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The Horse Soldiers [Blu-ray]
(John Ford, 1959)
The Kino Blu-ray is compared to this Blu-ray HERE
Review by Gary Tooze
Production: Theatrical: United Artists Video: MGM
Disc: Region: FREE! (as verified by the Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player) Runtime: 2:00:08.242 Disc Size: 40,423,167,059 bytes Feature Size: 39,420,954,624 bytes Video Bitrate: 37.87 Mbps Chapters: 16 Case: Standard Blu-ray case Release date: May 10th, 2011
Video: Aspect ratio: 1.66:1 Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio English 2030 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2030 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit / DN -4dB) Dolby Digital Audio French 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio German 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio Italian 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps / DN -4dB
Subtitles: English (SDH), English, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, none
Extras: • Theatrical trailer (2:49 in 1080P)
Bitrate:
Description: Based on an actual Civil War mission, Colonel Marlowe (John Wayne) and Major Kendall (William Holden) are ordered by... General Grant to take three regiments 300 miles into enemy territory. They must destroy the railroad line between Newton Station and Vicksburg in hopes of choking off supplies to the South. Marlowe encounters a Southern belle loyal to the enemy, and keeps her in sight throughout the journey so she can't warn the Confederates. Kendall, a Northern surgeon, and the crusty Marlowe have their differences along the way. Action, romance and gory battlefield surgery accompany the army as the mission is completed. John Ford directed this film based on a novel by Harold Sinclair.~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
A crisp retelling of a true-life episode from the Civil War, The Horse Soldiers is a latter-day sorta-Western from John Ford, falling midway between The Searchers (1956) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). In 1863 a Union colonel named Grierson (Marlowe in the film, and John Wayne by any name) led his cavalry several hundred miles behind Confederate lines to cut the railway track between Newton Station and soon-to-be-embattled Vicksburg. Grierson's raid was as successful as it was daring, and remarkably bloodless. Never fear that the screenplay makes up for that un-Hollywood lapse--as well as supplying amatory distraction for the colonel in the form of a feisty Southern belle (Constance Towers) who has to be dragged along to protect secrecy.
The Film: Underrated Civil War Western, leisurely and sometimes simplistic, but mostly quintessential Ford as Wayne's pragmatic colonel and Holden's humanitarian doctor debate (and embody) aspects of war while leading a Union cavalry patrol deep behind Confederate lines, with their conflict extended by the presence of a fiery Southern belle (a lovely performance from Towers) taken along for the ride because she's overheard their plans and bursting to undermine their mission. There's a magnificent payoff in the sequence where children from the military academy cheerfully march off to the tune of fife and drum to mount a last-ditch defence of the Confederacy, flimsy toy soldiers so ripe for the slaughter that the baffled enemy simply turn tail and flee. Excerpt from TimeOut London located HERE As beautifully photographed as any of Mathew Brady's Civil War photographs, director John Ford's The Horse Soldiers (1959) is a historical account of an actual event in the War Between the States, known as Grierson's Raid. During a sixteen day period in 1863, Colonel Benjamin Grierson led his Union troops across the Mississippi and into the heart of Confederate territory where he destroyed the railroad line to Vicksburg. It was a strategy that demoralized the Confederate Army and won the praise of General Grant who proclaimed it one of the most brilliant feats in military history. Excerpt from TCM located HEREImage : NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. The Kino Blu-ray is compared to this Blu-ray HERE The Horse Soldiers is not pristinely sharp on Blu-ray from MGM but has a pleasing thickness and grainy texture that remains consistent throughout the film. Blues (uniforms) and reds (Miss Hannah's dress) stand out well. This is dual-layered with a very high bitrate but not an abundance of depth. There is no damage and I doubt this film will ever look better for a home theater presentation. It may not 'Wow' you by modern standards but this 1.66:1 (why is it 1.66:1?) transfer captures integrity of the film image. Contrast is, likewise, authentic to source without boosting. It may be a bit dark at times - but I'd rather have that than the unnaturally bright. This Blu-ray probably looks like the film The Horse Soldiers did some 50-years ago and certainly advances beyond the limitations of the SD medium.
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Audio :Along with some optional DUBs we get a solid DTS-HD Master in stereo at 2030 kbps. The film doesn't support a lot of separation but there is some aggressive explosions and gunfire that have some audible depth. There is some music - like "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" and the rousing "Dixie" that comes through reasonably well in lossless. There are many optional subtitle choices and m y Momitsu has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.
Extras : Nothing but a trailer in HD. The film deserves more and being Ford/Wayne you might expect some relatable supplements. To be fair to MGM - the price reflects the lack of extras.
BOTTOM LINE: Gary Tooze May 18th, 2011 The Kino Blu-ray is compared to this Blu-ray HERE
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About the Reviewer: Hello, fellow Beavers! I have been interested in film since I viewed a Chaplin festival on PBS when I was around 9 years old. I credit DVD with expanding my horizons to fill an almost ravenous desire to seek out new film experiences. I currently own approximately 9500 DVDs and have reviewed over 3500 myself. I appreciate my discussion Listserv for furthering my film education and inspiring me to continue running DVDBeaver. Plus a healthy thanks to those who donate and use our Amazon links.
Although I never wanted to become one of those guys who
focused 'too much' on image and sound quality - I
find HD is swiftly pushing me in that direction. 60-Inch Class (59.58” Diagonal) 1080p Pioneer KURO Plasma Flat Panel HDTV PDP6020-FD
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Player APC AV 1.5 kVA H Type Power Conditioner 120V Gary W. Tooze ALL OUR NEW FORMAT DVD REVIEWS
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