Bonnie and Clyde Blu-ray Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway

(aka 'Bonnie and Clyde... Were Killers!')

Directed by Arthur Penn
USA 1967

Reclaiming the American gangster movie after it had been stolen by the Nouvelle Vague, Penn's film was so successful (and so imitated) that it inevitably met with some grudging devaluation. But it's still great: half comic fairytale, half brutal fact, it reflects the essential ambiguity of its heroes (faithfully copied from history and the real-life Barrow gang which terrorised the American South in the early '30s) by treading a no man's land suspended between reality and fantasy. With its weird landscape of dusty, derelict towns and verdant highways, stunningly shot by Burnett Guffey in muted tones of green and gold, it has the true quality of folk legend.

Excerpt from TimeOut Film Guide located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: August 4th, 1967 - Montreal Film Festival

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DVD Comparison:

Warner - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC vs. Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray

DVD Box Cover
Distribution	Warner Home Video - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC	Warner Home Video - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:50:36	1:50:46.014
Video	1.78:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.4 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	Disc Size: 19,596,555,784 bytes Feature Size: 14,294,550,528 bytes Average Bitrate: 17.21 Mbps Single-layered Blu-ray VC-1
	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 mono)	Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles	English, English (CC), French, Korean, None	English, English (CC), French, Korean, Spanish, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Warner Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.78:1 Edition Details: Disc 1 • Teaser Trailer and Theatrical trailer Disc 2 • History Channel Documentary: Love and Death: The Story of Bonnie and Clyde (43:10) • Revolution: The Making of Bonnie and Clyde into three sections (Bonnie and Clyde's Gang (22:35), The Reality and Myth of Bonnie and Clyde (24:07), Releasing Bonnie and Clyde (18:06) ) • Warren Beatty's Wardrobe Tests (7:39) • 2 4:3 Deleted Scenes (total - 5:23) DVD Release Date: March 25th, 2008 Keep Case Chapters: 35	Release Information: Studio: Warner Disc Size: 19,596,555,784 bytes Feature Size: 14,294,550,528 bytes Average Bitrate: 17.21 Mbps Single-layered Blu-ray VC-1 Edition Details: • Teaser Trailer and Theatrical trailer • History Channel Documentary: Love and Death: The Story of Bonnie and Clyde (43:15) • Revolution: The Making of Bonnie and Clyde into three sections (Bonnie and Clyde's Gang (22:35), The Reality and Myth of Bonnie and Clyde (24:07), Releasing Bonnie and Clyde (18:06) ) • Warren Beatty's Wardrobe Tests (7:39) • 32-page Book built into case • 2 4:3 Deleted Scenes (total - 5:23) Blu-ray Release Date: March 25th, 2008 Bookstyle Blu-ray Case with photos and production information Chapters: 35

Comments:

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

In motion I see more differences than are reported by the still captures below. The Blu-ray seems darker in shadow scenes (day lit scenes are expectantly brighter) with much deeper black levels although skin tones are more red and less yellow/orange. It has some very strong moments of detail and the, purposely, roughly-hone production edges appear well supported in this 1080P transfer. Obviously this is far superior than the original SD from 1999. The only flaw would be some very minor noise but grain is apparent on this single-layered Blu-ray. Dunaway is typically drop-dead gorgeous and colors don't overly explode on the screen thankfully avoiding the unnatural exuberance that we sometimes see in this new format. I don't suspect purists will object that 'it looks too good' (ie. overly glossy and ultra-sharp.) There is not a lot of depth, however some exists and the Blu-ray shows 'texture' that is missing from the DVD transfer. Everything is digitally presented with an air of precision; it is both clean and film-like. So far, this Blu-ray is the absolute best way to see this landmark film in your home theatre.

Audio: No artificial bumps on either edition which seems an appropriate and welcome choice by Warner. The mono audio is clear and consistent enough to appreciate the film and its embedded realism. Warner didn't seem to want to monkey with the original aural presentation of the film as there are also no DUBs offered. There are a choice of subtitles in English (CC and standard), French, Korean or Spanish in a white font. Like all Blu-rays other Warner this is Region FREE.

