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It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World [Blu-ray]
(Stanley Kramer, 1963)
Review by Gary Tooze
Production: Theatrical: Casey Productions Video: MGM
Disc: Region: FREE! (as verified by the Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player) Runtime: 2:39:29.601 Disc Size: 47,852,172,313 bytes Feature Size: 41,233,692,672 bytes Video Bitrate: 28.01 Mbps Chapters: 32 Case: Standard Blu-ray case Release date: February 7th, 2012
Video: Aspect ratio: 2.74:1 Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio English 3848 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3848 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit / DN -4dB) Dolby Digital Audio French 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps / DN -4dB
Subtitles: English (SDH), French, Spanish, none
Extras: • Something a Little Less Serious: A Tribute to It's a Mad mad Mad Mad World (1:01:21 4:3 in 480i)• Extended Scenes (59:16 in 480i) • Trailer (3:27 in 1080P) • Reissue Trailer (3:21 in 1080P)
Bitrate:
Description: With this all-star Cinerama epic, producer/director Stanley Kramer vowed to make the comedy that would end all comedies.... The story begins during a massive traffic jam, caused by reckless driver Smiler Grogan (Jimmy Durante), who, before (literally) kicking the bucket, cryptically tells the assembled drivers that he's buried a fortune in stolen loot, under the Big W. The various motorists setting out on a mad scramble include a dentist (Sid Caesar) and his wife (Edie Adams); a henpecked husband (Milton Berle) accompanied by his mother-in-law (Ethel Merman) and his beatnik brother-in-law (Dick Shawn); a pair of comedy writers (Buddy Hackett and Mickey Rooney); and a variety of assorted nuts including a slow-wit (Jonathan Winters), a wheeler-dealer (Phil Silvers), and a pair of covetous cabdrivers (Peter Falk and Eddie Rochester Anderson). Monitoring every move that the fortune hunters make is a scrupulously honest police detective (Spencer Tracy). Virtually every lead, supporting, and bit part in the picture is filled by a well-known comic actor: the laughspinning lineup also includes Carl Reiner, Terry-Thomas, Arnold Stang, Buster Keaton, Jack Benny, Jerry Lewis, and The Three Stooges, who get one of the picture's biggest laughs by standing stock still and uttering not a word.
The Film:
When It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World was completed, Spencer Tracy
told Stanley Kramer it was the most fun he had ever had on a film set.
It's a wonderfully crazy and colorful collection of "chase" comedy, so
crowded with plot and people that it almost splits the seams of its huge
Cinerama packing and its 3-hour-and-12-minute length. It's mad, as it
says, with its profusion of so many stars, so many "names," playing
leading to 5-second bit roles, that it seems to be a celebrities'
parade. And it is also, for all its crackpot clowning and its racing and
colliding of automobiles, a pretty severe satirizing of the money
madness and motorized momentum of our age.
Image : NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World surfaced on Blu-ray via brick-and mortar Wal-Marts and some e-tailors in 2011. It is available now through Amazon. The image quality is extremely impressive. Colors are brilliant, contrast may be a shade heavy - not moiring, but closer than some may like - however, overall it looks significantly better than I would have anticipated for a film almost 50-years old. This is dual-layered and with the assistance of the rich black levels - detail is a triumph. I don't see signs of restoration - and expect it didn't require any - the 65mm print is exceptionally clean with strong density. I measure the aspect ratio at about 2.74:1. This Blu-ray is a real treat for fans of the film. The quality, with frequent depth, had me impressed on many occasions. Colors are exceptional.
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Audio :The DTS-HD Master 5.1 at 3848 kbps is almost as impressive as the video. Ernest Gold's score is crisp and tight with bass depth and lively orchestrations. There is some notable separation although nothing I would consider dynamic. I thought this sounded quite strong. There are optional subtitles and m y Momitsu has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.
Extras : Extras include the hour-long 3:4 vintage video featurette 'Something a Little Less Serious: A Tribute to It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World' that has interesting input from many of those involved including Kramer and the evolution of the massive project. There are the previously release hour's worth of Extended Scenes, as well as a trailer and re-issue trailer both in 1080P.
BOTTOM LINE: Gary Tooze February 1st, 2012
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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 5000 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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