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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
Directed by Hal Ashby
USA 1971
With the idiosyncratic American fable Harold and Maude, countercultural director Hal Ashby fashioned what would become the cult classic of its era. Working from a script by Colin Higgins, Ashby tells the story of the emotional and romantic bond between a death-obsessed young man (Bud Cort) from a wealthy family and a devil-may-care, bohemian octogenarian (Ruth Gordon). Equal parts gallows humor and romantic innocence, Harold and Maude dissolves the line between darkness and light along with the ones that separate people by class, gender, and age, and it features indelible performances and a remarkable soundtrack by Cat Stevens. *** A box office failure upon its initial release in 1971 which slowly but surely amassed a global cult following, Harold and Maude (1971) is one of those cinematic oddities that is hard to imagine being made within the confines of today's film industry. It certainly wasn't any less unusual for the era in which it was made except that the film's quirky tone that shifted from black comedy to anti-establishment satire and the inspired casting of Bud Cort and Ruth Gordon gave it a resonance for young audiences that was further enhanced by the music of Cat Stevens who was at the height of his pop music career in 1972. |
Posters
Theatrical Release: December 20th, 1971
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Criterion Collection Spine # 608 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Masters of Cinema - Spine # 83 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Paramount - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Box Cover |
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Distribution | Criterion Collection Spine # 608 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray | Masters of Cinema - Spine # 83 - Region 'B' - Blu-ray | Paramount - Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:31:44.415 | 1:31:31.486 | 1:31:30.943 |
Video |
1.85 :1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 38,425,602,802 bytesFeature: 28,763,080,704 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.99 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
1.85 :1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 34,501,803,982 bytesFeature: 28,942,951,872 bytes Video Bitrate: 35.22 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
1.85 :1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 31,694,839,355 bytesFeature: 28,912,558,080 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.99 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate Criterion Collection Spine # 608 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray: |
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Bitrate Masters of Cinema - Spine # 83 - Region 'B' - Blu-ray: |
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Bitrate Paramount - Region FREE - Blu-ray: |
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Audio |
LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit |
LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0
/ 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit |
Dolby
TrueHD Audio English 3115 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2475 kbps / 16-bit (AC3
Embedded: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -27dB) Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps / DN -27dB |
Subtitles | English (SDH), None | English (SDH), None | English (SDH), English, German, French, None |
Features |
Release Information: 1.85 :1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 38,425,602,802 bytesFeature: 28,763,080,704 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.99 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details:
• Audio commentary by Hal Ashby biographer
Nick Dawson and producer Charles B. Mulvehill
• Liner notes booklet featuring a new essay by film critic
Matt Zoller Seitz; a 1971 New York Times profile of star Ruth Gordon; and
two excerpted interviews, one from 1997 with star Bud Cort and
cinematographer John Alonzo and one from 2001 with executive producer
Mildred Lewis Blu-ray Release Date: June 12th, 2012Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 23 |
Release Information: Studio: Masters of Cinema - Spine # 83
1.85 :1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 34,501,803,982 bytesFeature: 28,942,951,872 bytes Video Bitrate: 35.22 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details:
• New and exclusive video discussion of the film by critic David Cairns
(25:44)
Standard Transparent Blu-ray Case inside slipcase Chapters 25 |
Release Information: Studio: Paramount
1.85 :1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 31,694,839,355 bytesFeature: 28,912,558,080 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.99 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details:
• Commentary with Larry Karaszewski and Cameron Crowe
Standard Blu-ray Case custom package (see below) Chapters 26 |
Paramount - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Comments: |
NOTE:
The below
Blu-ray
captures were taken directly from the
Blu-ray
disc.
In December 2021 Paramount released a 4K restored 1080P
Blu-ray
transfer of Harold and Maude. It has some stronger differences.
Firstly, looking beside the older two transfers, this new Paramount is
cropped - removing information on the left and top of the frame. It's a
surprisingly large amount and a bit head-scratching. As far as the colors go
- it can look yellow-green, which can appear more accurate in certain
scenes.
For the audio, Criterion and Masters of
Cinema offered the option of linear PCM tracks for both stereo and mono
tracks. But Paramount forgo the authentic flat soundstage and replace it
with a 5.1 surround bump in Dolby TrueHD (only 16-bit.) This will not appeal to purists.
Unnecessary separations
are not distinctive but it may export a more robust bass response. The Cat
Stevens songs - "Where Do the Children Play?", "On the Road to
Find Out", "Don't Be Shy" etc.- that fill the film sound
impressive, clean and buoyant. Paramount's Region FREE
Blu-ray
offers a French and German DUB and optional subtitles in those languages
including English and English (SDH.)
The 2021 Paramount
Blu-ray
has a commentary with Larry Karaszewski and Cameron Crowe. It's laid
back but very informative. They adore the film and impart plenty of
interesting information - it's worth the listen - especially for fans of
Harold and Maude. There is also a 6-minute video piece with Yusuf/Cat
Stevens on Harold And Maude and two trailers.
Paramount's Blu-ray
of Hal Ashby's Harold and Maude
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Menus / Extras
Criterion Collection Spine # 608 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
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Masters of Cinema - Spine # 83 - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Paramount - Region FREE - Blu-ray
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Subtitle Sample - Paramount - Region FREE - Blu-ray
1) Criterion Collection Spine # 608 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP2) Masters of Cinema - Spine # 83 - Region 'B' - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Paramount - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
1) Criterion Collection Spine # 608 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP2) Masters of Cinema - Spine # 83 - Region 'B' - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Paramount - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
1) Criterion Collection Spine # 608 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP2) Masters of Cinema - Spine # 83 - Region 'B' - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Paramount - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
1) Criterion Collection Spine # 608 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP2) Masters of Cinema - Spine # 83 - Region 'B' - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Paramount - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
1) Criterion Collection Spine # 608 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP2) Masters of Cinema - Spine # 83 - Region 'B' - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Paramount - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
1) Criterion Collection Spine # 608 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP2) Masters of Cinema - Spine # 83 - Region 'B' - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Paramount - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
Box Cover |
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Distribution | Criterion Collection Spine # 608 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray | Masters of Cinema - Spine # 83 - Region 'B' - Blu-ray | Paramount - Region FREE - Blu-ray |
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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |