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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (July 2024): Kino have transferred Arch Oboler's Bwana Devil (3-D) to Blu-ray. It is cited as being "Newly Restored in 3-D by 3-D Film Archive - From 4K Scans of the original left/right 35mm camera negatives". Also a text screen informs us: "BWANA DEVIL has been restored from 4K scans of the original 35mm Ansco Color camera negatives". So you can see this on a 3-D TV, or use the included Anaglyphic 3-D glasses or watch it on 2D. We will review, with screen captures, the 2D version. The 1080P image is quite thick with rich colors (warm flesh tones) and looks very appealing on my system. There isn't much in the way of grain textures but there is depth (even in 2D) and it seems reasonably consistent throughout the HD presentation. The dominant feature would be the color vibrancy.

NOTE: Blu-ray 3-D playback requires a 3-D capable Blu-ray player, high-speed HDMI cable, and a 3-D capable monitor or projector. The 3-D content is also viewable in anaglyphic (red/cyan) 3-D via the 3-D Film Archive's patent-pending Multi-Band anaglyphic 3D process. Red lens goes over the LEFT eye. The feature and 3-D bonus content are also viewable in 2-D form. Any color television can play an anaglyph 3D film and to see the depth effects would require the Anaglyphic 3-D glasses which are included with the Blu-ray package.

NOTE: We have added 64 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (Ryder Sound Services) - 24-bit - in the original English with some unknown native (Kenyan or Swahili?) language also spoken. Bwana Devil has menacing lion attack growls / roars and typical African sound effects like monkeys etc. It doesn't test the bass much. There is a score by Gordon Jenkins (Easy Living), sounding clean with consistent dialogue in the lossless transfer. Kino offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offer Mike Ballew (author of the upcoming book Close Enough to Touch: 3-D Comes to Hollywood) presenting and narrating the 21-minute The Story of Bwana Devil with production details including the evolution of the Natural Vision 3D system (also optioned for in House of Wax,) Milton Gunzburg, Oboler's participation, the fervor of public reaction, the profit and those involved etc. It runs to the backdrop of archival images, poster art and on-set stereo slides and we also have the option of seeing it in anaglyphic as well as 2D. Included is 1953 2D color trailer for the 3D release and a 1954 2D black and white trailer for the 'flat release'. The package includes one pair of anaglyphic 3-D glasses.

Arch Oboler's Bwana Devil is credited with initiating the 3D film craze in the motion picture industry. Sidney W. Pink (Reptilicus) produced the film with Oboler. Bwana Devil is a fictionalized account of the 1898 Tsavo man-eaters that killed 135 people. They were two male lions that attacked and often devoured workers in and around Tsavo, Kenya during the building of a bridge over the river Tsavo for the Uganda-Mombasa Railway in East Africa. This was also the subject of 1948's Man-Eater of Kumaon and 1996's The Ghost and the Darkness with Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer - a very entertaining adaptation of the historical event. There was also a 2007's modern reference of lion attacks; Prey that does not involve the Tsavo setting. Here Robert Stack and Nigel Bruce play the pair dealing the lions. It was shot in the San Fernando Valley. The Paramount Ranch was to represent an African savanna. Bwana Devil has Lloyd Nolan in a 5-minute, black and white, explanatory prologue for the film. Adopting fans will appreciate the cool 3D scenes and the 2D is included. The Kino Blu-ray shows the film in 1080P with the 3D option (anaglyphic or 3D capable TV.) Bwana Devil has a fascinating story of production and remains a highly curious novelty. A fairly adventurous film and to those interested this is recommended.

Gary Tooze