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A view on Blu-ray by Gary W. Tooze

Rapture [Blu-ray]

 

(John Guillermin, 1965)

 

 

Review by Gary Tooze

 

Production:

Theatrical: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Video: Twilight Time vs. Eureka Classics

 

Disc:

Region: FREE!  / Region: 'B' (as verified by the Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player)

Runtime: 1:44:15.248 / 1:44:16.041

Disc Size: 22,984,343,398 bytes / 32,030,309,885 bytes

Feature Size: 22,972,778,496 bytes / 31,995,596,160 bytes

Video Bitrate: 25.03 Mbps / 34.99 Mbps

Chapters: 11 / 12

Case: Standard Blu-ray case / Transparent Blu-ray case

Release date: December, 2011 / July 28th, 2014

 

Video:

Aspect ratio: 2.35:1

Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Audio:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1579 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1579 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1057 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1057 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)

LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Commentary: LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit

 

Subtitles:

None

 

English, none

 

Extras:

• Isolated Score Track

• Julie Kirgo liner notes

 

• New exclusive commentary with film historians Julie Kirgo and Nick Redmon
 • Booklet featuring an essay by critic Mike Sutton; vintage stills; and more.

Dual-Format DVD enclosed

 

Bitrate:

 

1) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Eureka Classics - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

 

Description: Agnes, a lonely teenage girl, and her father befriend an escaped convict, named Joseph, who arrives at their farm in Brittany, France. When Joseph develops an attraction to Agnes, her father threatens to break up the union.

***

An international co-production made on location along the Brittany coastline, Rapture is one of the most remarkable coming-of-age films ever made, and with its vivid atmosphere and emotional acuity is one of the most striking and neglected studio projects of the 1960s.

Three years after she shot to prominence in the classic Sundays and Cybele, Patricia Gozzi gives an extraordinary performance as the young girl whose isolated existence under her overbearing father, Melvyn Douglas (Ninotchka), is turned on its head with the sudden arrival of a seductive fugitive from the law, Dean Stockwell (Quantum Leap).

With a supporting cast including Gunnel Lindblom, Sylvia Kay (Wake in Fright, BBC TV s Just Good Friends), and Peter Sallis (Last of the Summer Wine), stunningly expressive black & white Cinemascope visuals and an exquisite score by Georges Delerue, Rapture is an astonishing rediscovery, presented for the first time on home video in the UK in a new high-definition restoration.

 

 

The Film:

“Movie-making at its best…spellbinding. Something very fine, the likes of which are rare in this era.” — New York Daily News

“The blazing Miss Gozzi graduates to a woman's love through joy, homicidal rage, and searing pain, hardly making a move that does not register on the heart.” — Time Magazine

Rapture (1965) is a dark fairy tale: set against the rugged beauty of the Brittany seacoast, it tells the story of a young girl (Patricia Gozzi) whose lonely isolation under the watchful eye of her stern and bitter father (Melvyn Douglas) is abruptly shattered by the arrival of a seductive fugitive from the law (Dean Stockwell). With stunning CinemaScope images from director John Guillermin and cinematographer Marcel Grignon, this tumultuous coming-of-age fable also features a deliriously romantic score by Georges Delerue, available here as an isolated track (on the Twilight Time).

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

A typical Twilight Time - this Blu-ray is limited to 3,000 copies. Unfortunately there are some sequences with edge-enhancement halos (see sample below) and while not blanketed across the entire transfer does give evidence of making the image quality appear unnaturally thin. If you can get past that - it actually looks okay - reminding me of the richly-layered black-and-white BFI transfer of The Innocents.  This is only single-layered with an acceptable bitrate. Daylight scenes are impressive but perhaps due to the manipulation (or maybe it is on the source print) it is fairly flat. This Blu-ray has some good grain showing through and I generally like it if the EE was less visible. Most probably won't be dissuaded. I had never seen the film before and was glad this Blu-ray gave me the opportunity.

 

Eureka provide a more robust 1080P transfer - it is dual-layered with a max'ed out bitrate. The EE is still prevalent but masked better by the stronger rendering. I suspect the edge-enhancement is part of the print - and both companies used the same one. It has nothing to do with the transfer. But the Twilight Time shows it more as their visuals are slightly brittle. Grain certainly looks more consistent on the UK BD (it was more blotchy on the US transfer) and it looks thicker (more film-like) and sharper. So, in short the Eureka is the better of the two video transfers. The Twilight Time shows softness in direction comparison to the Eureka (toggle between large captures.) This would be more important to those with very discerning systems, but even on my 60" plasma - it was notable in-motion.

 

NOTE: A number of captures below are exact frame comparisons, but not all. I did the best I could.  

 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Subtitle Sample - Eureka Classics - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 

 

 

1) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Eureka Classics - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Eureka Classics - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Eureka Classics - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Eureka Classics - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Eureka Classics - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Eureka Classics - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Eureka Classics - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Eureka Classics - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Eureka Classics - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Eureka Classics - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Eureka Classics - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Eureka Classics - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

Audio :

No boost going on here - Twilight Time supply a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel stereo at 1579 kbps that gets the job done with no muss or fuss. The original music by Georges Delerue adds a whole intriguing layer onto the film but doesn't test the lossless rendering much. There were no fatal flaws that I cold detect and there are no subtitles offered. My Momitsu has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.

 

Eureka utilize a linear PCM track that is slightly more robust than Twilight Time's DTS-HD Master. It might be more notable in the depth of the gun shots sand higher-end of Georges Delerue's lilting score. Eureka offer optional English subtitles (see sample) but the Blu-ray is region 'B'-locked.

 

Extras :

The only supplements are access to the Isolated Score via an uncompressed transfer and the box has some excellent Julie Kirgo liner notes.

 

Eureka go another step forward with an excellent new commentary with film historians Julie Kirgo and Nick Redmon discussing details and minutia of the production. I thoroughly enjoyed it. There is also a 20-page liner notes booklet featuring an essay by critic Mike Sutton; vintage stills; poster reprints, viewing notes etc. and the Dual-Format package has a DVD of the feature, with all the extras of the Blu-ray, enclosed.

 

 

1) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray LEFT

2) Eureka Classics - Region 'B' - Blu-ray RIGHT

 
 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
I found Rapture a very interesting film. This has an international cast and a notable sensitivity. It is unusually realized but it suits the film experience perfectly. Many may find this strange but I'll bet an equal number are swallowed by its haunting charms. I'd certainly give a more enthusiastic endorsement if not for the EE but the Blu-ray at least allowed me to see a perfectly 'fresh' film - WOW - and for that I am grateful and encourage those seeking same - to indulge.

 

I enjoyed Rapture even more in this re-visitation - and the commentary really advanced my appreciation. The Eureka vaults ahead in every category with superior a/v and extras. This is a highly engaging film in subsequent viewings and we strongly endorse the UK package.  

Gary Tooze

December 12th, 2011

June 17th, 2014

 

 


 

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.

Gary's Home Theatre:

60-Inch Class (59.58” Diagonal) 1080p Pioneer KURO Plasma Flat Panel HDTV PDP6020-FD

Oppo Digital BDP-83 Universal Region FREE Blu-ray/SACD Player
Momitsu - BDP-899 Region FREE Blu-ray player
Marantz SA8001 Super Audio CD Player
Marantz SR7002 THX Select2 Surround Receiver
Tannoy DC6-T (fronts) + Energy (centre, rear, subwoofer) speakers (5.1)

APC AV 1.5 kVA H Type Power Conditioner 120V

Gary W. Tooze

 

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