Alan J. Pakula's - All the President's Men - Dustin Hoffman Robert Redford DVD Review Alan J. Pakula All the President's Men Dustin Hoffman Robert Redford DVD Review Alan J. Pakula All the President's Men Dustin Hoffman Robert Redford DVD Review Alan J. Pakula All the President's Men Dustin Hoffman Robert Redford DVD Review Alan J. Pakula All the President's Men Dustin Hoffman Robert Redford DVD Review Alan J. Pakula All the President's Men Dustin Hoffman Robert Redford DVD Review

directed by Alan J. Pakula
USA 1976

In the run-up to the 1972 elections, Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward covers what seems to be a minor break-in at the Democratic Party National headquarters. He is surprised to find top lawyers already on the defense case, and the discovery of names and addresses of Republican fund organizers on the accused further arouses his suspicions. The editor of the Post is prepared to run with the story and assigns Woodward and Carl Bernstein to it. They find the trail leading higher and higher in the Republican Party, and eventually into the White House itself.

*****

In the Watergate Building, lights go on and four burglars are caught in the act. That night triggered revelations that drive a U.S. President from office. Washington reporters Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) grabbed the story and stayed with it through doubts, denials and discouragement. All the President's Men is their story. Directed by Alan J. Pakula and based on the Woodward/Bernstein book, the film won four 1976 Academy Awards (Best Supporting Actor/Jason Robards, Adaptation Screenplay/William Goldman, Art Direction and Sound). It also explores a working newspaper, where the mission is to get the story and get it right.

Posters

Theatrical Release: April 4th, 1976

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DVD Comparison:

Warner - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Warner (2-disc Special Edition) - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC

(Warner - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. Warner (2-disc Special Edition) - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Cover
	The new Special Edition is also available in the Controversial Classics, Vol. 2 - The Power of Media Boxset with - All the President's Men / Network / Dog Day Afternoon) (all Two-Disc Special Editions).
Distribution	Warner Region 1 - NTSC	Warner (Special Edition) Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC
Runtime	2:18:05	2:18:05
Video	1.77:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 4.22 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.4 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate : Warner 1st release
Bitrate: Warner (Special Edition)
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 1.0)	English (Dolby Digital 1.0)
Subtitles	English, French, Spanish, None	English, French, Spanish, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Warner Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.77:1 Edition Details: • Text pages (Cast Crew etc.) NOTE: The widescreen is on one side and a pan-and-scan edition is on the opposite side. DVD Release Date: October 29th, 1997 Snapper case Chapters 32	Release Information: Studio: Warner Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Edition Details: • Commentary by Robert Redford • Telling the Truth About Lies: THe Making of All the President's Men Out of the Shadows: The Man Who Was Deep Throat • Woodward and Bernstein: Lighting the Fire • Vintage featurette Pressure and the Press: The Making of All the President's Men • Vintage Jason Robards interview excerpt from Dinah!, hosted by Dinah Shore • Alan J. Pakula thrillers trailer gallery DVD Release Date: February 21st, 2006 Double Slim Keep Case Chapters 32

Comments

The old release was fraught with digital noise giving an excessively grainy and textured appearance and when colors in a scene were bright they tended to bleed a bit. Although artefacts are plainly visible the big issue was the vertically stretched image which becomes most evident in side-by-side comparison. I suppose we should have some leniency on the old edition as it did come out in 1997 (yes, they were making DVDs way back then).

The new release shows much more information on the top and bottom but a shade less on the right edge. The new 2-disc edition is much brighter with more accurate colors although in this comparisons it may reflect a slight softness (anamorphic moulding) next to the old issue - keep in mind the digital artefacts in the old release reflect darkness boosting which can give a false impression of sharpness. Weight the positives against the negatives the new edition is far ahead in every category. The Redford commentary is very good and the extras are quite extensive and highly relevant. This is a fabulous and important film and we strongly recommend the new package.

We strongly endorse this new release and feel that the entire Controversial Classics, Vol. 2 - The Power of Media Boxset is a very worthy purchase.

- Gary Tooze

DVD Menus

(Warner - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. Warner (2-disc Special Edition) - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC - RIGHT)

Warner Special Edition - Disc 2

Screen Captures

(Warner - Region 1 - NTSC TOP vs. Warner (2-disc Special Edition) - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
Subtitle Sample: Not exact frame