Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

directed by Edward Dmytryk
USA 1954

Having aligned himself with producer Stanley Kramer after naming names during the HUAC witch-hunt trials, Dmytryk opted for ever more turgidly serious subject matter. This, the last and perhaps the best of his films for Kramer, was an adaptation of Herman Wouk's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about the court martial carried out against peacetime naval destroyer officers Francis and Johnson after they have mutinied against Bogart's Captain Queeg, who panics during a storm. Bogie's considerable charisma is visibly weakened by his tired appearance, and the strong cast is never really allowed full rein by Dmytryk, whose abiding concern that fair play be seen to be done, with regard to all the characters' various motivations, makes for a stodgily liberal courtroom drama.

Excerpt from TimeOut Film Guide located HERE

Posters (click to enlarge)

Theatrical Release Date: June 24, 1954

Reviews                                                                             More Reviews                                                                         DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:  

Sony - Collector's Edition - Region 1- NTSC vs. Columbia Tri-Star Video Region 1 - NTSC vs. Columbia Tri-Star  Region 2/4 - PAL vs. Sony -  Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

1) Sony (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT

2) Columbia Tri-Star Region 1 - NTSC SECOND

3) Columbia Tri-Star Region 2/4 - PAL THIRD

4) Sony - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT

 

Box Covers

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click to order:

 

  

  

 

Distribution Sony - Collector's Edition 
Region 1 - NTSC
Columbia Tri-Star Video 
Region 1 - NTSC
Columbia Tri-Star
Region 2/4 - PAL
Sony Pictures
Region FREE -
Blu-ray
Runtime 2:04:20 2:04:24  1:59:32 (4% PAL Speedup) 2:04:35.468
Video Widescreen - 1.78:1 16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 4.51  mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
Widescreen - 1.78:1 16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 4.30  mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
Widescreen - 1.78:1 16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate:  6.98 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 34,446,608,951 bytes

Feature: 30,862,270,464 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 25.96 Mbps

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

 

Bitrate:  Columbia Region 1

 

Bitrate:

PAL

Bitrate:

Blu-ray

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0),  DUB: French (Dolby Digital 1.0) English (Dolby Digital 1.0), DUBs: Spanish (Dolby Digital 1.0), French (Dolby Digital 1.0)

 English, French, German, Italian, Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)

DTS-HD Master Audio English 2614 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2614 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio French 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio German 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio Italian 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio Portuguese 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles English, French or None English, Spanish, French or None

English, French, German, Italian, Hebrew, Czech, Greek, Polish, Hungarian, Dutch, Arabic, Portuguese, Turkish, Icelandic, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish

English, English (SDH), Arabic, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, Turkish, none
Features: Release Information:
Studio: Columbia/Tri-star Studios

 

Aspect Ratios:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1

  
Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 ( on opposite side )

Edition Details:
Commentary by Richard Peņa and Ken Bowser
Behind "The Caine Mutiny" Part I (18:50)
Behind "The Caine Mutiny" Part II (16:10)

DVD Release Date: May 8th, 2007
Keep Case inside cardboard box

Chapters 28

Release Information:
Studio: Columbia/Tri-star Studios

 

Aspect Ratios:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1

  
Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 ( on opposite side )

Edition Details:
• Theatrical trailers:

  • 'The Caine Mutiny', 4:3, (:55)
  • 'Dead Reckoning' , black and white,  4:3, (1:37)

• Full-screen and widescreen anamorphic formats

DVD Release Date: December 15, 1998
Keep Case

Chapters 28

Release Information:
Studio: Columbia/Tri-star

 

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1

  

Edition Details:
• US trailer in full frame with Dolby Digital 2.0 sound (00:53)

•  9 photos in black/white

 • Incomplete Filmographies for for Humphrey Bogart, Jose Ferrer, Van Johnson and director Edward Dmytryk.

DVD Release Date: 1999
Super-Jewel Case

Chapters 28

Release Information:
Studio: Sony

 

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 34,446,608,951 bytes

Feature: 30,862,270,464 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 25.96 Mbps

 

Edition Details:
Commentary by Richard Peņa and Ken Bowser
2-part Behind "The Caine Mutiny" (35:13)

• Original Teaser Trailer #1 (:55)

• Original Teaser Trailer #2 (:51)

• Previews

BD Live
 

Blu-ray Release Date: October, 2011
Standard Blu-ray  Case

Chapters 16

 

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Sony - Region FREE - Blu-ray - October 11': I'm still less satisfied with the way The Caine Mutiny looks on digital but have to admit the higher resolution does improve many visuals areas. I suspect it is the same D1 transfer as the CE DVD - but now but to Blu-ray. Meaning - I still think there is some DNR applied and the image is softer in spots with no texture - no grain to give it a film-like appearance. Hence it looks flat and unnaturally smooth. Colors (skin tones, the sea etc.) may be more accurate but the image has shifted to the right (less info on the left edge and more on the right edge - more on the top, less on the bottom.) That's the bad - the good is that it looks much better in motion than the still captures. I was a shade disappointed in the less-then-stellar visual presentation but it didn't impinge my viewing enjoyment of the film. Despite what I perceive to be its flaws it still impresses as the best of the digital transfers that I seen. The Blu-ray is dual-layered and the 2-hour film has a respectable bitrate. I may be overstating the negative issues and most may not be bothered. It's not all bad. Hopefully the screen captures can give you some further insight.

