Thieves Like Us Blu-ray - Robert Altman

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Robert Altman
USA 1974

Coming to 4K UHD by Cinématographe in March 2025, HERE

Perhaps Altman's most persistently charming film, a remake of Nicholas Ray's They Live By Night (or rather, second adaptation of Edward Anderson's novel), in which a trio of semi-competent bank robbers attempt to emulate the big-time gangsters publicised by the media, comics, and radio serials, and finally get their come-uppance after a brief respite from prison and poverty. Altman adheres to Ray's conception of the youngest criminal (Carradine) and his plain-Jane lover (Duvall) as innocents all at sea in an uncaring world, although the tone here is one of bitter-sweet irony rather than romantic pessimism. And while casting a critical eye on Depression America, with a New Deal being promised that would keep democracy safe, there is none of the cynicism that has occasionally flawed some of Altman's fascinating genre parodies/tributes. Never portentous, never a mere spoof, this is a touching, intelligent, and - in its own small way - rather wonderful movie.

Excerpt from TimeOut Film Guide located HERE

A group of criminals daringly escape from prison in depression-era Mississippi. They survive by robbing banks and hole up with a gas station attendant where injured Bowie (Keith Carradine, Nashville) falls in love with the attendant’s daughter Keechie (Shelley Duvall, 3 Women). Made within one of the great runs of back-to-back classics by any filmmaker, Robert Altman followed multi-award-winning classics like M*A*S*H and The Long Goodbye with Thieves Like Us, an adaptation of Edward Anderson’s pulp novel. Previously adapted by Nicholas Ray as They Live by Night, Altman's film takes a more faithful approach to the source material, preserving the original tone and period of the novel, going back to historical and American myth themes that Altman mined so brilliantly in his earlier McCabe & Mrs. Miller. Critically praised, noted critic Pauline Kael described it as “the closest to flawless of Altman's films – a masterpiece.”

Posters

Theatrical Release: February 11th, 1974

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Comparison:

MGM - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Radiance Films - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Box Covers
			BONUS CAPTURES:
Distribution	MGM Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC	Kino Video Region 'A' - Blu-ray	Radiance Films Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime	2:02:36	2:02:47.360	2:02:46.734
Video	1.85:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 8.11 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	Disc Size: 22,465,098,303 bytes Feature Size: 22,066,735,104 bytes Average Bitrate: 18.95 Mbps Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video	Disc Size: 48,572,247,051 bytes Feature Size: 36,190,319,808 bytes Average Bitrate: 34.96 Mbps Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Bitrate Kino: Blu-ray
Bitrate Radiance: Blu-ray
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0), English (Dolby Digital Mono) DUBs: Spanish (Mono) , French (Mono)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1613 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1613 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) Commentary: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1789 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1789 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)	LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -30dB
Subtitles	English, Spanish, None	English, Spanish, None	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: MGM Home Video Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Commentary by Robert Altman DVD Release Date: April 17th, 2007 Keep Case Chapters: 24	Release Information: Studio: Kino Disc Size: 22,465,098,303 bytes Feature Size: 22,066,735,104 bytes Average Bitrate: 18.95 Mbps Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Audio Commentary by Robert Altman • Trailer (1:59) Blu-ray Release Date: November 25th, 2014 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 9	Release Information: Studio: Radiance Films Disc Size: 48,572,247,051 bytes Feature Size: 36,190,319,808 bytes Average Bitrate: 34.96 Mbps Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Audio commentary by director Robert Altman • Brand new interview with co-screenwriter Joan Tewkesbury who discusses the film and her working relationship with Altman (2023 - 18:17) • Brand new interview with star Keith Carradine (2023 - 34:39) • Geoff Andrew on Thieves Like Us - the critic discusses the film and its place within Altman’s work (24:46) • Two classic radio plays featured in the film - The Shadow written by and starring Orson Welles and Speed Gibson of the International Secret Police starring Ed Gardner • Trailer (1:59) • Promotional image gallery Reversible sleeve featuring designs based on original posters Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by critic Pamela Hutchinson; archival writing by Robert Altman; and a piece looking at the script development from the novel by professor Alan Schroeder Limited edition of 3000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings Blu-ray Release Date: July 17th, 2023 Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters 12

Comments:

Coming to 4K UHD by Cinématographe in March 2025, HERE

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

ADDITION: Radiance Films Blu-ray (July 2023): Radiance Films, in the UK, have transferred Robert Altman's Thieves Like Us to Blu-ray. Kino released the film on single-layered Blu-ray in 2014. The newer 1080P image has slightly richer colors and contrast. It is on a dual-layered disc with approaching double the bitrate of the older BD. Flash tones may be warmer and grain is more consistent. It's a better HD presentation.

