Kino's 4K UHD of The Train is reviewed/compared HERE

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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (January 2021): Kino have transferred John Frankenheimer's The Train to Blu-ray. It is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. It greatly resembles the other two 1080P transfers. All three Blu-rays look identical. I can't see much difference in-motion either and it gets high marks for the pristine HD presentation.

NOTE: We have added 30 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (16-bit) in the original English language. This is where Kino take a slight step back with both other Blu-ray audio transfers being 24-bit. Dubbing can appear obvious. Maurice Jarre's (The Tin Drum, The Man Who Would Be King, The Damned, The The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man in the Moon Marigolds etc.) score still sounds great and is also available as an isolated option (like both other Blu-rays) in lossless. Kino add optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray disc.

Kino also include the previous audio commentary by director John Frankenheimer but add a new one by Steve Mitchell and Combat Films: American Realism author Steven Jay Rubin. They laud the film and discuss the deep focus photography to the dialogue about morality, the value of art to it being one of the last great action films to be shot in black and white, and the value of character actors to Burt being the only American actor in the film - plus much more. It's great and further ignited my appreciation of John Frankenheimer's The Train. Included is a 'Trailers From Hell' episode with Brian Trenchard-Smith running over 5-minutes, a lengthy theatrical trailer, the package has a limited edition slipcase, booklet essay by Film Historian Julie Kirgo and reversible art.

John Frankenheimer's adventure opus remains incredibly impacting with hypnotic back and white visuals. It is based on an actual World War II incident brought to realism by Burt Lancaster, Paul Scofield, Jeanne Moreau, Michel Simo, Albert Rémy etc. and a juggernaut fortress of the train. Absolutely brilliant and the new Kino Blu-ray with its commentaries and stellar image is highly desirable.

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ADDITION: Arrow - Region 'B' Blu-ray - May 2015': Firstly, of course - the Twilight Time is well out-of-print and fetching ridiculous prices by third party sellers.

My software cannot distinguish any significant difference between the two Blu-ray releases. There is some minor grain placement but the Arrow essentially looks the same - also dual-layered and with a slightly higher bitrate.

Likewise the mono, lossless, audio is too similar for my ears to distinguish a difference. And the Arrow also offers optional English (SDH) subtitles (sample below). But their Blu-ray is coded for region 'B'.

Arrow include the previous audio commentary by director John Frankenheimer as well as the optional isolated score by Maurice Jarre. While Arrow doesn't have the second commentary that Twilight Time offers - it does have further supplements. Burt Lancaster in the Sixties a, 36-minute, newly-filmed interview with Lancaster's biographer Kate Buford (Burt Lancaster: An American Life), tracing the actor's career throughout the decade. There is also an 8-minute French television report on the film's making, containing interviews with residents of the village of Acquigny who worked as extras and a short archive interview with Michel Simon plus a minute of footage of The Train's gala screening in Marseilles. A theatrical trailer is here and the package itself has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Vladimir Zimakov and a collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Sheldon Hall, illustrated with original stills and artwork.

Another wonderfully complete Blu-ray release from Arrow for those that missed out on the Twilight Time. Great job and very worthy or ownership! 

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