NOTE: The Blu-ray is in 1.85:1 aspect ratio (not 1.78:1 like the DVDs)

The audio is definitely improved. We get a DTS-HD Master 5.1 at 2614 kbps. Max Steiner's supportive score sounds crisp and militaristic with toe-tapping precision. There isn't much defined separation but there is some depth to the score and there are a multitude of DUBs and subtitle options signifying this as region FREE.

The extras are essentially the same as the CE with the solid Richard Peņa and Ken Bowser commentary and 35-minute, 2-part, 'Behind the Scenes' piece described below. Added for the Blu-ray are two teaser trailers and the disc has an untested BD-Live function.

I really love this film and have watched it at least a 1/2 a dozen times. It is always a pleasure to see Bogie in this role and while I had hoped for more in the video representation - I can't deny that the price is right for its overall improvements. I give a begrudging recommendation.  

***

ADDITION: Sony - CE - Region 1- NTSC - April 07': I'm pretty sure that I don't care for this new transfer. It appears as though they have boosted reds - to gain and edge in sharpness - but the image is actually softer (DNR'ed) with some details (like Bogie's wrinkles) removed. I suppose it's is a personal preference.  The new CE does have less artifacts but I always kind of liked the grainy look of the Columbia transfers. Certainly though colors have been manipulated. On he positive it does appear cleaner, and of course, is anamorphic and progressive. The Collector's Edition often shows a shade more information in the frame (left edge).

What the new CE has done is add some decent supplements. We have a pretty good commentary with Richard Peņa and Ken Bowser. Peņa is always good and together they discuss Kramer, Dmytryk and Bogart. I quite enjoyed it as I do most discussions about Bogie. The two work well together and are filled with knowledge. There are also two featurettes; Behind "The Caine Mutiny" Part I running 18:50, and Part II running 16:10. A lot of clips from the film are used and some taking heads (Peņa and Bowser again) giving input. Overall I am very happy about the extras although remain somewhat disappointed by the transfer. I really enjoy this film and watch it at least once a year so I am happy to have both editions. 

***

ON THE 2 COLUMBIA DISCS: Both Discs have fine anamorphic picture quality, but the Region 1 has a little too much red in its skin tones. Both being Columbia Tri-Star discs there are only minute differences. They seem equally as sharp and the R2 shows just a tad more good film grain. The extras go with a slight edge to the R2 PAL for the stills gallery. A great film, with great performances but this is not the edition to sway you to buy an alternate region machine. The R2 is better, but not significantly. 

Gary W. Tooze


 Menus

(Sony - Collector's Edition - Region 1 - NTSC)

(Columbia Tri-Star R1 - NTSC LEFT, Columbia Tri-Star R2 - PAL RIGHT)

 

Sony - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 


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

 

Subtitle sample - Sony - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

1) Sony (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Columbia Tri-Star Region 1 - NTSC SECOND

3) Columbia Tri-Star Region 2/4 - PAL THIRD

4) Sony - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Sony (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Columbia Tri-Star Region 1 - NTSC SECOND

3) Columbia Tri-Star Region 2/4 - PAL THIRD

4) Sony - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Sony (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Columbia Tri-Star Region 1 - NTSC SECOND

3) Columbia Tri-Star Region 2/4 - PAL THIRD

4) Sony - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Sony (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Columbia Tri-Star Region 1 - NTSC SECOND

3) Columbia Tri-Star Region 2/4 - PAL THIRD

4) Sony - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Sony (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Columbia Tri-Star Region 1 - NTSC SECOND

3) Columbia Tri-Star Region 2/4 - PAL THIRD

4) Sony - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Sony (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Columbia Tri-Star Region 1 - NTSC SECOND

3) Columbia Tri-Star Region 2/4 - PAL THIRD

4) Sony - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

More Blu-ray Captures

 


Hit Counter


Report Card:

 

Image:

Blu-ray

Sound:

Blu-ray

Extras: Blu-ray

 

DVD Box Covers

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click to order:

 

  

  

  

Distribution Sony - Collector's Edition 
Region 1 - NTSC
Columbia Tri-Star Video 
Region 1 - NTSC
Columbia Tri-Star
Region 2/4 - PAL
Sony Pictures
Region FREE -
Blu-ray



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

 CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Many Thanks...