Directed by George Marshall
USA 1939

Marvellous comedy Western, with Stewart's pacifist, reputedly wimpy marshal taming the lawless town of Bottleneck by means of words and jokes rather than the gun Donlevy's villain repeatedly provokes him to use. What is remarkable about the film is the way it combines humour, romance, suspense and action so seamlessly (with individual scenes - Dietrich singing 'See What the Boys in the Back Room Will Have', Stewart's delicious parable about a homicidal orphan, Mischa Auer losing his pants - indelibly printed in the memory). Flawless performances, pacy direction and a snappy script place it head and shoulders above virtually any other spoof oater.

Excerpt from TimeOut Film Guide located HERE

Poster

Theatrical Release: December 29th, 1939

Reviews    More Reviews    DVD Reviews

DVD Comparison:

Universal (6-disc Marlene Dietrich Collection) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL vs. Universal (6-disc James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC

 

1) Universal (6-disc Marlene Dietrich Collection) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL LEFT

2) Universal (6-disc James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC RIGHT

 
DVD Box Cover

Distribution Universal Home Video - Region 2,4,5 - PAL Universal Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime 1:30:39 (4% PAL speedup) 1:34:27 
Video 1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.51 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s 		 1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 8.79 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s 

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:

PAL

Bitrate:

NTSC

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0) English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles English, None English, Spanish, French, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Universal Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1

Edition Details:

• Part of the Marlene Dietrich - 6 Disc Boxset whihc includes Shanghai Express (1932), Blonde Venus (1932), The Devil Is a Woman (1935), Destry Rides Again (1939), The Lady Is Willing (1942) and A Foreign Affair (1948)

DVD Release Date: May 6th, 2003
Keep Case
Chapters: 20

Release Information:
Studio: Universal Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1

Edition Details:

Set contains - Destry Rides Again / Winchester 73 / Bend of the River / The Far Country / Night Passage / The Rare Breed

DVD Release Date: May 20th, 2008
Slim transparent Case (6 inside box)
Chapters: 20

 

Comments:

Firstly, I don't own the NTSC edition released in 2003 HERE, but this is a new one, with 2008 VOB files. It is part of the James Stewart - The Western Collection which contains Destry Rides Again / Winchester 73 / Bend of the River / The Far Country / Night Passage and The Rare Breed.

The Marlene Dietrich 6-disc PAL set is fully reviewed HERE.

Differences? - The NTSC is superior (smoother, less noise) probably because it is dual-layered where the PAL is single. Bitrates (above) tell the story. Both have the stereo track (no original mono) and English subs - the NTSC also offers French and Spanish. Both are bare bones (no extras). Menus are slightly different. I'll wager this is improved from the 2003 NTSC edition. 

I'd VERY high on this James Stewart - The Western Collection - we've reviewed/compared all titles now (links in paragraph above). For these six western gems the price amounts to $5 a piece which is really a ridiculous deal. Strongly recommended!    

Gary W. Tooze

 

James Stewart - The Western Collection package
 

Marlene Dietrich - 6-disc PAL package

 

DVD Menus

 

1) Universal (6-disc Marlene Dietrich Collection) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL LEFT

2) Universal (6-disc James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC RIGHT

 


 

Subtitle Sample

 

1) Universal (6-disc Marlene Dietrich Collection) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL TOP

2) Universal (6-disc James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC BOTTOM

 

 

 

 

Screen Captures

 

 

1) Universal (6-disc Marlene Dietrich Collection) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL TOP

2) Universal (6-disc James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC BOTTOM

 

 

 

 

1) Universal (6-disc Marlene Dietrich Collection) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL TOP

2) Universal (6-disc James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC BOTTOM

 

 

 

 

1) Universal (6-disc Marlene Dietrich Collection) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL TOP

2) Universal (6-disc James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC BOTTOM

 

 

 

 

1) Universal (6-disc Marlene Dietrich Collection) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL TOP

2) Universal (6-disc James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC BOTTOM

 

 

 

DVD Box Cover

   

Distribution Universal Home Video - Region 2,4,5 - PAL Universal Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC




 

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