in HD as well.

My advice at this stage is to buy, but I'd like the opportunity to dissect it more over the holidays (and investigate 00011.m2ts) - where I will report again before the Amazon release date. Let's hope they can fix this flaw as it is specifically this type of film we want put to hi-def.

NOTE: In further investigation - we can confirm that there appears to be something wrong with the last Blu-ray file - in that the black levels are extravagantly compromised. Please stay tuned.   

***

 

ON THE DVDs: Criterion's transfer of the 70mm negative at Technicolor was in London 2003. They transferred this newly discovered element in High-Definition 24f, which would allow for equivalent down-conversion to both PAL and NTSC, so no transfer from NTSC to PAL would be necessary. BFI matched this image and the recent Italian restored soundtrack. The opticals were produced by Lee Kline from Criterion with Giussepe Rutonno, and set within the new 70mm transfer, after which BFI recieved the Pal clone of the finished HD Master.

 

Regarding aspect ratio, there is a lot of misinformation running around about this. The Leopard was originally shot in 35mm Technirama at 2.35:1, then blown up to 70mm Super-Technirama which has an aspect ratio of 2.21:1. This blowup results in a beautiful 70mm element but has the adverse effect of shaving off the sides by a slim margin. Since this picture was slated to be blown up to Super-Technirama, one can assume that Visconti and Rutonno framed their compositions with this in mind. So... what this means is, both the Criterion and the BFI DVD display the 70mm elements, in all the beautiful colour that gauge was capable of. If you're watching another (ex. Italian Medusa DVD) that displays a little more image on the right and left, then it's pretty clear this was made from the "restored 35mm print", containing a little more left and right, but faring far worse in overall colour, contrast, detail, grain, condition, etc...

 

We can dismiss the Medusa right away for its 35mm image that is faded and hazy.

 

The Criterion looks to have gone through a filtering of some sort and is slightly sharper than the BFI. The BFI commentary is wonderful and is a strong reason to choose this version or both this and the Criterion. I was less impressed by Peter Cowie commentary on the Criterion, but is also full of marvelous insight. Colors are accurate in both. Unless you are projecting on a large surface I think you would be happy (or even ecstatic) with either. It may be a case of personal preference and where you can get it most reasonably. The Criterion does offer the shorter release as well, if you are interested in that.

 - Gary Tooze

 


DVD Menus

(BFI - Region 2- PAL LEFT vs. Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Medusa - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)
 

 

 


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

 

Subtitle Sample

 

1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL TOP

2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Medusa - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

 


 

Screen Captures

1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL TOP

2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Medusa - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL TOP

2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Medusa - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


 

1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL TOP

2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Medusa - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL TOP

2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Medusa - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

More Blu-ray Captures

 

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Report Card:

 

Image:

Blu-ray

Sound:

Blu-ray

Extras: BFI (prefer commentary, but Criterion is stacked)
DVD Box Covers

 

Distribution BFI
Region 2 - PAL

Criterion Collection

Region 1 - NTSC

Medusa
Region 2 - PAL
BFI
Region 'B' -
Blu-ray

 



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Gary Tooze

Mississauga, Ontario,

   CANADA