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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
The settings in Man of the West -- a
western town, a train bound for Fort Worth, a
farmhouse in a valley, a desert, and a ghost town (the
latter two filmed in California's Red Rock Canyon) --
lack the formal purity of those in
The Naked Spur. As
a result, Man of the West veers much closer to the
grimness of Greek tragedy, its mountains and rock
formations often suggesting the silent witness of an
ancient amphitheater. (The connection isn't
accidental; another of Mann's late interviews is
peppered with references to Oedipus Rex and Antigone,
and one of his best early westerns is entitled
The
Furies.) Excerpt from Jonathan Rosenbaum's article in the Chicago Reader found HERE |
Posters
Theatrical Release: October 1st, 1958 - New York City, NY
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
MGM - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Carlotta Films - Region 2 - PAL vs. MGM - Region 2 - PAL vs. Koch Media - Region 'B' - Blu-ray vs. Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Big thanks to Henrik Sylow for the DVD Screen Caps!
1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC TOP LEFT 2) Carlotta Films - Region 2 - PAL - TOP MIDDLE3) MGM - Region 2 - PAL - TOP RIGHT 4) Koch Media - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM LEFT5) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM MIDDLE 6) Masters of Cinema- Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM RIGHT |
Box Covers |
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Distribution |
MGM Region 1 - NTSC |
Carlotta Films Region 2 - PAL |
MGM Region 2 - PAL |
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Koch Media Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Kino Lorber Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Masters of Cinema Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Distribution |
MGM Region 1 - NTSC |
Carlotta Films Region 2 - PAL |
MGM Region 2 - PAL |
Koch Media Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Kino Lorber Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Masters of Cinema Spine # 109 Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
May 12th, 2008 sees multiple Westerns coming to DVD, including: | The Big Trail (Raoul Walsh, 1930) 20th Century Fox, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid [Blu-ray] (George Roy Hill,1969) 20th Century Fox, Day of the Outlaw (André De Toth, 1959) - United Artists, Fistful of Dynamite (Sergio Leone, 1971) - United Artists, Fox Classic Western Collection (Rawhide / The Gunfighter / Garden of Evil) - 20th Century Fox, The Gunfight at Dodge City (Joseph M. Newman, 1959) - United Artists, John Wayne: The Fox Westerns Collection (The Big Trail, North to Alaska, The Comancheros, The Undefeated) - 20th Century Fox, Man of the West (Anthony Mann, 1958) MGM, Man with the Gun (Richard Wilson, 1955) United Artists, Navajo Joe (Sergio Corbucci, 1966) MGM, The Way West (Andrew V. McLaglen, 1967) MGM and The Westerner (William Wyler, 1940) MGM | |||||
Runtime | 1:39:09 | 1:34:54 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:35:10 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:39:17.993 | 1:39:17.034 | 1:39:16.575 |
Video |
2.35:1
Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.75 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
2.37:1 Aspect Ratio |
2.37:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced
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1080P Single-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 22,950,648,838 bytesFeature: 22,655,502,336 bytesVideo Bitrate: 26.96 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
1080P Single-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 22,314,067,603 bytesFeature: 21,670,483,968 bytesVideo Bitrate: 25.95 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 33,913,520,611 bytesFeature: 29,268,053,376 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.99 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate:
MGM (Region 1)
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Bitrate:
Carlotta Films
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Bitrate:
MGM (PAL)
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Bitrate: Koch
Blu-ray
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Bitrate Kino Lorber Blu-ray
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Bitrate Masters of Cinema Blu-ray
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Audio | English (mono), DUBs: French and Spanish (mono) | 2.0 Dolby Digital English, French (dub) |
2.0 Dolby Digital English, German (dub), French (dub), Italian (dub), Spanish (dub) |
DTS-HD Master Audio English 863
kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 863 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core:
2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio German 926 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 926 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit) |
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1558 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1558 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) |
LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152
kbps / 24-bit Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps |
Subtitles | English, Spanish, None | French, None | English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Finnish, Danish, None | German, None | English, None | English (SDH), None |
Features |
Release
Information: Studio: MGM Aspect
Ratio:
Edition
Details: Chapters 20
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Release
Information: Studio: Carlotta Films Aspect
Ratio:
Edition
Details: Chapters 12 |
Release
Information: Studio: MGM Aspect
Ratio:
Edition
Details:
DVD Release Date:
March 14, 2005 Chapters 16 |
Release
Information: Studio: Koch
1080P Single-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 22,950,648,838 bytesFeature: 22,655,502,336 bytesVideo Bitrate: 26.96 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition
Details:
• Gallery
Blu-ray
Release Date:
November 4th, 2011 Chapters 16
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Release
Information: Studio: Kino
1080P Single-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 22,314,067,603 bytesFeature: 21,670,483,968 bytesVideo Bitrate: 25.95 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition
Details:
8-page liner notes booklet with photos and an
essay by R. Emmett Sweeney
Blu-ray
Release Date:
November 4th, 2014 Chapters 8
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Release
Information: Studio: Masters of Cinema
1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 33,913,520,611 bytesFeature: 29,268,053,376 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.99 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition
Details: • Douglas Pye (17:11) • Trailer (3:01)
44-page liner notes booklet with with writing by
Jean-Luc Godard, a score of rare archival
imagery, and more!
