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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r


 

Directed by Roger Corman
USA 1967

 

This film has some uniqueness for instilling such vivid memories, albeit with the use of one powerfully violent scene. Corman's re-creation of the famous Chicago gang massacre of the 20s has a strong cast that seems to go on and on, even in bit parts - Jason Robards, George Segal, Ralph Meeker, Jean Hale, Frank Silvera, Bruce Dern John Agar, Harold Stone, and even Jack Nicholson (better look quick). Judged solely as cinema it is only slightly above average but as a gangster drama it is one of the more eviscerating ever made. Definitely worth seeing.

 

  Posters

Theatrical Release: June 30th, 1967

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Comparison:

20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 Box Cover

   

   

   

Also released on Blu-ray from twilight Time:

  

The Classic Crime Collection - Street Justice DVD set includes Murder Inc., The French Connection, The St. Valentine's Day Massacre, The Seven-Ups
Distribution 20th Century Fox Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC

Indicator

Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Runtime 1:39:45  1:39:53.112  
Video 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.24 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

Disc Size: 39,317,358,843 bytes

Feature Size: 31,635,349,056 bytes

Average Bitrate: 37.99 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

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

Bitrate:

Bitrate: Blu-ray

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0), English (Mono),. DUBs: French (Mono), Spanish (mono)   LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles English, Spanish, None English, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 2.35:1

Edition Details:

• Theatrical trailer
• Fox Filx trailers 

DVD Release Date: May 23rd, 2006

Keep Case
Chapters: 20

Release Information:
Studio: Indicator

 

Disc Size: 39,317,358,843 bytes

Feature Size: 31,635,349,056 bytes

Average Bitrate: 37.99 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video   

 

Edition Details:
• Roger Corman Remembers (2014, 03:28 mins): the director discusses the making of
• The St. Valentine s Day Massacre
Scenes of the Crime (2018, 13:13 mins): a critical analysis by Barry Forshaw, film historian and author of American Noir
• The Man of a Thousand Voices (2018, 11:03 mins): a new appreciation of the great voice actor Paul Frees by Ben Ohmart, author of Welcome, Foolish Mortals: The Life and Voices of Paul Frees
• Super 8 version: original cut-down home cinema presentation (07:25 mins)
• Original theatrical trailer
Roger Corman trailer commentary (2013, 02:57 mins)
• Image gallery: promotional photography and publicity material
• Limited edition exclusive 40-page booklet with a new essay by Neil Sinyard, archival interviews with Roger Corman, contemporary critical responses, and film credits
UK premiere on Blu-ray
Limited Edition of 3,000 copies


Blu-ray Release Date: April 30th, 2018
Standard
Blu-ray Case

Chapters 12

 

 

Comments:

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

 

"The St. Valentine's Day Massacre" arrives on Blu-ray from Indicator out of the UK. This is a dual-layered, 1080P transfer with a maxed-out bitrate (37.99 bps). The film quality has a great amount of clarity, especially noticable in moments where you can see details of faces. There are a few scenes where the quality dips a bit, but this is undoubtedly due to the film stock used during the original production. The image is quite a big step-up over the DVD edition. Indicator have once again presented us with a high-quality transfer here.

The audio is transferred via a linear PCM in 1.0 mono at 1152 kbps (24-bit). There is modest depth in the various gunshots, crowd sequences, etc. The film's score is uncredited but is composed by Lionel Newman (The Killer is Loose, A Kiss Before Dying, Compulsion, The Boston Strangler, The Proud Ones) and Fred Steiner (The Twilight Zone). Though a mono track, there is quite a lot of action going on in the single channel. Indicator English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

"Scenes of the Crime" is a 13-minute critical analysis of Corman's body of work by Barry Forshaw (film historian and author of 'American Noir'. "Roger Corman Remembers" is a brief interview with Corman. Corman mentions that this was the studio's cheapest picture of the year, and his biggest budget ever. "The Man of a Thousand Voices" is a new appreciation of the great voice actor Paul Frees. Ben Ohmart is interviewed for 11-minutes. Ohmart is notable as the author of 'Welcome Foolish Mortals: The Life and Voices of Paul Frees' and 'The Writings of Paul Frees'. The 7 1/2-minute Super 8 presentation is provided as an extra here. Before there was home video, trimmed-down versions of popular films were produced on Super 8 so that people could enjoy them at home. This version is obviously much shorter than the full film but is unique in that there is a narrator whose brief interjections are designed to help fill in any gaps in the action on screen. Also included is Roger Corman in a 'Trailers from Hell' segment where he comments over the trailer for the film. English SDH subtitles are included for the picture. There is an image gallery with promotional photos and publicity material. There is a 40-page booklet with a new essay by Neil Sinyard, archival interviews with Roger Corman, contemporary critical responses, and film credits.

Indicator continue to impress us with their ever expanding catalogue of film on Blu-ray, featuring often overlooked yet important pictures from the past. The amount of detail in the image here is impressive, as are the extras. Roger Corman's film is a fun somewhat over-the-top gangster picture from the late 60s. Would recommend to anyone interested in crime films.
  

Colin Zavitz

***

ON THE DVD: Another strong single-layered anamorphic, progressive DVD image from Fox. Frankly, I don't have any complaints - it's possible that I see some moiring but it is slight if it is there at all. Colors and contrast look very above-average. Audio is quite strong and thee are optional subtitles. A bare bones digital representation of the film with only a trailer as an extra. The price suits both the film and the DVD. Worth a spin or two.

Gary W. Tooze

 


DVD Menus


Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray



Subtitle Sample

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

2) Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

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

2) Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


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

2) Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


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

2) Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


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

2) Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


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

2) Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


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

2) Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


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

2) Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


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

2) Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

More Blu-ray Captures


 Box Cover

   

   

   

Also released on Blu-ray from twilight Time:

  

The Classic Crime Collection - Street Justice DVD set includes Murder Inc., The French Connection, The St. Valentine's Day Massacre, The Seven-Ups
Distribution 20th Century Fox Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC

Indicator

Region 'B' - Blu-ray




 

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   CANADA

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