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 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

U.S. 1916

Directed by D.W. Griffith

 

After Birth of a Nation, what do you do for an encore, especially after said film has branded you a racist? D.W. Griffith, the Silent era's "king of the world," mounted this melodramatic spectacle of "Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages," four stories that illustrate "how hatred and intolerance have battled against love and charity." Critic Heywood Broun, upon the film's release, probably said it best: "Quite the most marvelous thing which has been put on the screen, but as a theory of life it is trite." But what's on the screen is dazzling!

Griffith interweaves the four parallel stories set, respectively, in the modern era (fuddy-duddy reformers and a workers' strike), Jerusalem (Christ's crucifixion), 1572 Paris (a "hotbed" of persecution against the Huguenots), and ancient Babylon. No collection of Silent films is complete without this landmark, awe-inspiring epic, which really does boast a cast of thousands (the most memorable of which is Constance Talmadge as the spunky Mountain Girl). The fall of Babylon ranks with one of the great action set pieces, complete with racing chariots, a nifty decapitation (at the hands of Elmo Lincoln, the man who would be Tarzan), and falls from what appear to be incredible heights. The edge-of-your-seat climax to the modern story, a race against time to save an innocent young man from the electric chair, is another bravura sequence.

Posters

Theatrical Release Date: September 5, 1916

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Comparison:

Image - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Kino (Masterworks) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Eureka - Region 0 - PAL vs. Cohen Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Kino and Eureka DVD screen captures courtesy of Pavel Borodin Thanks Pavel!

 

1) Image - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Kino (Masterworks) - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Eureka - Region 0 - PAL - THIRD

4) Cohen Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray FOURTH

5) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray RIGHT

 
Box Covers

 

  

  

  

Distribution

Image

Region 0 - NTSC

Kino Video

Region 0  - NTSC

Eureka 
Region 0 - PAL		 Cohen Media
Region FREE - Blu-ray		 Masters of Cinema - Spine # 99
Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime 2:57:36 3:17:13 2:57:36 (4% PAL Speedup) 2:47:20.530 2:47:29.039
Video 1.33 Original Aspect Ratio 
Average Bitrate: 4.42 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

1.33 Original Aspect Ratio 
Average Bitrate: 4.57 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

1.33 Original Aspect Ratio 
Average Bitrate: 5.16
 PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 48,327,094,442 bytes

Feature: 45,722,656,512 bytes

Video Bitrate: 28.16 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 48,256,941,473 bytes

Feature: 48,133,225,152 bytes

Video Bitrate: 30.27 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

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

Image

 

Bitrate:

Kino

 

Bitrate:

Eureka

 
Bitrate Cohen Media

Blu-ray

Bitrate: Masters of Cinhema

Blu-ray

Audio English ( Silent) (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) English ( Silent) (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)

English ( Silent) (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)

DTS-HD Master Audio English 4053 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 4053 kbps /
24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit		 LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
DTS-HD Master Audio English 3789 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3789 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles Inter-titles: English Inter-titles: English Inter-titles: English Inter-titles: English Inter-titles: English
Features Release Information:
Studio: Image

Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• This DVD edition of "Intolerance" has been restored and reconstructed to 178 minutes with the original color tinting specifications and a digital stereo organ score by Gaylord Carter.
• Extra footage cut from the original release
• Copyright registration frames
• Publicity materials, background & production photos

DVD Release Date: January 19th, 1999
Snap Case

Chapters 36

 

Release Information:
Studio: Kino Video (Griffith Masterworks edition)

Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1

Sides: 1
Layers: 2

Intertitles: English

Studio: Kino International, USA

Special Features:
• Filmed introduction by Orson Welles
• Excerpts from Cabiria (1914) and • The Last Days of Pompeii (1914)
• Text excerpts from "Away with • Meddlers: A Declaration of Independence" and "The Rise and Fall of Free Speech in America," two pamphlets published by D.W. Griffith at the time of Intolerance's release
• Excerpt of The Fall of Babylon (1916), which offers an alternate (happy) ending to the Babylonian sequence
• About the score

 

DVD Release Date: December 10th, 2002
Keep Case

Chapters 30

Release Information:
Studio: Eureka Video (UK)

Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1
 

Sides: 1
Layers: 2

Special Feature:
• For the first time, each individual story is also enabled for play in its entirety.

 DVD Release Date: 2000
Keep Case

Chapters 30

Release Information:
Studio: Cohen Media

Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen (Original Aspect Ratio) - 1.33:1

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 48,327,094,442 bytes

Feature: 45,722,656,512 bytes

Video Bitrate: 28.16 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:
• The Mother and the Law (1:39:32)
• The Fall of Babylon (1:02:34) - both accompanied by new scores by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra!
• 2013 Restoration trailer (2:09)
• Three Hours that Shook the World: Observations on Intolerance (19:02)

•  New essays by Cineaste editor Richard Porton and historian William M. Drew

Blu-ray Release Date: November 5th, 2013
Transparent Blu-ray Case

Chapters 17

 Release Information:
Studio: Masters of Cinema

Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen (Original Aspect Ratio) - 1.33:1

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 48,256,941,473 bytes

Feature: 48,133,225,152 bytes

Video Bitrate: 30.27 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:
• The Mother and the Law (1:39:32)
• The Fall of Babylon (1:02:34) - both accompanied by new scores by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra!
• Three Hours that Shook the World: Observations on Intolerance (19:02)

56-PAGE BOOKLET filled with vintage and modern reports, reflections, and essays on the film.


