DVD Comparison Michael Powell + Emeric Pressburger's - Black Narcissus - DVD Review Michael Powell Emeric Pressburger Black Narcissus DVD Review Michael Powell Emeric Pressburger Black Narcissus DVD Review Michael Powell Emeric Pressburger

UK 1947

The story: five Protestant missionary nuns embark on the task of establishing a school/health center and residence for their future convent in the desolate Himalayan mountains. The dwelling is a deserted sultans palace surrounded by the grandeur of the snowcapped peaks of Kanchenjunga. Obstacles confront them at every turn with a community of superstitious natives and a jaded and rugged British intermediary named Mr. Dean (David Farrar). Adding to these hurdles are their own emotional frailties, culture shock and previously unearthed worldly passions with the inherent creeping jealousies and desires. The project proves a daunting test for the ambitious Sister Clodagh (Deborah Kerr), given her first taste of authority and her strong determination to succeed as she counters the continuous roadblocks.

Master cinematographer Jack Cardiff's extravagant visual Technicolor style helps expose the breathtaking landscape into a corollary for the transcendent seduction overtaking the pious strangers to this new world. Settling into this sparse and haunting atmosphere, steeped in firmly entrenched traditions and cultural roots, proves to be an unanswerable challenge. The nuns are from a bleak, simple world of black and whites and are now thrust into the color-infused landscape filled with mysterious native idiosyncrasies. Powell and Pressburger's style never seems to overwhelm with grandiose or flashy fad-like presentations, but they allow the film's gentle essence to sweep over you with a coaxing allure lingering with gratuitous and gentle determination. When you think of I Know Where I'm Going, A Canterbury Tale, Gone to Earth, A Matter of Life and Death etc. etc., it is all about the pure feeling the film evokes. Black Narcissus is another prime example. One of the greatest joys of film experience is to submit to the elegant, glorious and resplendent world of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. This is another of their best films!out of

Gary W. Tooze

Posters

Theatrical Release: May 26th, 1947

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DVD Comparison:

Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Warner Home Vidéo (2-disc) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Network - Region 2 - PAL

(Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT vs. Warner Home Vidéo (2-disc) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE vs. Network - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	Criterion Collection - Spine # 93 - Region 0 - NTSC	Warner Home Vidéo Region 2 - PAL	Network Region 2 - PAL
Runtime	1:40:33	1:36:27 (4% PAL speedup)	1:36:39 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate:7.67 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.92 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.71 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: Criterion
Bitrate: Warner Home Vidéo
Bitrate: Network
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby)
Subtitles	English, None	French, None	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Criterion Collection Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Audio commentary by late director Michael Powell and Martin Scorsese • Painting with Light, a new video documentary on Jack Cardiff and Black Narcissus by Craig McCall, produced exclusively for this release • A collection of rare behind-the-scenes production stills • 6-page liner notes with essay by Dave Kehr DVD Release Date: January 30, 2001 Keep Case Chapters: 26	Release Information: Studio: Warner Home Vidéo (France) Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Preface by Martin Scorsese in English with optional French subtitles (3:21) • Introduction by Bernard Tavernier (8:26) with English subtitles • Trailers of 3 Powell and Pressburger films Disc 2 • Memories of Michael (11:24) in English with optional French subtitles • Daring with an Aventuer - French with optional English subtitles (17:23) • Profile of Black Narcissus - English with optional French subtitles (23:59) • Painting With Light - English with optional French subtitles (25:37) • This is Color anamorphic short documentary - English with optional French subtitles (13:50) • 40-page liner notes booklet with Photos and essays (In French only) DVD Release Date: April 4th, 2006 Three tiered digipak inside slipcase Chapters: 16	Release Information: Studio: Network Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Commentary With Michael Powell And Martin Scorsese • Painting with Light, a new video documentary on Jack Cardiff and Black Narcissus by Craig McCall • A Profile of Black Narcissus • Trailer • Image Gallery • 8-page liner notes booklet with essay by Martin Scorsese DVD Release Date: September 26th, 2005 Keep Case Chapters: 12

Comments

ADDITION: Warner Home Vidéo (April 06'): For many of us we really did not require this validation that the colors on the Network edition were more accurate than those on the Criterion. The Network colors are much closer to the new Warner Home Vidéo, but the image quality on this new French release is even sharper!

All we can say is 'Wow' - this new DVD release, labeled from the 'Collection Institut Lumiere' as are the other new Powell and Pressburger offerings from Warner Home Vidéo in Europe, looks outstanding. The colors are perfect and the slight haziness apparent in the Network is replaced by a crisp image that may have some minor black-level boosting (but nothing compared to the manipulation on the Criterion). The image is the best I have ever seen of this film.

The extras in the Warner package are fairly extensive clocking in at almost 2 hours worth - it only seems slighted by the lack of commentary (available on both the Criterion and the Network). I am also a fan of subtitles (optional English) but it seems like a small point when the image quality is this tremendous. The entire package is stunning. After a 2nd viewing of the Warner disc, I can confirm that it is the definitive digital transfer for the film and we strongly recommend!

****

ADDITION - NETWORK - Region 2- PAL - October 05'

The new transfer is directly off a new interpositive struck directly from the YCMs... which the Criterion isn't. And the colors, for me, are just perfection. (Thanks Bruce!)...

Bruce's comments ring true and I think this shows the value of direct frame comparisons as we initially had the Criterion on of our ESSENTIAL DVDs (already changed) but side-by-side against the new NETWORK release we can identify a few flaws. Portions of the Criterion are not progressively transferred, hence we can see 'combing' in two of the screen capture below. The NETWORK is far more filmic looking than the Criterion which has some fluctuating contrast, chroma bug and an appearance of color bleeding. The Criterion looks very thin in comparison and it also has more scratches, dirt and damage. It appears to have been brightened. The NETWORK does not have a subtitle option. In the area of extras, the commentary is the same as is the featurette 'Painting With Light' but the NETWORK brings a few new supplements with the 24 minute 'Profile of Black Narcissus'. Audio appears on a par with the Criterion - and may actually be slightly clearer.

Although the Criterion states 'Created with the participation of cinematographer Jack Cardiff' I suspect transfer methods have improved in the past 4 years and the NETWORK source was obviously superior.

DeeF says:

'I've seen Black Narcissus several times in the theater, the last being about the year 1999, at Film Forum in NY.

The Technicolor of a projected film really can't be reproduced properly on a digital video, and I admit to always being disappointed in the Criterion disk.

In addition to odd color problems, the Criterion has audio-synch issues.'

(thanks Dee!)

Cliff says:

'Some of the screen shots from the Network disk (e.g., that shot with the golden metal thingie) remind me of Fantoma's DVD of "Tiger of Eschnapur". Technicolor on DVD doesn't get much better.' (thanks Cliff!)

The Network edition is a must-own DVD. No question.

*****

There are some visible scratches and it can tend to look saturated at times. I understand a "fog filter" was used in filming so some scenes are in intentionally hazier than others. Probably the weakest part of this DVD is the sound, but holding it up to normal standards, it is quite acceptable. Let's remember this film is over 50 years old - almost impossible to believe. Nice Extra feature of the "Painting with Light" short and of course the Powell commentary.

Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

Warner Home Vidéo (2-disc) - Region 2 - PAL

Disc 2 of the Warner Home Vidéo (2-disc) - Region 2 - PAL

(Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT vs. Network - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

Subtitle Samples