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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(aka 'Cruising')
Directed by William Friedkin
USA 1980
Legendary director William Friedkin brings together Al Pacino, the 70s New York
gay scene and a searing punk-rock soundtrack in this one-of-a-kind serial killer
thriller, finally restored to its long-unavailable original theatrical version
in 4K. ***
Academy Award-winner William Friedkin (The Exorcist,
The French Connection)
directs Al Pacino as an undercover cop pitched into New York s seedy underbelly
in Cruising available for the first time on Blu-ray in a brand new
director-approved transfer. |
Posters
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Theatrical Release: February 8th, 1980
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Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Review: Arrow - Region FREE - 4K UHD
Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures: |
Distribution | Arrow - Region FREE - 4K UHD | |
Runtime | 1:41:53.107 | |
Video |
1.85:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD Disc Size: 94,868,210,597 bytesFeature: 78,174,023,616 bytesVideo Bitrate: 89.47 MbpsCodec: HEVC Video |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate 4K UHD: |
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Audio |
DTS-HD Master
Audio English 1079 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1079 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 /
48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit) Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -30dB |
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Subtitles | English (SDH), None | |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Arrow
1.85:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD Disc Size: 94,868,210,597 bytesFeature: 78,174,023,616 bytesVideo Bitrate: 89.47 MbpsCodec: HEVC Video
Edition Details: 4K Ultra HD Disc
• Two archive audio commentaries by director William
Friedkin, one solo and one moderated by critic and broadcaster Mark
Kermode
120-page perfect-bound collector’s book featuring
articles from The Village Voice and The New York Times, essays from the
film’s extras cast, an introduction from William Friedkin, and an
archive interview with Al Pacino
Custom 4K UHD Case (see below) Chapters 12 |
Comments: |
NOTE:
The below
4K UHD
captures were taken directly from the
4K UHD
disc.
It is likely that the monitor
you are seeing this review is not an
HDR-compatible
display (High Dynamic Range) or Dolby Vision, where each pixel can be assigned with a wider
and notably granular range of color and light. Our
capture software if simulating the HDR (in a uniform manner) for standard
monitors. This should make it easier for us to review more
4K UHD titles in the
future and give you a decent idea of its attributes on your system. So our
captures may not support the exact same colors (coolness of
skin tones, brighter or darker hues etc.) as the
4K system at your home. But the
framing, detail, grain texture support etc. are, generally, not effected by
this simulation representation.
The 2160P image quality is another step forward with far more
balanced colors (flesh tones,) an impressive bump in detail and more
information in the frame - notably the right edge. Overall, I would say it
is, suitably, darker and earthier without the heavy blue-leaning (Friedkin
revisionism as with
The French Connection) of the 2019
Blu-ray.
This is, by far, the best the film has ever looked for digital consumption.
It's an amazing video upgrade.
NOTE: We have added 58 more large
resolution 4K UHD captures
(in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE
On their
4K UHD,
Arrow offer three DTS-HD Master tracks (24-bit) all in the original
English language; a mono 1.0, a stereo 2.0 or 5.1 surround track (the
latter two originally created for the 2007 remaster.) Cruising
has few aggressive moments that come through with modest depth.
The pulsating score was by
Jack Nitzsche (The
Crossing Guard,
Village
of the Giants, The
Hot Spot,
Blue
Collar,
The
Indian Runner,
Hardcore,
Cutters Way,
One
Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,
Personal Best,
9 1/2 Weeks)
and (uncredited)
Egberto Gismonti. The surround has some separations in the club
sequences which also have music;
Three-Day Moon performed by Barre Phillips, Heat of the Moment
and Pullin' My String by Willy DeVille, Herbal Scent by
Tom Browne, Shakedown by Rough Trade plus Boccherini 's notable
Passa Calle (Allegro vivo) taken from "La musica notturna delle
strade di Madrid": Op. 30 n. 6 (1780) Quintettino for two violins,
viola and two violoncellos in C major (G. 324). It sounds rich and
immersive - augmenting the film's edge-of-seat suspense
and it is subtle and supportive adding to the viewing experience.
