Review by Gary Tooze

 

Production:

Theatrical: The Rank Organization

Video: Network / Twilight Time

 

Disc:

Region: 'B' / FREE  (as verified by the Oppo Blu-ray player)

Runtime: 1:44:50.708 / 1:44:41.233

Disc Size: 21,473,444,550 bytes / 31,053,422,617 bytes

Feature Size: 18,756,630,528 bytes / 30,828,976,128 bytes

Video Bitrate: 21.00 Mbps / 31.42 Mbps

Chapters: 12 / 24

Case: Standard Blu-ray case / Transparent Blu-ray Case

Release date: July 28th, 2014 / March, 2019

 

Video (both):

Aspect ratio: 2.35:1

Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Audio:

LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 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)
Isolated Score:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1842 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1842 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 2052 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2052 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)

 

Subtitles:

English, none

 

Extras:

• Contemporary interviews recorded on location in Berlin with George Segal (4:18), Alec Guinness (5:25), Senta Berger (5:02), Max von Sydow (3:57), director Michael Anderson (4:53) and producer Ivan Foxwell (10:31) ( all in SD)
• Original theatrical trailer (3:08)
• Textless material (2:41)
• Four image galleries, including extensive promotional and behind-the-scenes shots (*:18)
• Promotional material PDFs

 

• Audio Commentary with Film Historians Eddy Friedfeld and Lee Pfeiffer from original DVD
• Isolated Score Track
• Original Theatrical Trailer (3:21)

• Liner Notes

 

Bitrates:

1) Network - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

Description: This spy saga differs from the usual Bond-styled fare that was popular at the time. There are plenty of gadgets but the hero Quiller (George Segal) never once uses a gun. Quiller is called on by his superior Pol (Alec Guinness) to infiltrate a Neo-Nazi gang in Berlin after two British agents have been killed on the same mission. After a teacher at a school has hanged himself when he is accused of being a war criminal, Quiller meets the late teachers replacement, the lovely Inge (Senta Berger). He willingly goes home with her before being beaten, drugged, and kidnapped by Nazi thugs, but the head Nazi Oktober (Max Von Sydow) allows Quiller to escape in hopes he will lead them to Pol. Quiller is captured again and given until morning to reveal information or he and Inge will die. George Sanders and Edith Schneider make the most of their limited screen time with fine performances.

 

1) Network - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

The Film:

The thinking man's spy thriller, in as much as Harold Pinter wrote the script. Although the whole thing is ill-served by Michael Anderson's direction, it remains perversely likeable precisely because it is rather long-winded and enig-matic: it gets closer to the feel of Len Deighton's novels far better than any of the three Harry Palmer films. The acting, with George Segal versus neo-Nazi Max von Sydow, is excellent, the Berlin locations so-so.

Excerpt from TimeOut located HERE

One of the more offbeat entries in the tidal wave of spy films that flooded American and European screens in the 1960s, The Quiller Memorandum (1966) was based on the first in a long series of novels by "Adam Hall", a pseudonym of the British author Elleston Trevor; the original UK title of the book was The Berlin Memorandum. The prolific Trevor (1920-1995) wrote under several pseudonyms, though "Adam Hall" was the most common and was the one associated with the Quiller series. Over a span of thirty years Trevor wrote 19 Quiller novels, the last being the posthumously published Quiller Balalaika. Besides the Quiller series, Trevor was best known for the adventure novel The Flight of the Phoenix; the original British edition of The Quiller Memorandum even contains a dedication to Robert Aldrich, who directed the 1965 film version of The Flight of the Phoenix.

While The Quiller Memorandum is noteworthy for strong performances by Alec Guinness, Max von Sydow (who is appropriately menacing as Oktober) and the beautiful Austrian newcomer Senta Berger, from today's standpoint the most interesting aspect of the film is unquestionably its screenplay by the British playwright Harold Pinter, winner of the 2005 Nobel Prize in Literature. Pinter retains basic elements of the novel's plot, but he makes a number of significant changes; here Quiller is an American and not a British spy, implicitly evoking the classic "American in the Old World" story.

Excerpt from TCM located HERE

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

Unfortunately, The Quiller Memorandum gets an unimpressive transfer to Blu-ray from Network in the UK.  I don't know that it is so much the 1080P transfer to blame as the source which is often compromised looking notably soft - and even waxy. Colors are flat and there is inconsistency with a few sequences showing some visible compression artifacts, as well as infrequent depth in the 2.35:1 frame.  Some close-ups show pleasing detail but they are the exception. This single-layered Blu-ray probably does the best with what it has but either a superior source should have been obtained or this requires some form of restoration, imo.

 

The Twilight Time 1080P transfer advances handily beyond the Network sometimes showing more information on the right side of the frame and less on the left. The 'dull' look of the UK BD is replaced by more robust contrast, richer colors via the stronger dual-layered Region FREE transfer with a more than 50% higher bitrate. The Twilight can have instances of looking saturated but overall the HD presentation is a huge advancement with minor teal encroachment.   

 

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

1) Network - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

1) Network - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

1) Network - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

1) Network - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

1) Network - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

1) Network - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

1) Network - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

1) Network - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

1) Network - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

1) Network - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

1) Network - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

1) Network - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

More Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray Captures

 

Audio :

Network transfer the audio via a linear PCM at 1536 kbps. A score by the iconic John Barry (Midnight Cowboy, Dances With Wolves and the Bond themes among his many credits) helps the film and sound decent in lossless. There are optional English subtitles and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'B'-locked.

 

Strangely no demonstrative improvement in the audio transfer for the feature with what sounds like the same lossless audio although via a DTS-HD Master (16-bit) track, but, of course the Twilight Time does include the John Barry (Midnight Cowboy, Dances With Wolves and the Bond themes among his many credits) score in an isolated option and it has optional English subtitles but this Blu-ray is Region FREE playable worldwide.

 

Extras :

There are about 1/2 hour's worth of vintage interviews recorded on location in Berlin with Segal, Guinness, Berger, von Sydow, director Michael Anderson and producer Ivan Foxwell. Also included are a theatrical trailer, and some image galleries.

 

Twilight Time include the audio commentary with Eddy Friedfeld and Lee Pfeiffer from original 2006 DVD. It is still relevant to this odd espionage film with screenplay by Harold Pinter from Trevor Dudley Smith's novel. They provide plenty of detail and the inclusion of it adds value augmenting appreciation. There is also the isolated score option, original theatrical trailer and the usual liner notes.

 

Network - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 

 

Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
I would say The Quiller Memorandum is a passable thriller although it is notable for its lack of action.  The Network Blu-ray has some video issues providing a weak presentation. I'd have to say to 'pass' for now - the film is not worthy enough to indulge. Let's hope for a superior product from region 'A'.

 

Well, our 2014 wishes were granted with Twilight Time's superior video transfer and inclusion of the audio commentary. It is certainly the best way to watch the film in your home theatre and I enjoyed the nuances of the film more so in this viewing - also thanks to the commentary. It has a bone-fide John le Carré feel and I think it is now a film I will revisit. Thank you Twilight Time!     

Gary Tooze

October 27th, 2014

April 1st, 2019