Duplicated from the SD and none in HD (all 480). There are some extensive supplements though. First off is a 45 minute History Channel documentary entitled Love and Death: The Story of Bonnie and Clyde which focuses almost exclusively on the historical aspect of the duo with good interviews and narration to a backdrop of old photos and news clippings. Another featurette is included - Revolution: The Making of Bonnie and Clyde which is divided into three sections - Bonnie and Clyde's Gang (22:35), The Reality and Myth of Bonnie and Clyde (24:07), Releasing Bonnie and Clyde (18:06). Input comes from just about everyone involved in the production including Beatty, Dunaway, Hackman, Parsons and screenwriter Robert Benton. This was very enjoyable although I, personally, thought the first documentary had more interesting information. You have the opportunity to see Warren Beatty's Wardrobe Tests (7 1/2 minutes worth - and kinda boring) and two deleted scenes (total - 5:23) shown in 4:3 ratio (but authentic image quality). There is also a teaser and theatrical trailer. The case does have wonderful 32-page booklet built-in with photos and articles.

NOTE: On the Blu-ray the opening photos are also in black and white - not original sepia.

DVDBeaver love older films being rendered to high-definition - showing more the the film's original elemental appearance with, often intended, heavy stock texture and visible grain. This is another example and we recommend!

Gary W. Tooze

***

ON THE DVD: NOTE: There is also an 'Ultimate Collector's Edition' located HERE for close to double the price. We don't know the content but presume some form of trinkets and postcards in addition to the two discs found in this package.

This is a very satisfying and reasonable 2-disc offering from Warner. For the most part image quality is very strong - exceeding the old edition (that I can't seem to put my hands on) that came out in 1999. This is tight to the frame edges and clean of major dirt and speckles. There are still moments of graininess (noise) but detail, contrast and colors (skin tones a shade red) all appear vastly improved. I noted a few scenes that tend to look kind of glossy but I'll assume the upcoming Blu-ray will overcome this. As far as SD quality goes - this is top-shelf. The feature DVD (disc 1) is anamorphic, progressive and dual-layered. It is coded for regions 1 thru 4 in the NTSC standard. The mono audio is unremarkable but original - clear and consistent. There is no bump offered. Set to sell in Korea and Quebec (but not South America?) there are optional subtitles in English, English (CC), French and Korean. This is the second effort from Warner (Gangster 3 the other) where I noticed Spanish subtitles have not been included.

Disc 1 offers two trailers - teaser and theatrical. Disc 2 has some strong supplements. First off is a 45 minute History Channel Documentary entitled Love and Death: The Story of Bonnie and Clyde which focuses almost exclusively of the historical aspect of the duo with good interviews and narration to a backdrop of old photos and news clippings. Another featurette is included - Revolution: The Making of Bonnie and Clyde which is divided into three sections - Bonnie and Clyde's Gang (22:35), The Reality and Myth of Bonnie and Clyde (24:07), Releasing Bonnie and Clyde (18:06). Input comes from just about everyone involved in the production including Beatty, Dunaway, Hackman, Parsons and screenwriter Robert Benton. This was very enjoyable although I, personally, thought the first documentary had more interesting information. You have the opportunity to see Warren Beatty's Wardrobe Tests (7 1/2 minutes worth - and kinda boring) and two deleted scenes (total - 5:23) shown in 4:3 ratio (but excellent image quality).

NOTE: Louis tells us: "The movie opens with a series of depression-era photos interspersed with the credits. In the original film and in the earlier Warner edition of the DVD the photos are in sepia, whereas the new edition has them in black and white. This might seem minor, but (a) it is a mistake in presenting the film, and (b) the sepia tones really establish a mood that is missing in the current DVD edition. Shame on Warner for this."

Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus / extras

Disc 2