Jesse James Blu-ray - Henry Fonda

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Henry King
USA 1939

The first film on the notorious James brothers that attempted historical authenticity led to dozens more on the subject. It sets out, in a rather sprawling manner, to prove that the outlaws were wronged. (Jesse's granddaughter is given a research credit.) According to this version, they were defenders of a rural Southern Arcadia against Northern capitalism, represented by banks and railways, becoming outlaws only after killing the man trying to force their mother off their land. There is some splendid Technicolor photography, and Power's and Fonda's performances as Jesse and Frank, and Scott as the sheriff, are superb.

Excerpt from Channel 4 located HERE

Poster

Theatrical Release: January 13th, 1939

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Comparison:

20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC vs. 20th Century Fox - Region FREE - Blu-ray

1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT

2) 20th Century Fox - 65th Anniversary - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT

Box Cover
Distribution	20th Century Fox Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC	20th Century Fox Home Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:46:15	1:46:14.826
Video	1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.64 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 - 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 34,359,479,984 bytes Feature: 33,166,927,872 bytes Video Bitrate: 33.97 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Audio	English (Dolby Digital mono), English (Dolby Digital 2.0), DUBs: Spanish (Dolby Digital mono)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 3139 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3139 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio English 1037 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1037 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit) Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps DTS Audio French 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles	English, Spanish, None	English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Japanese, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Video Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Movietone News: "Hollywood Spotlight" • Movietone News: "Jesse James at the Roxy" • Theatrical Trailer • 6 page liner notes DVD Release Date: March 6th, 2007 Keep Case inside a cardboard box Chapters: 24	Release Information: Studio: 20th Century Fox Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 - 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 34,359,479,984 bytes Feature: 33,166,927,872 bytes Video Bitrate: 33.97 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Movietone News: "Jesse James at the Roxy (:33) • Movietone News: "Hollywood Spotlight" (1:27) • Theatrical Trailer (2:14) Blu-ray Release Date: December 3rd, 2013 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters: 24

Comments:

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

ADDITION: 20th Century Fox - Region FREE - Blu-ray (November 2013): The Technicolor colors are quite different on Fox's new 1080P. They, oddly, waver a bit. I have some concern over what I perceive as digitization or moiring in the darker segments. When I zoom-in it resembles chroma. I have to investigate it further. Otherwise there is, a notable amount of, additional information on all 4 sides. We have lossless sound - either a 5.1 boost or original mono (stick with the 1.0 channel!) an a duplicate of the meager extras - minus the liner notes. Still a classic western and seeing it in this HD transfer was like watching it, fresh, all over again.

***

ON THE DVD: Although imperfect I thought the Technicolor looked very impressive for a film from 1939. The progressive image has very strong detail and frankly this DVD has an exceptional appearance. The transfer from Fox is dual-layered and has a few minor speckles. The mono audio seemed clear with no dropouts, hisses or pops - I didn't check the 2.0 channel stereo. There are optional English or Spanish subtitles.

No real extras - 2 MovieTone Newsreels, a trailer and there is a short, but competent, essay by Tom Weaver in the liner notes.

No one could tell me I wouldn't love a classic western with Power, Fonda and Scott. This was great fun with the era's standard obvious plot twists and one-dimensional characters. I love the older films of this genre and nothing about it disappoints on any front - I was especially enamored with the DVD image quality. We obviously recommend to fans of both classic and western films!