For the score Twilight Time do a 5.1 surround bump - from the more authentic 4.0 channel used by both Eureka and Carlotta (a Western Electric Recording's 4-Track Stereo - from magnetic prints). The Twilight Time utilize a DTS-HD Master at an aggressive 3196 kbps. It sounds strong with rich bass and decent, if not dynamically crisp, separations. This is notable in Hugo Friedhofer's (Man in the Attic, Ace in the Hole, Body and Soul, Gilda) gripping score. I would say the Twilight Time's audio is a shade deeper, but not as theatrically accurate. It does not offer English subtitles as an option.

Twilight Time offer the score 'isolated' as an option via lossless stereo. Also included is a wonderful commentary with film historians Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman as well as 8-pages of liner notes with photos and an essay by Julie.

So the Twilight Time has the advantage of being region FREE - for those locked-in region 'A', offers the rewarding commentary and isolated score but no subtitles. Those interested should be aware that it is another 'Limited Edition' with only 3,000 copies produced. So, best not to wait to pick this Blu-ray up.  

***

ADDITION: Eureka Classic - Region 'B' Blu-ray - April 2014 - The new Eureka Classic 1080P looks to be the same as the Carlotta in regards to image (and sound - the 4.0 DTS-HD master track is exactly the same!) If there are differences in the a/v I haven't been able to find them. Both offer an amazingly colorful and tight presentation. And digital supplements are the same although the Melodrame Policier by my friend Nicolas Saada now has English subtitles! and the Fiction Factory documentary - Richard Fleischer - Storyteller - no longer has optional French subtitles. Eureka Classic add optional English subtitles to their feature presentation. Ohh and, of course, the UK gang add one of their loaded liner notes booklets - a 32-page effort with advertising and vintage stills and an essay by Adam Batty. And yes, the UK package is Dual-Format with a DVD of the feature and extras included! Excellent!

If you held off on nabbing the Carlotta Blu-ray - then the, more English-friendly, Eureka Classic is s must-own, IMO. Our highest recommendation!   

***

ADDITION: Carlotta Films - Region 'B' - Blu-ray (January 2014): WOW! Finally we get a significant upgrade in the digital video quality of this remarkable film. Firstly - YES the French subtitles are removable (when English audio is chosen) - I can confirm this on my Oppo via the remote subtitle button.

I have no idea what this film's image looked like theatrically but this 1080P looks beautifully rich - the colors are super-vibrant and bright. Cinemascope 'mumps' (horizontal stretching - fatter faces!)  is present on the original 2.55:1 framing. It is marginally cropped losing some information from the side edges - as compared to the DVDs. The Blu-ray disc is dual-layered with a max'ed out bitrate and detail, contrast and texture all vault higher. It looked absolutely gorgeous on my system! There are even instances of depth.

Hugo Friedhofer's (Man in the Attic, Ace in the Hole, Body and Soul, Gilda) gripping score sounds great in lossless - the bonus is we get it in  the original 4-Track Stereo - Western Electric Recording - magnetic prints. Sweet! and we will reiterate that the French subtitles ARE removable! There is a French DUB and a 2.0 channel English track as well.

Carlotta supply some worthy supplements. Robert Fischer's wonderful Fiction Factory documentaries - in this 20-minute video (Richard Fleischer - Storyteller) William Friedkin (The Exorcist) explains why Richard Fleischer's Violent Saturday, represents, in his eyes, one of the best Hollywood heist movies ever made. It is in English with optional French subtitles. The second extra - Melodrame Policier  is a 27-minute visual essay but only in French.

Violent Saturday grows on me each time I see it and I agree with Friedkin that this is a superlative heist film - one of the best. To get the film looking this amazing - plus the Fiction Factory extra - I think it's a very strong recommendation especially for those keen on Film Noir!

***

ADDITION - Twilight Time - Region 0 - NTSC DVD: Short story - still no 16X9 enhancement but it is sharper than the European edition and has no PAL speedup. It looks pretty good considering but it's a shame we can't have an anamorphic version.

Twilight Time states: "While we understand that most hardcore collectors of DVDs prefer all titles to be 16 x 9 anamorphically enhanced for widescreen televisions, in some instances this isn't possible when the studio has only non-anamorphic elements in the vault. It then becomes our decision to either not release the title, or to go with the 4 x 3 master available to us. As we at Twilight Time love films like "Violent Saturday," it is our feeling that to have it out in the only way we can, is better than to not have it at all. Fortunately, many of the titles we will be issuing in the series ++are++ anamorphically enhanced, so we ask your forgiveness and indulgence in advance, for those classic treasures left in the 4 x 3 format as a result of being prepared for laserdisc before being left in the cold when that mode of delivery was eclipsed by DVD. We are collectors, too--and appreciate your support. Thanks so much."

Announcing this deserves some praise as most DVD production companies will just try to pass this off on the unaware consumer. The transfer has, what I deem to be, a tad of edge enhancement - but it is less noticeable - and is interlaced (see last capture). Audio is fine - but no subtitles and only an isolated score as a supplement. This is solely for CRT systems as on most HD TV's the image will appear in a box about 50% of the screen. Of the two edition - I'd get the Twilight Time. You gotta love sequences like Amish Ernest Borgnine sticking a pitchfork in, criminal, Lee Marvin's back.

***

ON THE PAL EDITION (2006): Pretty decent Fleischer-helmed film and this appears to be the only DVD edition available... anywhere. While they show the film in the proper Cinemascope 2.35:1 aspect ratio, unfortunately it is not anamorphic and we get a maximum resolution of 768. The image is not very sharp but colors look acceptable. The lack of 16x9 enhancement is a shame - I expect it would have really helped the visual appearance. This is single-layered and is progressive.

Audio offers English - unusually hollow at times - and there is a Spanish DUB choice and optional Spanish subtitles. It has PAL speedup and the disc is region locked to '2'.

Extras consist of only 2 static bio screens and a lacklustre photo gallery.

I think this film, certainly, deserves better. This is just barely passable as 'watchable'- but it is at least that.  

Gary W. Tooze