The Day After Blu-ray - Jason Robards

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

Directed by Nicholas Meyer
USA 1983

The countdown has begun! Against the real-life backdrop of the US deployment of WMDs in Europe during the escalating Cold War, this dramatically involving and agonizingly graphic film about nuclear holocaust detonated a direct hit into the heartland of America, becoming the most watched TV movie of all time. Starring Jason Robards (The St. Valentines Day Massacre), JoBeth Williams (The Big Chill), Steve Guttenberg (The Boys From Brazil) and John Lithgow (Raising Cain), this controversial, potent drama remains one of the most talked-about programs in history. When Cold War tensions reach the ultimate boiling point, the inhabitants of a small town in Kansas learn – along with the rest of America – that they have less than 30 minutes before 300 Soviet warheads begin to appear overhead! Can anyone survive this ultimate nightmare... or the nuclear winter that is sure to follow? Top-notch direction by Nicholas Meyer (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan), from a teleplay by Edward Hume (Two-Minute Warning, 21 Hours at Munich).

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Theatrical Release: November 28th, 1983 (theatrical release)

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Review: Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	2:02:32.178	2:07:01.947
Video	TV Version: 1.33:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rays Disc One: 41,548,085,421 bytes Feature: 34,809,163,776 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.43 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video	Theatrical Version: 1.78:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-rays Disc One: 23,062,889,121 bytes Feature: 22,951,127,040 bytes Video Bitrate: 23.04 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Television Bitrate Blu-ray:
Theatrical Bitrate Blu-ray:
Audio	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1557 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1557 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1558 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1558 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles	None	English , None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Kino Lorber TV Version: 1.33:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rays Disc One: 41,548,085,421 bytes Feature: 34,809,163,776 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.43 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Theatrical Version: 1.78:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-rays Disc One: 23,062,889,121 bytes Feature: 22,951,127,040 bytes Video Bitrate: 23.04 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Audio Commentary by Film Historian Lee Gambin and Comic Artist/Writer Tristan Jones on the theatrical version only • Interview with star JoBeth Williams (12:41) • Interview with director Nicholas Meyer (28:06) Blu-ray Release Date: August 7th, 2018 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 8 / 8

Comments:

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

Kino Lorber have included both original 122-Minute TV Cut (1.33:1) and the 127-Minute Theatrical Cut (1.78:1) on separate Blu-rays. The TV version is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate and looks superior to the widescreen theatrical version that only seems matted with no additional information on the side edges. The theatrical can be weak visually. The TV version has cooler skin tones and looks crisper overall.

Kino Lorber provide DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel (16-bit) tracks in the original English language for both versions. Apocalyptic missile/bomb explosions effects carry depth and sound authentic. There is a, less-traditional, score by David Raksin (Forever Amber, Separate Tables, Laura, Bigger Than Life, The Big Combo) that has some patriotic chords. Kino Lorber add optional English subtitles - only for the Theatrical Version - and both discs are Region 'A' Blu-rays.

Supplements include an audio commentary by Film Historian Lee Gambin and Comic Artist/Writer Tristan Jones on the theatrical version only. It is full of enthusiasm diverging off into other social awareness films with their political leanings showing through. I wasn't crazy about that aspect or the occasional F-bomb. On the TV version disc there are interviews with star JoBeth Williams running more than a dozen minutes and almost a 1/2 hour with director Nicholas Meyer who is always interesting.

The Day After has a chilling effect even today. It's a fine, deeply probing, Apocalyptic film that plants some disturbing mental seeds. It also has a great cast. The Kino Blu-ray will be greeted warmly by fans of the film and having bother versions and the commentary and interviews should be very pleasing.