Blu-ray
Release Date:
March 23rd, 2015 Chapters 12
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Comments |
NOTE: These Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.
ADDITION: Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray February 15': The Masters of Cinema 1080P is the most technically robust, the darkest, has the richest colors, most consistent grain... and the best image quality. No question.
Audio is linear PCM monaural - its is clean and tight notable in the score by Leigh Harline (Johnny Come Lately, Pickup on South Street, 23 Paces to Baker Street, House of Bamboo, Broken Lance.) No issues. There are optional English subtitles on the region 'B' Blu-ray.
There is an excellent commentary by Glenn Kenny and Farran Smith Nehme sharing plenty of information about Mann, Cooper - loved the André De Toth quote - and the film's story. We also get 17-minutes of Douglas Pye, sessional lecturer at the University of Reading sharing detailed information on Man of the West. There is a trailer and MoC add one of their impressive, 44-page, liner notes booklets with with writing by Jean-Luc Godard, and a score of rare archival imagery.
This Masters of Cinema Blu-ray is the best digital release of this masterpiece. Finally done to the level the film deserves and the valuable commentary and Pye video piece adds even further value. Our highest recommendation!
***
ADDITION: Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray (November 14'): Not much between the technical transfers (both single-layered and 1080P, similar bitrates) - however the Kino is brighter with cooler skin tones. I can't say which is more 'correct' but the Kino looks strong in-motion. If forced, I might possibly lean to the Koch, but there is very little between them - perhaps some clunkier texture on the US. The Kino audio is as shade more robust and offers optional English subtitles. the only trailer, is alas, a trailer - and the package contains an 8-page liner notes booklet with photos and an essay by R. Emmett Sweeney. While I wouldn't advise a double-dip over the European - if you don't own the film in HD - I'd suggest either, with a strong recommendation to own this classic film.
***
ADDITION: Koch Media - Region 'B' - Blu-ray (November 11'): Yes, this is certainly better - colors match-up with the MGM but the detail is crisper and there is more information in the frame. We have a pretty solid idea of what Man of the West should/could look like digitally after covering the 3 SD versions. This German Blu-ray is single-layered but has a decent bitrate and the image has a wonderful thickness to it. Barring this coming to region 'A' (I'm not holding my breath) this is the best we are likely to get for this iconic western - and I am pleased if not thrilled.
Audio gets the DTS-HD Master treatment in stereo for both the original English and a German DUB. Not much depth but it is clean and more dynamic than any of the DVDs. There are optional German subtitles on the region 'B'-locked disc.
Supplements are limited to a PAL trailer and a stills gallery.
