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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

Directed by Lewis Milestone
USA 1944

 

I was quite surprised at how much I enjoyed this blatant U.S. flag-waving war film (that isn't really a war film, but a courtroom drama) - rife with such strident propaganda that I almost stood and saluted... and I'm not even American! Director Lewis Milestone will oft be remembered for All Quiet On The Western Front from 1930 as well a vast varietal range including the musical Hallelujah I'm a Bum and the later atmospheric Film Noir The Strange Love of Martha Ivers. It takes a special kind of ability to instill patriotism in an obvious but still effective manner. Milestone is right on the money here.

The story deals with the fate of a captured American bomber crew - stacked with Dana Andrews as Capt. Harvey Ross, Richard Conte as Lt. Angelo Canelli, Farley Granger as Sgt. Howard Clinton and Kevin O'Shea as Sgt. Skvoznik among the notable performances. The Japanese hierarchy stage a kangaroo court in civil jurisdiction to threaten our lads with the death penalty if they don't give up some vital information. Cruel torture - both physical and psychological are used and the tension builds in a patient, measured fashion.

If you can respect this expression for its historical significance, the time period it was made, and Milestone's ability to bowl you over, only at the appropriate moments, then you will love this film as I do. A real gem that I strongly recommend!

Gary W. Tooze

Posters

Theatrical Release: February 23rd, 1944

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Comparison:

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment - Region 2, 4 - PAL vs. 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Llamentol - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

1) 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment - Region 2, 4 - PAL - LEFT

2) 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Llamentol - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT

 

Box Covers

 

  

Distribution 20th Century Fox Home - Region 2,4 - PAL 20th Century Fox Home - Region 1 - NTSC Llamentol
Region FREE -
Blu-ray
Runtime 1:35:48 (4% PAL Speedup) 1:39:48 1:35:49.000 (PAL)
Video 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 6.46 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 6.37 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

Disc Size: 23,067,793,860 bytes

Feature Size: 22,912,813,056 bytes

Average Bitrate: 23.95 Mbps

Single-layered Blu-ray

MPEG2 Video - 1080i

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:  PAL

Bitrate:  NTSC

Bitrate:  Blu-ray

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0)  English (Dolby Digital 2.0), English (mono) , DUB: Spanish (mono)  Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles English (hearing impaired), None English (hearing impaired), Spanish, None Spanish, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1

Edition Details:

• Commentary by Richard Schickel
• Photo Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer

DVD Release Date: March 13th, 2006

Transparent Keep Case
Chapters: 20

Release Information:
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1

Edition Details:

• Commentary by Richard Schickel
• Photo Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer

DVD Release Date: April 24th, 2007

Keep Case
Chapters: 20

Release Information:
Studio: Llamentol

 

Disc Size: 23,067,793,860 bytes

Feature Size: 22,912,813,056 bytes

Average Bitrate: 23.95 Mbps

Single-layered Blu-ray

MPEG2 Video - 1080i

 

Edition Details:
• None

Blu-ray Release Date: May 26th, 2014
Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 8

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Llamentol Blu-ray - September 14': The Llamentol is flawed - both MPEG2 (blown up from SD) and 1080i (interlaced) at 25 fps (PAL timing). Why'd they even bother releasing this? These guys are bad news - avoid this release like the plague. The Purple Heart is a historic piece of Hollywood propaganda and deserves better than this!

***

ADDITION: Region 1 NTSC - April 07': Not much difference in these DVDs - the NTSC has yellow subtitles and options for Spanish speaking audiences and the PAL has 4% speedup with white subs. Both have the strong Schickel commentary and a stills gallery. Image quality has no strong differences. Unless you are sensitive to the PAL speedup or require the Spanish support (DUB and subs) then we suggest getting the least expensive. Although, at the time of this review, the PAL is 62% off but it is about the same after currency conversion for the NTSC which has a 25% discount. Great film - I loved it.

****

What an impressive package! The image quality is near pristine (aside from a little dust and dirt), it includes a great commentary, of which  there are optional subtitles for both the feature and Schickel's informative audio, plus a photo gallery and trailer. If I was Region 1 locked I'd be livid that this isn't available yet... and it would be a good enough reason to buy a universal DVD player. I wouldn't wait to purchase this folks - there is nothing wrong with this disc - great film, great transfer, great extras and the price is fantastic! I'm going to go watch it again right now! 

Gary W. Tooze

 


Menus

 

(20th Century Fox Home Entertainment - Region 2, 4 - PAL LEFT vs. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC RIGHT)


 

Llamentol - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 


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

 

Subtitle Sample

 

1) 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment - Region 2, 4 - PAL - TOP

2) 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Llamentol - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 


 

Screen Captures

 

1) 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment - Region 2, 4 - PAL - TOP

2) 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Llamentol - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 


1) 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment - Region 2, 4 - PAL - TOP

2) 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Llamentol - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 


 

1) 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment - Region 2, 4 - PAL - TOP

2) 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Llamentol - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 


 

1) 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment - Region 2, 4 - PAL - TOP

2) 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Llamentol - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


 

1) 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment - Region 2, 4 - PAL - TOP

2) 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Llamentol - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 


Box Covers

 

  

Distribution 20th Century Fox Home - Region 2,4 - PAL 20th Century Fox Home - Region 1 - NTSC Llamentol
Region FREE -
Blu-ray




 

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