ADDITION: Criterion - April 2010: Thankfully Criterion have given this Tennessee Williams/Sidney Lumet/Brando et all masterpiece some respect with a healthy dual-layered, progressive transfer. The comparison with the MGM seems almost silly as the Criterion handily wins on all fronts.

The Criterion image looks good although not always stellar. I suspect it is as SD-strong as the source elements will allow and probably what held it back from going Blu-ray. The, 1.66 aspect ratio, anamorphic presentation on all systems improves more dramatically than the below captures indicate. If that isn't enough - the Criterion is advertised as "New, restored high-definition digital transfer, approved by director Sidney Lumet". Criterion's first disc shares the feature film with nothing else - not even a trailer - so the bitrate for the 2-hour film is very high. It looks somewhat lighter and the softness appears to be inherent.

The audio is mono - unremarkable but clean and clear. Criterion offer optional English subtitles.

The new DVD is stacked with a second, dual-layered, disc starting with a 1/2 hour video interview with Lumet recorded for Criterion in 2010. He talks with passion and understanding about his career, the actors and especially Tennessee Williams. There is another half-hour piece entitled Hollywood's Tennessee and The Fugitive Kind with R. Barton Palmer and Robert Bray supplying rich information about the lauded playwright. Kinescope style we get three 20-minute one-act plays by Tennessee Williams from 1958, directed by Lumet and starring the likes of Ben Gazarra + Lee Grant, among others. Video quality is expectantly poor. Lastly, there is a 20-page liner notes booklet featuring photos and an essay by film critic David Thomson.

The film works every time I revisit it and it is very pleasing to have it 16X9 enhanced and the package stuffed with interesting supplements. Anna Magnani is magnificent. The Criterion - even at top tier pricing - is strongly recommended for the film and extras.    

***

ON THE MGM DVD: What a shame. Continuing their trend as the worst major studio (if they are a 'studio' anymore) DVD productions house, MGM has not only avoided 16X9 enhancement for this widescreen film, but include that it is not even progressively transferred (note combing in screen captures below). It is almost impossible to believe. This single layered digital travesty is not even worth the $11 it is being released for. No extras - only two menus and 12 chapters for the films entire 2 hour running time. Not only is this DVD presentation disrespectful to the film, but to MGM's consumers as well. They really don't deserve to have this film in their catalogue and they should have simply sold it for whatever they could get for it to Warner.

Gary W. Tooze