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

ADDITION: Arrow Blu-ray (January 2024): Arrow have also transferred Peter Yates's Murphy's War to Blu-ray. It is on a dual-layered disc with a very high bitrate, but is quite different from the Indicator 1080P from 2022. Comparatively it seems like the Indicator is leaning green where the Arrow is blue-ish. There is also some movement in the frame with the Indicator, generally, showing a bit more information. In  terms of colors balance, warmer flesh tones - I prefer the Arrow which is mostly brighter and more vibrant. The image presentation differences are quite surprising. Grain is sparse on both and they have a tendency to look a shade waxy and flat, but I don't suspect digitization.   

NOTE: We have added 48 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Arrow also use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. My ears could detect no significant differences in the audio. Murphy's War has war-related aggression; planes, machine guns, torpedoes etc. which come through flat but carrying subtle depth. The film's wonderful music is composed by John Barry (Inside Moves, The Whisperers, Boom, Deadfall, Jagged Edge, The Chase, Midnight Cowboy, Dances With Wolves and the Bond themes among his many credits) and Ken Thorne (Juggernaut, Arabian Adventure, Hannie Caulder, Wolf Lake, The Bed Sitting Room, The Outsider) - there is also My Hat's on the Side of My Head performed by Roy Fox played on the gramophone and Onward Christian Soldiers sung by Peter O'Toole. This all sounds clean and consistent with track titles; The Village, Learning To Fly, The Nurse, Murphy Watches, Destroy The Enemy and the Finale - superb in the uncompressed transfer. Arrow offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

For extras, there is a new, 20-minute, visual essay by David Cairns entitled Running Out of War. He talks about Max Catto's novel and some of his other writing that made it to the screen; The Devil at 4 O'Clock, Seven Thieves, Trapeze etc.. and Paramount, Robert Evans and much more relating to Murphy's War. Repeated from the Indicator are the three interviews; 1/2 hour with editor and assistant director John Glen providing an in-depth account of the film’s production. Also repeated is a 17-minute interview with focus puller Robin Vidgeon who recalls working with director of photography Douglas Slocombe and camera operator Chic Waterson. One Man Army is an 18-minute appreciation by academic and film historian Sheldon Hall. There is a theatrical trailer, image gallery and the package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Peter Strain and an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by film critic Philip Kemp.

Peter Yates's Murphy's War is an exceptional film with a stellar cast/crew. It has Peter O'Toole as 'Murphy' - the lone survivor of a sunk British naval ship (filmed near the Orinoco River in Venezuela) who is obsessed with exacting revenge on a German U-boat crew that slaughtered his friends - despite the global status of the war's conclusion. There are some significant differences from the Max Catto novel - notably in the conclusion. Murphy's War evokes The African Queen. Michael Deeley states that he and Peter Yates turned down the opportunity of The Godfather (1972) to make Murphy's War. Siân Phillips was acting opposite her then-husband Peter O'Toole, they had costarred together in Becket and Goodbye, Mr. Chips. The screenplay was written by Stirling Silliphant (Charly,) with the intent of focusing on the absurdity of war. The lead was given to Peter O'Toole who accepted the role for $250,000, after others had turned it down, including Warren Beatty, Robert Redford and Lee Marvin. While the Indicator Blu-ray has more extras, I appreciated the visual essay by David Cairns on the Arrow. The notable difference centers on the image and the colors. The Arrow Blu-ray will be a keeper for me. I love the cover too! Definitely worthy of a double-dip.

***

ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (May 2022): Indicator have transferred Peter Yates's Murphy's War to Blu-ray. It is cited as being a "High Definition remaster". It is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. It looks consistent, clean and the colors - notably the Venezuelan foliage near the Orinoco River - have a richness. Contrast looks decently-realized in 1080P and the visuals carry depth with instances of pleasing detail in close-ups. The image quality is solid.

NOTE: We have added 60 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Indicator use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language.

Supplements on Indicator's Blu-ray offers a 2008 audio interview entitled Michael Deeley in Conversation with Murphy’s War producer, recorded in an onstage discussion with Matt Field at BFI Southbank for over 40-minutes. There is also a short video piece with Philippe Noiret on Murphy's War. It is a 1971 extract from the French television programme 'Bulletin d’information'. We also get a new 1/2 hour interview with editor and assistant director John Glen providing an in-depth account of the film’s production. There is a 17-minute interview with focus puller Robin Vidgeon who recalls working with director of photography Douglas Slocombe and camera operator Chic Waterson. One Man Army is a new 18-minute appreciation by academic and film historian Sheldon Hall. I enjoyed the archival documentary on the great cinematographer, Douglas Slocombe, featuring interviews with Richard Attenborough, Alan Parker and Ken Russell. He is very interesting as Slocombe worked on The Knack... and How to Get It, The Italian Job, The Man Who Fell to Earth, The Deer Hunter, Blade Runner and the first three Indiana Jones films. It runs over a dozen minutes. Indicator include a 20-minute Super 8 version of the film - an original cut-down home-cinema presentation, there are the alternate US ending credits, a textless theatrical trailer and an image gallery of promotional and publicity material. The package has a limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Julian Wheeler, an archival interview with Peter O’Toole, a look at the production of the film, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits.

We can always count on Indicator to produce exceptional Blu-ray packages. This is a fine example - a fabulous film, the best a/v and extensive supplements. This film and package are both strongly recommended!

Gary Tooze