The Men Blu-ray - Marlon Brando

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

(aka 'Battle Stripe' or 'The Courage of Man')

Directed by Fred Zinnemann
USA 1950

Marlon Brando set the mark for a brilliant career in Stanley Kramer's THE MEN, his motion picture debut. As a war veteran paralyzed in combat, he returns home to face the torturous ordeal of rehabilitation. The courage and strength of the soldier are betrayed by the fear and insecurity of the man when he learns he will never walk again. Embittered by his condition, he refuses to see his fiancée and sinks into a solitary world of hatred and hostility. Fighting the wishes of her parents, the coldness of a guilt-ridden society and her own self-doubts, it is she who must force him to confront the reality of his condition and break his physical and emotional confinement. When feeling starts to return to his legs, it could be his last hope...or his final downfall.

Poster / Lobby card

Theatrical Release: July 20th, 1950

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Comparison:

Republic Pictures - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Olive Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

1) Republic Pictures - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Olive- Region 'A' - Blu-ray RIGHT

Box Covers
Distribution	Republic Pictures - Region 1 - NTSC	Olive Films Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:26:42	1:27:15.188
Video	1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.59 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 17,191,731,367 bytes Feature: 17,096,865,792 bytes Video Bitrate: 24.00 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 2.0)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 822 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 822 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit)
Subtitles	None	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Republic Pictures Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • None DVD Release Date: November 3rd, 2009 Keep Case Chapters: 23	Release Information: Studio: Olive Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 17,191,731,367 bytes Feature: 17,096,865,792 bytes Video Bitrate: 24.00 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • None) Blu-ray Release Date: April 30th, 2013 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 8

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Olive - Region 'A' - Blu-ray (April 2013): The boosting of the 2009 DVD is much more apparent when beside Olive's new 1080P. the SD also looks vertically stretched a shade. There are no visible artifacts as seen on the single-layered DVD and the new Blu-ray shows more information in the frame - mostly on the left and bottom edge. The DVD is very flat where the HD visuals show some depth. It's really no contest.

The audio is via a lossless DTS-HD Master and the great Dimitri Tiomkin's (Dial M For Murder, The Thing From Another World and too many others to name here) score benefits from the uncompressed mono track. There are no subtitles, nor extras (just like the DVD.)

Solid film - and wonderful to see it looking and sounding so improved. We certainly recommend!

***

ON THE DVD: In December of 2003 Artisan came out with this, Brando's first feature, in a very lackluster transfer available HERE. It is now listed as 'Republic Pictures' DVD distribution and appears to be the same transfer with, simply, a different cover. It's visually weak and single-layered but progressive and certainly watchable. The first few minutes exhibit the most damage but throughout there are speckles and lighter scratches. I see some edge enhancement - albeit minor.

Audio is as limited as the video but dialogue is discernable. There are no subtitles and no extras at all. To be fair the price reflects those omissions. The DVD inferiorities don't take away from the magnificence of the film one iota. Those keen on early Brando, director Zinnemann or the lovely Teresa Wright should probably indulge at this low price. The film alone is surely worth it and there are no plans for a restoration or superior edition anytime soon.