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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Barabba")

 

Directed by Richard Fleischer
Italy / USA 1961

 

This fanciful, yet moving, Bible-based epic portrays the life and times of Barabbas (Anthony Quinn), the thief whose life was spared through the machinations of Pontius Pilate (Arthur Kennedy), who wanted to see Jesus crucified instead. In the years following that fateful moment, Barabbas not only achieves victories as a gladiator but comes to be inspired by the followers of the man put to death in his place. Silvana Mangano, Ernest Borgnine, and Jack Palance co-star.

***

Epic biblical tale about the criminal who was released by Pontius Pilate in preference to Jesus, prior to the Crucifixion. The action follows Barabbas after his lucky escape, his return to crime and his subsequent recapture and imprisonment in the sulphur mines. Based on the novel by Swedish writer Par Lagerkvist.

Posters

Theatrical Release: December 23rd, 1961

Reviews                                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Sony (with CD Sampler) - Region 1, 3, 4 - NTSC vs. Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover

  

 

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Sony - Region 1, 3, 4 - NTSC Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 2:17:25        2:17:39.751
Video 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.63 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 47,332,377,940 bytes

Feature: 40,697,935,872 bytes

Video Bitrate: 32.97 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

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

Bitrate DVD:

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0) 

LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Commentary:

LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit

Subtitles English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, None English, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 2.35:1

Edition Details:

• trailer (4:27) 

DVD Release Date: March 4th, 200
8
Keep Case
Chapters: 32

Release Information:
Studio:
Imprint

 

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 47,332,377,940 bytes

Feature: 40,697,935,872 bytes

Video Bitrate: 32.97 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• Commentary by Barry Forshaw and Kim Newman
• Film Historian Sheldon Hall on Barabbas (25:30)
• Richard Fleischer: Looking Back - Interview (28:12)


Blu-ray Release Date: July 8th, 2022

Transparent Blu-ray Case inside slipcase

Chapters 13

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Imprint Blu-ray (July 2022): Imprint have transferred Richard Fleischer's Barabbas to Blu-ray. Barabbas came out in a French Blu-ray in 2016 HERE and a Blu-ray / DVD combo in 2021 HERE but we don't own it to compare. We did, however have the interlaced Sony DVD from 2008 - although it had Jan 3rd, 2002 VOB files. While Imprint's 1080P handily advances upon that older SD transfer, it is not a stellar HD presentation. This is readily apparent in the first 1/3 of the film. It improves somewhat but can still look unnaturally soft and artifact-y throughout. The grand spectacle of the gladiatorial arena (Arena di Verona) can look reasonably pleasing but overall I would keep your expectations in-check. The image is simply a strong advancement over a very poor quality DVD. Shot on Super Technirama 70, surely a better video transfer could be achieved with the original elements.

NOTE: We have added 72 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Imprint use a linear PCM 2.0 channel track (24-bit) in the original English language. Barabbas has aggressive with physical conflicts and a resounding score by Mario Nascimbene (The Vikings, When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth, The Barefoot Contessa, The Vengeance of She, A Farewell to Arms, Love in the City) and conducted by Franco Ferrara - very large - very epic and with the unusual introduction of electronic sounds achieved by manipulating tape speeds. The DVD offered a CD sampler featuring some Christian music artists. Imprint offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Imprint Blu-ray offers a new commentary by Barry Forshaw and Kim Newman who discuss many facets of the production, its genre and the cycle of these films - describing it as an earthy version - and how the public may have been weary of these epics, the credits / crucifixion controversy, the performances - Anthony Quinn, Silvana Mangano, Arthur Kennedy, Katy Jurado, Harry Andrews, Vittorio Gassman -  Producer Dino De Laurentiis with a cool anecdote, director Richard Fleischer, Nobel Prize winning novelist Pär Lagerkvist as well as comparisons of many similar films. Kim mentions a previous film version of the novel, in Swedish, had been made in 1953. It's at their usual high standard. Also included are 25-minutes of Film Historian Sheldon Hall on Barabbas who discusses the film's origins and evolution to the screen, how it has a bleak quality as compared to Ben-Hur. There is also a 28-minute piece on the director - Richard Fleischer: Looking Back, filmed in 2003 from Robert Fischer's Fiction Factory. It's very interesting with the versatile Hollywood director (1916-2006) looking back on his life and talks about his films. There is no trailer, nor liner notes but has a handsome firm slipcase.

Richard Fleischer's Barabbas is an excellent, adeptly realized, biblical epic. It expands on the life of Barabbas, from the Christian Passion narrative in the Gospel of Mark (and other gospels.) Remarkable is the Jesus crucifixion scene shot during an actual total solar eclipse that remains impacting. The gladiatorial battles - notably between Torvald (Jack Palance) and Barabbas, and the mass crucifixion executions remain always impressive. The Imprint Blu-ray has weakness in the image but the supplements are enticing form the Forshaw / Newman commentary to the revealing Sheldon Hall's piece plus the interview with director Richard Fleischer. I will try to compare this a/v with the Sidonis French Blu-ray although I suspect it of having non-removable French subtitles. 

Gary Tooze

 


Menus / Extras

 

Sony - Region 1, 3, 4 - NTSC

 

Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray


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

 

1) Sony - Region 1, 3, 4 - NTSC  TOP

2) Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Sony - Region 1, 3, 4 - NTSC  TOP

2) Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Sony - Region 1, 3, 4 - NTSC  TOP

2) Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Sony - Region 1, 3, 4 - NTSC  TOP

2) Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Sony - Region 1, 3, 4 - NTSC  TOP

2) Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Sony - Region 1, 3, 4 - NTSC  TOP

2) Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Sony - Region 1, 3, 4 - NTSC  TOP

2) Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Sony - Region 1, 3, 4 - NTSC  TOP

2) Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


 

More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE

 

 

 
Box Cover

  

 

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Sony - Region 1, 3, 4 - NTSC Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray


 


 

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