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

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (December 2019): Criterion have transferred Sidney Lumet's The Fugitive Kind to 1080P Blu-ray. It appears to be from the same master approved by director Sidney Lumet in 2010. The HD transfer has over 3X the bitrate of the 2010 Criterion DVD (and over 6 X that of the 2005 MGM DVD!). It's never been a particularly crisp film on digital but this 1080P carries the grain and contrast to a higher degree. There is a sliver more information in the frame and the visuals do have some depth. It simply looks superior in most 'image quality' areas - including in-motion.

NOTE: We have added 36 more large resolution Blu-ray captures for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. It is another advancement in the film's audio noticeable in the somber, Bluesy score by Kenyon Hopkins (Downhill Racer, 12 Angry Men, The Hustler, Wild River) sounding a richer with more consistent dialogue. Criterion offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Criterion Blu-ray has the same extras as their 2010 DVD. Repeated description from below; 'with a 1/2 hour video interview with Lumet recorded for Criterion in 2010. He talks with passion and understanding about his career, the actors and especially Tennessee Williams. There is another half-hour piece entitled Hollywood's Tennessee and The Fugitive Kind with R. Barton Palmer and Robert Bray supplying rich information about the lauded playwright. Kinescope style we get three 20-minute one-act plays by Tennessee Williams from 1958, directed by Lumet and starring the likes of Ben Gazarra + Lee Grant, among others. Video quality is predictably weak. Lastly, there is a 20-page liner notes booklet featuring photos and an essay by film critic David Thomson.'

Another of the iconic Brando roles, the trouble-magnet, guitar-playing drifter, Valentine "Snakeskin" Xavier. The Fugitive Kind has Tennessee Williams' sour look at humankind's working-class with misery, unhealthy temptation and struggles at every turn. It's another film that impacted me more significantly on Blu-ray. I'm actually looking forward to seeing it, yet again. Our highest recommendation! 

Gary Tooze

ADDITION: Criterion - April 2010: Thankfully Criterion have given this Tennessee Williams/Sidney Lumet/Brando et all masterpiece some respect with a healthy dual-layered, progressive transfer. The comparison with the MGM seems almost silly as the Criterion handily wins on all fronts.

The, 1.66 aspect ratio, anamorphic presentation on all systems improves more dramatically than the below captures indicate. If that isn't enough - the Criterion is advertised as "New, restored high-definition digital transfer, approved by director Sidney Lumet". Criterion's first disc shares the feature film with nothing else - not even a trailer - so the bitrate for the 2-hour film is very high. It looks somewhat lighter and the softness appears to be inherent.

The audio is mono - unremarkable but clean and clear. Criterion offer optional English subtitles.

The new DVD is stacked with a second, dual-layered, disc starting with a 1/2 hour video interview with Lumet recorded for Criterion in 2010. He talks with passion and understanding about his career, the actors and especially Tennessee Williams. There is another half-hour piece entitled Hollywood's Tennessee and The Fugitive Kind with R. Barton Palmer and Robert Bray supplying rich information about the lauded playwright. Kinescope style we get three 20-minute one-act plays by Tennessee Williams from 1958, directed by Lumet and starring the likes of Ben Gazarra + Lee Grant, among others. Video quality is expectantly poor. Lastly, there is a 20-page liner notes booklet featuring photos and an essay by film critic David Thomson.

The film works every time I revisit it and it is very pleasing to have it 16X9 enhanced and the package stuffed with interesting supplements. Anna Magnani is magnificent. The Criterion - even at top tier pricing - is strongly recommended for the film and extras.

***

ON THE MGM DVD: What a shame. Continuing their trend as the worst major studio (if they are a 'studio' anymore) DVD productions house, MGM has not only avoided 16X9 enhancement for this widescreen film, but include that it is not even progressively transferred (note combing in screen captures below). It is almost impossible to believe. This single layered digital travesty is not even worth the $11 it is being released for. No extras - only two menus and 12 chapters for the films entire 2 hour running time. Not only is this DVD presentation disrespectful to the film, but to MGM's consumers as well. They really don't deserve to have this film in their catalogue and they should have simply sold it for whatever they could get for it to Warner.

Gary W. Tooze