I REALLY enjoyed my viewing - both, I'm sure, because of the HD scope-notable presentation and that I had not see Man of the West for a couple of years. I was initially indifferent to the Blu-ray but after my complete viewing became a fan. Recommended! *** ADDITION: MGM - Region 1 NTSC - MAY 08': Although the new NTSC edition is bare-bones - it is still the release to own. The PAL editions seemed to have used the same source as they support each other with overly reddish skin tones (orangy at times), minutely cropped on the left and top edges and appear vertically compressed to a small degree. The new MGM is greener but brighter and I feel more true in terms of image. It may have the lead in detail as well. It is single-layered, anamorphic, progressive, and coded for region 1 in the NTSC standard. There are optional subtitles and mono DUBs - and there are, unfortunately, no extras. It's a fabulous price for an essential film - now without the vocal adjustment of PAL speedup. One of the best buys of the year in my opinion. ***
ON THE CARLOTTA -
MGM (PAL): At last year's BOLOGNA
DVD AWARDS (the one where 'Best Collection' went
to the Chaplin Boxset (R2) where some films are
wrongly formatted in 1.33:1 instead of OAR 1.19:1
pillarbox -
SEE HERE) -
anyway they gave this the award for 'Technical
Quality' to this "Man of the West" DVD- yet it is
not anamorphic, shows damage marks and has a
peculiar frame shifting problem (one that I also
noticed in the French version of Eric Rohmer's "Le
Rayon Vert" in the Gaumont Boxset - see below). So
I don't know what these Bologna DVD Awards use for
criteria, but I think their name more accurately
reflects the Western expression of the luncheon
meat rather than any true discerning quality.This Carlotta DVD has some issues - but colors are
very strong and it has relative sharpness on a
television tube. Its failings are when you use
either widescreen TV or projection. The frame
shifting bouncing (example below) is VERY
distracting. It goes back and forth continuously.
On normal TV's it is covered by overscan - so even
if you are able to zoom 'out' (avoiding overscan)
- you still are maddened occasionally by this
obvious flaw. Gary Tooze The MGM is only
marginally an improvement. The image has not been
restored, but seemingly merely cleaned up. The
colour scheme is about the same, but MGM has more
details and is sharper. However, the MGM has
problems with, for instance, colour banding. Henrik Sylow |
Menus
MGM - Region 1 - NTSC
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(Carlotta Films -
Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs. MGM - Region 2 - PAL
- RIGHT)
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Koch Media - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Screen Captures
1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC TOP2) Carlotta Films - Region 2 - PAL - SECOND3) MGM - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD 4) Koch Media - Region 'B' - Blu-ray FOURTH5) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray FIFTH 6) Masters of Cinema- Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
Subtitle sample NOTE: Not exact frame!
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1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC TOP2) Carlotta Films - Region 2 - PAL - SECOND3) MGM - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD 4) Koch Media - Region 'B' - Blu-ray FOURTH5) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray FIFTH 6) Masters of Cinema- Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC TOP2) Carlotta Films - Region 2 - PAL - SECOND3) MGM - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD 4) Koch Media - Region 'B' - Blu-ray FOURTH5) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray FIFTH 6) Masters of Cinema- Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC TOP2) Carlotta Films - Region 2 - PAL - SECOND3) MGM - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD 4) Koch Media - Region 'B' - Blu-ray FOURTH5) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray FIFTH 6) Masters of Cinema- Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC TOP2) Carlotta Films - Region 2 - PAL - SECOND3) MGM - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD 4) Koch Media - Region 'B' - Blu-ray FOURTH5) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray FIFTH 6) Masters of Cinema- Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC TOP2) Carlotta Films - Region 2 - PAL - SECOND3) MGM - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD 4) Koch Media - Region 'B' - Blu-ray FOURTH5) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray FIFTH 6) Masters of Cinema- Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC TOP2) Carlotta Films - Region 2 - PAL - SECOND3) MGM - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD 4) Koch Media - Region 'B' - Blu-ray FOURTH5) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray FIFTH 6) Masters of Cinema- Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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More Blu-ray Captures
1) Koch Media - Region 'B' - Blu-ray TOP2) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Masters of Cinema- Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
1) Koch Media - Region 'B' - Blu-ray TOP2) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE 3) Masters of Cinema- Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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Recommended Reading for Western Genre Fans (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
The
Crowded Prairie: American
National Identity in the
Hollywood Western (Cinema
and Society) by Michael Coyne |
The
Invention of the Western
Film : A Cultural History of
the Genre's First Half
Century (Genres in American
Cinema S.) by Scott Simmon |
The
Searchers (Bfi Film
Classics) by Edward Buscombe |
The
Western Genre by John Saunders |
The
Encyclopedia of Westerns
(The Facts on File Film
Reference Library) by Herb Fagen, Tom Selleck |
Gunfighter Nation: The Myth
of the Frontier in
Twentieth-Century America by Richard Slotkin |
The
Western (Inside Film) by David Lusted |
Red
River (Bfi Film Classics) by Suzanne Liandrat-Guigues |
Report Card:
Image: |
Masters of Cinema Blu-ray |
Sound: |
Blu-rays |
Extras: | Masters of Cinema Blu-ray |
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Koch Media Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Kino Lorber Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Masters of Cinema -
Spine # 109 Region 'B' - Blu-ray |