Body and Soul John Garfield

(aka "An Affair of the Heart" )

directed by Robert Rossen
USA 1947

The template for all subsequent pugilist-with-a-conscience flicks. Features an outstanding screenplay and tough hard-hitting direction.

Excellent account of ambitious boxer Garfield clambering his way to the top and selling his soul in the process. As a boxing movie it is probably responsible for coining a host of clichés but the fight of the little man against big business is convincingly told and Garfield is credible in the lead.

The anti-capitalist message seems to have offended some; Garfield, director Rossen and scriptwriter Polonsky were rounded up by the Un-American Activities committee (and Polonsky and Rossen were eventually blacklisted). This is tight, hard-hitting entertainment, which inspired Rocky and Raging Bull.

Excerpt from the Channel 4 review located HERE.

Posters

Theatrical Release: 22 August 1947

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DVD Comparison:

Republic, Artisan - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Wild Side Vidéo (Version Pocket) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Metrodome - Region 0 - PAL

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman and Alain Dupont for the Screen Caps!

1) Republic, Artisan - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Wild Side Vidéo (Version Pocket) - Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) Metrodome - Region 0 - PAL - RIGHT

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	Republic, Artisan Region 1 - NTSC	Wild Side Vidéo Region 2 - PAL	Metrodome Region 0 - PAL
Runtime	1:46:08	1:41:21 (4% PAL speedup)	1:41:21 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	1:33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.38 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1:33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 8.14 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1:33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.74 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: Republic, Artisan
Bitrate: Wild Side Vidéo (Version Pocket)
Bitrate: Metrodome
Audio	English Dolby Digital 1.0	English Dolby Digital 1.0	English Dolby Digital 1.0
Subtitles	None	French (non removable)	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Republic, Artisan Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1:33:1 Edition Details: • Production Notes DVD Release Date: 23 November 1999 Keep Case Chapters 30	Release Information: Studio: Wild Side Vidéo Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1:33:1 Edition Details: • Interview of Abraham Polonsky (script writer) by Philippe Garnier (1982, 11:00) (English) • Interview of Pierre Rissient (French producer) by Samuel Blumenfeld about Abraham Polonsky (7:24) (French, no subtitles) • Filmographies (R. Rossen, J. Garfield, L. Palmer, H. Brooks, A. Revere, C. Lee and W. Conrad) • Picture gallery • DVD-ROM Bonus : posters • An 8-page booklet is added to the Custom Case edition DVD Release Date: 7 June 2005 (Slim) Keep Case Chapters 12	Release Information: Studio: Metrodome Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1:33:1 Edition Details: • None DVD Release Date: January 30th, 2006 Keep Case Chapters 16

Comments

ADDITION: Metrodome - Region 2 - PAL June 09': This one got past my radar and thanks to Steven for alerting me. It may be the same D1 transfer as the Wild Side or a small quality notch below but, although it is bare-bones, it doesn't have the forced French subtitles (or any subtitles).

It remains a magnificent film and very worthy for the library - especially for those keen on its noir-ish elements. Don't be afraid to indulge the image quality is exceptionally strong for a single-layered DVD and I *believe* this is the complete version of the film including those extra few lines of dialogue devoid in the NTSC Artisan.

****

NOTE: The Region 1 DVD appears to have had scenes removed as well see HERE - thanks (thanks Steve).

ON THE ARTISAN and the WILD SIDE: It's fairly obvious - the Wild Side image quality and extras far exceed the Artisan NTSC, BUT the PAL picture includes non-removable French subtitles. Being player generated, we suspect that a devout fan of the film can use his home computer and remove them and re-burn to own the definitive edition.

The long and short of the image is that the Wild Side is brighter, sharper and has better contrast... and to add insult to injury the Artisan appears to be cropped on all 4 edges. Wild Side have treated the film with some respect and added some good extras as well.