Blu-ray Release Date: December 8th, 2014
Transparent Blu-ray Case

Chapters 17

 

 

Comments:

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

 

ADDITION: Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray (November 2014): As we said with The Thief of Bagdad, very similar with the MoC slightly more but, in this case, we can't see significant difference in our static captures below. It is from the exact same restoration (even starts with the Cohen Media logo), has the same intertitles and tints, but the UK rendering has a minor edge with the higher bitrate showing in minutely finer grain. It also has the film on one lone Blu-ray and the supplements (also duplicated - minus the restoration trailer) on another BD. Both are Region 'B'-locked. MoC add their own 56-page liner notes booklet filled with vintage and modern reports, reflections, and essays on the film. Same Carl Davis score in both a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround and a linear PCM 2.0 channel at 2304 kbps.

 

I, personally, like the MoC cover and their package, at the writing of this review, is cheaper. Masters of Cinema collectors will be ultra-pleased at this Blu-ray package. Our highest recommendation!

 

***

 

ADDITION: Cohen Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray (October 2013): Wow... this is amazing. The 'newly-restored print' appearance in 1080P is an outstanding step beyond all the DVDs. Detail gains very impressively, but this is probably more a function of the layer contrast ability of HD. It makes the visuals sharper and removes the blown-out brightness of the SD renderings. It tends to show more information in the frame. So this has the best image - clearer, sharper and with extensively superior contrast and detail. It shows the most information in the frame and the entire film (Parts 1 + 2) is housed on one lone disc! LOL - fabulous!

 

NOTE: I was mistaken about the running time - the Cohen BD is actually 2:47:20.530

 

The Cohen Blu-ray features a new score by Carl Davis conducting the Luxemburg Radio Symphony Orchestra. It is offered in both a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround at a whopping 4053 kbps or a linear PCM 2.0 channel at 2304 kbps. I sampled both and the surround is quite potent almost overtaking the film with grand bas and crisp notes. It would be wonderful to listen to isolated. The LPCM is predictably flatter without as much of the dynamic range of the DTS-HD. I would suggest this might be more suitable to those seeking a more 'original' presentation experience, but the surround is highly impressive and should be tried. The intertitles are in English (sample below.)

 

Cohen add a second Blu-ray disc of supplements. Included are 2 D.W. Griffith 1919 features - the 1.5 hour The Mother and the Law (a re-edited version of the 'modern' story from Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages.) and the hour-long The Fall of Babylon (A re-edited version of the Babylonian episode of Griffith's Intolerance) - both in 1080P and both accompanied by new scores by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra! We also get a 2013 Restoration trailer and 20-minutes of Three Hours that Shook the World: Observations on Intolerance with historian Kevin Brownlow. The package has new essays by Cineaste editor Richard Porton and historian William M. Drew.

 

I wasn't expecting this to look so improved, and sound so wonderful - plus there are important extras. It's an easy-must own Blu-ray in our opinion. Buy now.  

 

***

ON THE DVDs (comments from 2002!): What color infusion tinting would you like your Silent films in? Orange?, Blue?, Green?, Purple?

In most shots the Kino masterworks image quality is the sharpest, followed by the Eureka - PAL disc and the original Image Entertainment SD follows in third place for detail. My biggest problem is with the contrast boosting of the Eureka. It looks awful in comparison... far too bright.  Both the Eureka and the Image have been cropped vertically... approximately the same amount. The time is exactly the same for both indicating they are probably from the same print. The Kino is the obvious one to get with more detail and a host of nice extras.

NOTE: The Eureka PAL DVD is part of "D. W. Griffith - Monumental Epics" 4-disc Boxset, but should be the same as single edition

 - Gary W. Tooze

Menus

(Image - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Kino (Masterworks) - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Eureka - Region 0 - PAL - RIGHT)

 

Disc 1 Cohen Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

Disc 2 Cohen Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 

Disc 1 Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 

Disc 2 Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 

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

 

1) Cohen Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Image - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Kino (Masterworks) - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Eureka - Region 0 - PAL - THIRD

4) Cohen Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray FOURTH

5) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Image - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Kino (Masterworks) - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Eureka - Region 0 - PAL - THIRD

4) Cohen Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray FOURTH

5) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Image - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Kino (Masterworks) - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Eureka - Region 0 - PAL - THIRD

4) Cohen Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray FOURTH

5) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Image - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Kino (Masterworks) - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Eureka - Region 0 - PAL - THIRD

4) Cohen Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray FOURTH

5) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Image - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Kino (Masterworks) - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Eureka - Region 0 - PAL - THIRD

4) Cohen Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray FOURTH

5) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

More Blu-ray Captures

 

1) Cohen Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Cohen Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Cohen Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Cohen Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Cohen Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Cohen Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Cohen Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Cohen Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

Hit Counter

Report Card:

 

Image:

Blu-rays

Sound:

Blu-rays
Extras: Blu-rays
Box Covers

 

  

  

  

Distribution

Image

Region 0 - NTSC

Kino Video

Region 0  - NTSC

Eureka 
Region 0 - PAL		 Cohen Media
Region FREE - Blu-ray		 Masters of Cinema - Spine # 99
Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Gary Tooze

Many Thanks...