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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

directed by Walter Hill
USA 1978

 

An audacious, skillful film noir by Walter Hill, so highly stylized that it's guaranteed to alienate 90 percent of its audience. There's no realism, no psychology, and very little plot in Hill's story of a deadly game between a professional getaway driver (Ryan O'Neal) and a detective obsessed with catching him (Bruce Dern). There is, however, a great deal of technically sophisticated and very imaginative filmmaking. The cross-references here are Howard Hawks, Robert Bresson, and Jean-Pierre Melville: a strange, heady, and quite effective range of influences.

Excerpt from Dave Kehr's capsule on the Chicago Reader located HERE.

Posters

Theatrical Release: July 10th, 1978

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Comparison:

20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Happinet - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray

1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT
2) Happinet - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE
3) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT
 
 Box Covers

 

 

Distribution 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC

Happinet

Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Twilight Time

Region FREE- Blu-ray

Runtime 1:29:18  1:27:52.267 1:29:21.397
Video 1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average BHappinetate: 4.29 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
1080i Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 24,724,028,600 bytes

Feature: 23,953,238,016 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 28.98 Mbps

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 28,777,980,487 bytes

Feature: 27,473,584,128 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 35.98 Mbps

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

Bitrate:

Bitrate: Blu-ray

Bitrate: Twilight Time Blu-ray

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0) English (mono) French (mono)  DTS-HD Master Audio English 1774 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1774 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1661 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1661 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio Japanese 1624 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1624 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1092 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1092 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)
Isolated Score: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1738 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1738 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles English, Spanish, French, None Japanese, none English, none
Features

Release Information:
Studio: 20th Century Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 1.78:1

Edition Details:

• Alternate Beginning 

DVD Release Date: June 7th, 2005

Keep Case
Chapters: 20

Release Information:
Studio: Happinet

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

1080i Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 24,724,028,600 bytes

Feature: 23,953,238,016 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 28.98 Mbps

Edition Details:
• Theatrical Trailer (3:21) + (2:12)

Blu-ray Release Date: October 2nd, 2012
Black Blu-ray Case inside cardboard slipcase

Chapters 25

Release Information:
Studio: Twilight Time

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 28,777,980,487 bytes

Feature: 27,473,584,128 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 35.98 Mbps

 

Edition Details:
• Alternate Opening (3:20)

• Theatrical Trailer (2:26)

• Isolated Score track

Limited to 3,000 unites

Blu-ray Release Date: August, 2013
Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 12

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - August 13': I won't spend too much time here - the captures tell the better story - the new Twilight Time is dramatically sharper but still retains that greenish hue - also present on the Fox DVD - but it appears even more pronounced. It shows more info in the frame and is progressive - as opposed to interlaced (like the Japanese transfer).

Twilight Time stick with the original mono - in lossless - it sounds clean and authentically flat. There are optional subtitles. Twilight Time include their usual isolated track and add a short alt-ending and a trailer plus the Julie Kirgo liner notes.

This IS region Free and limited to only 3,000 units - these tend to go OOP quick so if you want it - I'd get it now. The film does not look totally perfect in HD but it is, by far, the best we have.

***

ADDITION: Happinet - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - October 12': No. This is a very poor - firstly it is transferred in 1080i (interlaced) and is filled with waxy DNR and softness.  To add insult to injury - it is also cropped on all 4 edges. You're the one in the driver's seat here so 'steer clear' of this Japanese Blu-ray...

***

ON THE DVD: Walter Hill is a good director and this is a damn good crime/thriller film. The image on the 20th Century Fox DVD is excellent. Tight, anamorphic and great contrast. No manipulations that I could see. The stereo audio is consistent if unremarkable. The extra feature is an alternate beginning to the film running a little over 3:00 minutes. Value for $'s this is a great buy. out of    

Gary W. Tooze

 


Menus

 

1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT

2) Happinet - Region 'A' - Blu-ray RIGHT

 

 

Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 


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

 

Subtitle Sample

 

1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC TOP
2) Happinet - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE
3) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 

Screen Captures

 

1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC TOP
2) Happinet - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE
3) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 


1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC TOP
2) Happinet - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE
3) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 


1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC TOP
2) Happinet - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE
3) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 


1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC TOP
2) Happinet - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE
3) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 


1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC TOP
2) Happinet - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE
3) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 

 


1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC TOP
2) Happinet - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE
3) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 

More Blu-ray Captures

1) Happinet - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP
2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 
1) Happinet - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP
2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 
1) Happinet - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP
2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 

 

 Box Covers

 

 

Distribution 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC

Happinet

Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Twilight Time

Region FREE- Blu-ray

 





 

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Gary Tooze

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