God's Little Acre Blu-ray

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

USA 1958

Anthony Mann's film based on Erskine Caldwell's book about obsessive faith in 'hidden gold' by an eccentric family of simple southern sharecroppers has quite a history. It was initially banned in many states compelling a theatrically presented 'toned-down' version. Censorship revolved mostly around young Tina Louise's excessively healthy boobs (see large capture #3).

The most consistent supporting actor ever; Robert Ryan, holds the charm with some interesting inclusions in the cast. Aldo Ray plays inflexible in-law Bill, who can't accept that the local plant has shut down... once '50s pinup, Fay Spain plays the unwed nubile sister... Buddy Hackett of 'Buddy Hackett' fame plays the candidate for local Sheriff and "Little House on the Prairie" 's Michael Landon portrays the kidnapped albino worker (didn't you know - "they're good luck!"). All in all this is just too good a film to be so forgotten. It resonates feelings of isolation, bigotry, self-importance, small town lust, and warping materialism. With Mann steering the ship this is racy comedy that plays as a sanctinfy'in fable. You gotta see this...

Posters

Theatrical Release: August 13th, 1958

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Comparison:

Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Geneon Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Olive Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

1) Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Geneon Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC MIDDLE

3) Olive- Region 'A' - Blu-ray RIGHT

Box Covers
Distribution	Image Entertainment Region 0 - NTSC	Geneon Entertainment Region 1 - NTSC	Olive Films Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:57:48	1:57:36	1:57:55.068
Video	1.83:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.49 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.88:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.93 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 21,339,737,731 bytes Feature: 21,243,893,760 bytes Video Bitrate: 21.98 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Image
Bitrate: Geneon
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 1.0)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 818 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 818 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit)
Subtitles	None	None	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Image Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterbox - 1.83:1 Edition Details: • Contains both the banned, uncensored version (118 min.) and the alternate theatrical release cut (111 min.) DVD Release Date: December 18th, 2001 Keep Case Chapters 16	Release Information: Studio: Geneon Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterbox - 1.88:1 Edition Details: • none (not even menus) DVD Release Date: October 4th, 2005 Ultra-slim black Keep Case Chapters: 20	Release Information: Studio: Olive Aspect Ratio: 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 21,339,737,731 bytes Feature: 21,243,893,760 bytes Video Bitrate: 21.98 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • None Blu-ray Release Date: July 30th, 2013 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 9

Comments

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

ADDITION: Olive - Region 'A' - Blu-ray (July 2013): The 1080P superiority is clearly evident - the film still has some softness but the higher resolution and increase in bitrate improves the overall image notably. Contrast has layers - there may not be abundant depth but textures are evident and detail in most close-ups is pleasing. There are still some speckles but no untoward damage in the 1.78:1 (bastardized from 1.85) frame. Sound is lossless - Elmer Bernstein's score - and accented dialogue also benefits from the increased clarity. No subtitles or extras as per Olive standard but an enjoyable film. It seems like the cast was having fun with this - kind of a poor man's Tennessee Williams. I enjoyed the drama and Tina's low cut frocks. The Blu-ray is recommended!

***

ON THE DVDs (2005): Okay, who are Geneon Entertainment? and why are they messing with this film? I can only assume that it is now in Public Domain and hence every fast-buck production company will get their cloudy VHS copies through their PC's to help produce some shiny coasters. A quick bottom line is to hold onto your out-of-print non-anamorphic Image Entertainment DVD of days gone by (some 'opportunist' is selling it on Amazon UK for 156 British Pounds - nice). The Geneon has no menus, nor is anamorphic or progressively transferred - it has been contrast boosted and it quite hazy. The old Image release is far from perfect (left edge cropped) but its miles ahead of this new one. Well, you get what you pay for is the moral of this story for me... $5.99 US new... so for that you at least get to see the film.