Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Disc:

Video (both):

Audio:

Subtitles:

• Trailers - Deadline U.S.A. (2:45), The Captive City (2:49) and Shield For Murder (1:49)

Bitrate:

1) Alive AG (Germany) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray  TOP 2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

Description: An abundance of subplots are expertly woven together by screenwriter/director Richard Brooks in Deadline - USA. Humphrey Bogart stars as crusading editor Ed Hutcheson, whose newspaper is on the verge of closing thanks to the machinations of the mercenary daughter (Audrey Christie) of Mrs. Garrison (Ethel Barrymore), the paper's owner. Though he and his staff will all be out of work within a few days, Hutcheson intends to go out with a bang, exposing the criminal activities of "untouchable" gang boss Rienzi (Martin Gabel). Despite numerous disappointments and setbacks, Hutcheson achieves a pyrrhic victory as the film draws to a close. Throughout the story, the many pressures brought to bear upon a big-city newspaper--political, commercial, etc.--are realistically detailed, as is the relationship between Hutcheson and his ex-wife Nora (Kim Hunter). The cast of Deadline USA is uniformly excellent, from featured players Warren Stevens, Jim Backus, Paul Stewart Fay Baker and Ed Begley to such unbilled performers as Tom Browne Henry, Raymond Greenleaf, Tom Powers, and Kasia Orzazewski (essentially reprising her unforgettable characterization in Call Northside 777)

 

 

The Film:

Excerpt from TCM  located HERE

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

Deadline - U.S.A. arrives on Blu-ray from Germany's 'Alive'.  The wonderful image quality shows a fine layer of grain. It is only single-layered but has a very high bitrate and the contrast and detail are very surprisingly impressive. There is plenty of depth. Occasionally, the image can look a tad thin, but I don't suspect any flagrant digital manipulation. It has no unappealing gloss and the 1080P transfer is consistent. Black levels are exceptional - as is shadow detail. This Blu-ray offers a highly remarkable video presentation.

Bottom line here is that the Kino has about a 30% lower bitrate and is softer than the European Blu-ray. The video is a shade clunkier on the US release and is not as crisp. Grain is less supported and the contrast (less piercing black levels) appears to have less layers. It's just not as good but, depending on your system, looks decent in-motion.   

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

 

Screen Captures

 

1) Alive AG (Germany) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray  TOP 2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

1) Alive AG (Germany) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray  TOP 2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

1) Alive AG (Germany) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray  TOP 2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

1) Alive AG (Germany) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray  TOP 2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

1) Alive AG (Germany) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray  TOP 2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

More Alive AG (Germany) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray Captures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, the disc only offers Dolby Digital 2.0 channel mono tracks (in both English and a German DUB) Cyril J. Mockridge (Desk Set, The Ox-Bow Incident, The Dark Corner, My Darling Clementine, Nightmare Alley) and uncredited Sol Kaplan (The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Seven Wonders of the World, Niagara, The House on Telegraph Hill) compose the score that doesn't get the depth it could export via an uncompressed transfer. The Dolby is clean and clear but not what it could be. There are optional German subtitles and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'B'-locked.

Kino, however, wins on the audio going lossless with a DTS-HD Master. The score sounds strong and a bit buoyant in the lossless. There are no subtitles offered and the disc is region 'A'-locked.

Extras :

 

 

Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
Deadline U.S.A. is an exceptional film - cited as one of the best ever made on journalism. I frequently thought of Sweet Smell of Success. Bogie is... perfect as the uncompromising stalwart. I think this was a fabulous choice to come to Blu-ray. This film may not have ever been on DVD before, let alone BD. I remain so impressed by the video transfer. Yes, uncompressed audio and some probing extras would have gone a long way into giving this package even further value. I was still thrilled with my viewing and give this a very high recommendation!

 

The Kino has some big advantages over the Alive AG Blu-ray. The commentary being a huge part of that and the lossless audio. While image goes to the European transfer - it may not be enough to sway buyers from the Kino's desirable attributes. Nice to have the choice anyway. Great film! 

Gary Tooze

February 18th, 2015

September 9th, 2016