There is also the option of
a 'heavy leather alternate score' that sounds quite ominous and intense.
Arrow offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region FREE
4K UHD.
The Arrow
4K UHD
On the, stacked, second disc Blu-ray are a brand-new 40-minute interview with lovely actress Karen Allen entitled I Want to Be the Curator reflecting on the film, working with Friedkin and more. Walking the Line is a brand-new 1 1/4 hour interview with actor, film consultant, and former police detective Randy Jurgensen (played Detective Lefransky in Cruising.) He is a former American NYPD detective, best known as the lead investigator into the 1972 murder of patrolman Phil Cardillo as well as his contribution as a consultant on various film and TV projects. Cut Offs, is a 55-minute interview with editor Bud S. Smith. He shared the 1984 BAFTA Award for Best Editing for Flashdance. and was nominated or an Academy Award for The Exorcist. Who’s That Guy?, is a 1/4 hour interview with actor Jay Acovone (Skip Lee in the film.) Pounding the Beat, is a 3/4 hour interview with actor Mike Starr (Patrolman Desher) and Boy on the Bus, is a 38-minute interview with actor Mark Zecca. Mineshaft Memories, is a half-hour archival interview with Wally Wallace, former manager of the Mineshaft - a members-only BDSM leather bar and sex club for gay men located at 835 Washington Street. Breaking the Codes, is a brand-new 13-minute visual essay surrounding the hanky-codes featuring actor and writer David McGillivray. Stop the Movie, is a dozen-minute short film by Jim Hubbard capturing the Cruising protests and included is 41-minutes of William Friedkin’s BeyondFest 2022 Q&A at the American Cinematheque. There are also extensive image galleries featuring international promotional material, on-set sketches, and more. The custom reversible sleeve package has a 120-page perfect-bound collector’s book featuring articles from The Village Voice and The New York Times, essays from the film’s extras cast, an introduction from William Friedkin, and an archive interview with Al Pacino. This 4K UHD is one of the most stacked packages I have seen in years. The film is loosely based on Gerald Walker's 1970 novel Cruising, about a serial killer targeting New York City's gay community. It attracted the director after a real series of six unsolved killings in gay leather bars 1975-77 known as "The Bag Murders". A doctor's assistant, Paul Bateson, who had appeared in The Exorcist was implicated (although never charged) in six of the leather bar murders. William Friedkin was in his prime and brilliantly captured something unforgettable in Cruising. It is fascinating on many levels - a haunting and, occasionally, terrifying, film experience that speaks extensively through its dark imagery, body language and facial expressions. While he is mostly noted for The Exorcist, To Live and Die in L.A., Sorcerer and The French Connection this auteur was one of the world's best filmmakers in the 70s and 80s. Cruising, was buried by controversy, but should be included as another example of his mastery of the medium. 40 minutes of footage from the original cut was deleted to achieve an "R"-rating (from "X") . It was mostly graphic homosexual interaction with Pacino watching (intimating his participation.) The open-ended question Cruising leaves the viewer starts with planting a seed to determine if Pacino's Detective Steve Burns is actually coerced by his undercover gay and S&M subculture immersion to the extent that it alters his 'preferences'. His girlfriend Nancy (Karen Allen) dons his leather jacket, cap and aviator sunglasses giving us pause to question what comes next in their relationship. The double entendre title, Cruising, can refer to police officers on patrol as well as men who are 'cruising ground' for sex. I watch it in fascination every time I revisit. Arrow's 4K UHD package is jammed with detail; from commentaries to new interviews, visual essay and a booklet among other supplementary material. It's the best I have seen this year and I'd be surprised if it doesn't get strong mention in our 2025 year end poll. A huge recommendation. |
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Menus / Extras
Second Disc - Blu-ray
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4K Ultra HD Disc
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
1) Warner - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC TOP 2) Arrow - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM
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1) Warner - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC TOP 2) Arrow - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM
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1) Warner - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC TOP 2) Arrow - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM
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More full resolution (3840 X 2160) 4K Ultra HD Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE
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Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures: |
Distribution | Arrow - Region FREE - 4K UHD |
Search DVDBeaver |
S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |