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

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (March 2022): Criterion have transferred Bertrand Tavernier's 'Round Midnight to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "New 4K restoration". It is in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio on a dual-layered disc. It looks very good supporting the grain. Colors show a few instances of teal leaning but they are minor. There are instances of depth and the film's brief archival and black and white photography seem adequately transferred with heavy textures. The 1080P was consistent, clan and offered an worry-free HD presentation.

NOTE: We have added 58 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Criterion offer DTS-HD Master stereo or 5.1 surround tracks (24-bit) in the original English, and some French languages. 'Round Midnight is all about the music with the separation of the surround showing up in live performances. It has a score credited to Herbie Hancock (A Soldier's Story, Death Wish, Blow-Up) who is also in the film as Eddie Wayne. Of course the film is filled with jazz including 'Round Midnight written by Thelonious Monk, Cootie Williams + Bernard Hanighen and performed by Bobby McFerrin, plus Herman Hupfeld's As Time Goes By, Dexter Gordon's Society Red, Chet Baker's Fairweather, Charlie Parker's Now's The Time, Vernon Duke's Autumn in New York, standards Body and Soul, It's Only A Paper Moon, Gershwin's How Long Has This Been Going On?, Cole Porter's I Love Paris + What Is This Thing Called Love? and many others. It sounds wonderful in the lossless. If you appreciate the music I can recommend Dexter Gordon's soundtrack released in two parts: Round Midnight and The Other Side of Round Midnight. Criterion offer optional English subtitles, and optional English translations of the French, on their Region 'A' / 'B' Blu-ray.

The Criterion Blu-ray offers new and old supplements. Filmmaker Jean Achache shot extensively on the set of 'Round Midnight. The included 53-minute documentary presents that material for the first time, including footage of director Bertrand Tavernier, production designer Alexandre Trauner, and other members of the cast and crew. Dexter Gordon lived in Copenhagen from 1962 to 1976 and played regularly at the club Jazzhouse Montmartre there. In this dozen-minutes of documentary footage, filmed by Teit Jorgensen in 1969, Gordon performs his composition "Fried Bananas" with pianist Kenny Drew, bassist Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen, and drummer Makaya Ntshoko. In the included 23-minute interview, recorded by Criterion in October 2021, jazz and cultural critic Gary Giddins discusses 'Round Midnight, musician Dexter Gordon, and his own long friendship with director Bertrand Tavernier. There is a 28-minute conversation, recorded by Criterion in October 2021, with musician Dexter Gordon's widow and biographer, Maxine Gordon (Sophisticated Giant: The Life and Legacy of Dexter Gordon,) and music producer Michael Cuscuna who discuss Dexter and their experiences during the making of 'Round Midnight. There is a 40-minute panel discussion about 'Round Midnight featuring director Bertrand Tavernier; music producer Michael Cuscuna; Dexter Gordon's widow, Maxine Gordon; jazz critic and broadcaster Mark Ruffin; and jazz scholar John Szwed. It was presented by Columbia University School of the Arts, Columbia Maison Francaise, and the Center for Jazz Studies at Columbia University and held at Miller Theatre, Columbia University, on February 25th, 2014. Part of the package is a liner notes booklet with an essay by scholar Mark Anthony Neal.

Bertrand Tavernier's 'Round Midnight follows tenor saxophonist 'Dale Gordon', played by Dexter Gordon, and is loosely based on a mixture of real-life jazz legends Lester Young (tenor sax) and pianist Bud Powell focusing on the Paris jazz scene of the 1950s. Dale's adventures in Paris break his alcohol and substance abuse addictions but he eventually decides to return home to New York. Martin Scorsese is in 'Round Midnight briefly. It's iconic jazz-infused cinema that is totally deserved of a Criterion Blu-ray release. This is a keeper for the dour pseudo-biographical milieu, great jazz in lossless and over 2.5 hours of extras consisting of interviews, panel, documentary and an included booklet. Strongly recommended to well beyond jazz aficionados. Buy this.

Gary Tooze