NOTE: We have added 46 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Radiance Films use a linear PCM dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. It's a notch more robust than Kino's 16-bit lossless audio. Thieves Like Us has quite a few scenes with physical conflict including extensive gunfire. Depth is surprisingly intense. This film has no score. All music in Thieves Like Us is diegetic or "source music" usually coming from a radio with era songs like I Found a Million Dollar Baby, Baby Take a Bow, I Sang a Song etc. The uncompressed transfer offers consistent, clean, audio. Radiance Films offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

Extras on the Radiance Blu-ray include the old audio commentary by director Robert Altman, from 1988 - also on both digital editions compared here. There is a new (2023) 18-minute interview with co-screenwriter Joan Tewkesbury who discusses the film and her working relationship with Altman. It was interesting. Tewkesbury was also the "Lady in the Train Station' in the film. There is a new interview with star Keith Carradine running over 1/2 an hour talking about his career. Geoff Andrew on Thieves Like Us spends 25-minutes with the critic who discusses the film and its place within Altman’s work. Radiance Film also add two classic audio radio plays featured in the film - The Shadow written by and starring Orson Welles and Speed Gibson of the International Secret Police starring Ed Gardner. They run about 40-minutes in total. Lastly are a trailer, promotional image gallery and the package offers a reversible sleeve featuring designs based on original posters, and a limited edition booklet featuring new writing by critic Pamela Hutchinson; archival writing by Robert Altman; and a piece looking at the script development from the novel by professor Alan Schroeder.

Robert Altman's Thieves Like Us was largely shot on location in Mississippi and uses may unprofessional actors as extras. It uses the same source novel, by Edward Anderson, as Nicholas Ray's 1948 classic Noir They Live by Night with Farley Granger and Cathy O'Donnell. The title comes from the statement by bank robber named T-Dub Masefeld (Bert Remsen) that bankers are 'thieves just like us.' The Radiance Blu-ray is easily the best edition available with superior a/v and a host of extras including the original Altman commentary and new video pieces, plus radio plays, original poster and limited edition booklet. Altman fans should buy with extreme confidence.

***

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray - November 14': Being short - as the screen captures will indicate - this is quite the impressive upgrade. The MGM DVD now looks quite poor beside the 1080P, which is single layered with a modest bitrate. Still the Blu-ray looks far more film like than the flat, saturated DVD. Audio is via a DTS-HD master 2.0 channel benefiting the minor effects and infrequent aggression. Kino have included optional English subtitles and the original's Altman commentary. They also add a trailer.

This is worth the double dip if you already own the DVD. It's like seeing the film anew in this HD transfer. Not my favorite Altman, but recommended regardless.

***

ON THE DVD (2007): Usually inept MGM have produced a strong DVD here with excellent value. The film is coated with Altman charm and the digital representation is solid. This is a dual-layered DVD - progressive and anamorphically transferred with surprising detail and contrast. The print used is clean with no untoward marks. Skin tones have a tendency to look a bit reddish at times but I see no distinct indicators of manipulation. Audio has options for original mono and stereo and two DUBs (French and Spanish). There are subtitles in English (HoH) or Spanish and no liner notes.

The Altman commentary is a welcome surprise as the great director passed away in November of last year. It was recorded in 1988. He talks about ins-and-outs of the film's production with a great deal of care - subtly expressing the meticulous detail in which he made the film. He discusses the adaptation and is brief on the performances. Overall this is incredible deal for around $10 there really is no reason not to pick it up. Strongly recommended!

Gary W. Tooze

Menus

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT

2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT