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 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka 'Something Like the Truth')

Directed by Sidney Lumet
 UK / USA 1972

After 20 years, what Detective-Sergeant Johnson has seen and done is destroying him. In their third screen collaboration, the iconic Sean Connery and director Sidney Lumet (Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon) plumb the depths of what is perhaps their most psychologically complex creation: a member of the British Police Force who has perhaps witnessed one horror too many.

When is the accuser the accused? Sidney Lumet (12 Angry Men) directs Sean Connery (The Name of the Rose) as a British police detective whose 20 years of handling murder, rape and other violent cases culminate in a deadly loss of control during a routine interrogation. A harrowing and compellingly constructed chamber drama of police brutality and mental anguish, The Offence takes director Lumet's obsession with the policeman's conflicted position as his brother's keeper into the realms of the psychological thriller. Connery is devastatingly desperate as Officer Johnson on the trail of a serial child molester. The Offence was based on a play by John Hopkins entitled This Story of Yours. The stellar supporting cast includes Trevor Howard (Manuela), Vivien Merchant (Frenzy) and Ian Bannen (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy).

 

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Theatrical Release: January 11th, 1972

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Comparison:

Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

1) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - LEFT

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

 
Box Covers

    

Distribution Kino Lorber
Region 'A' - Blu-ray		 Masters of Cinema - Spine #110
Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:52:38.752 1:52:37.208
Video

1.66:1 Disc Size: 23,156,252,063 bytes

Feature Size: 22,802,810,880 bytes

Total Bitrate: 23.96 Mbps

Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC

Disc Size: 46,985,133,661 bytes

Feature Size: 36,006,416,448 bytes

Total Bitrate: 36.04 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Kino Lorber Blu-ray:

Bitrate: Masters of Cinema Blu-ray

Audio DTS-HD Master Audio English 1557 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1557 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
Isolated Score:

LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles None English (SDH), None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Kino Lorber

 

Disc Size: 23,156,252,063 bytes

Feature Size: 22,802,810,880 bytes

Total Bitrate: 23.96 Mbps

Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC

 

Edition Details:
• Trailer (1:51)

 

Blu-ray Release Date: December 2nd, 2014
Standard Blu-ray case

Chapters 9

 

 Release Information:
Studio: Masters of Cinema

 

Disc Size: 46,985,133,661 bytes

Feature Size: 36,006,416,448 bytes

Total Bitrate: 36.04 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC

 

Edition Details:
• Optional isolated music and effects track
• Video interview with stage director Christopher Morahan (8:29)
• Video interview with assistant art director Chris Burke (8:21)
• Video interview with costume designer Evangeline Harrison (4:57)
• Video interview with composer Sir Harrison Birtwistle (10:13)
• Original theatrical trailer (1:51)
• 36-PAGE BOOKLET featuring a new essay on the film by critic Mike Sutton, a vintage interview about the film with Sidney Lumet, and rare archival imagery
 

Blu-ray Release Date: April 7th, 2015
Standard Blu-ray case

Chapters 9

 

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray March 15': There is a big difference between the two 1080P releases. Firstly, the image quality - the UK transfer is over 12 Mbps higher than the Kino-Lorber and this shows up in warmer, more accurate, skin tones and significantly richer and deeper colors overall (scarves, grass, parrot etc. from the captures below). I see no cropping and it wouldn't surprise me if it was the same clean source (or at least a similar one). The dual-layered Masters of Cinema is a tad sharper and looks a superior in-motion - a bit smoother and marginally more stable. Yes, I give the video to the MoC 1080P.

Masters of Cinema use a linear PCM 2.0 channel monaural track at 2304 kbps. It's a fairly sedate film with some sporadic tempers flying and one notable scene of aggression. The score is by Sir Harrison Birtwistle - (see extras) - and it certainly suits the film with an appealing haunting quality. I didn't note much difference between the Kino DTS-HD Master track at 1557 kbps, but only the Masters of Cinema Blu-ray offers optional subtitles (see sample below) as well as an optional isolated music and effects track (also in lossless) and they are both encoded for their respective regions.

Kino go their usual bare-bones Blu-ray route with only a trailer and Masters of Cinema add some relevant extras in the form of interviews with those familiar with the film/story or part of production, We are privileged to 8.5 minutes with stage director Christopher Morahan and another 8-minutes with assistant art director Chris Burke. Evangeline Harrison was the costume designer and she reminisces about her part in the film production for just shy of 5-minutes. There is also a 10-minute video interview with composer Sir Harrison Birtwistle who shares his memories and discusses his score. There is an original theatrical trailer and MoC add one of their lavish liner notes booklets - 36-pages featuring a new essay on the film by critic Mike Sutton, a vintage interview about the film with Sidney Lumet, and rare archival imagery.

I enjoyed The Offence when I saw it years ago - but viewing it in 1080P adds a whole new layer to the film's themes and mysterious atmosphere.  This is a film to re-watch through the years - for many reasons including Trevor Howard and Connery's onscreen interaction. The UK Blu-ray is the superior of the two packages with a more robust video and substantial extras including the wonderful booklet! Strong recommended!     

Gary W. Tooze  



Menus

Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

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

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

 

Subtitle Sample - Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 

 

Screen Captures

 

1) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

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

 

1) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

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

 

1) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

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

 

1) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

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

 

1) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

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

 

1) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

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

 

1) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

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

 

1) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

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

 

1) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

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

 

1) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

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

 

1) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

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

 

1) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

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

 

1) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

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

 

1) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

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

 

1) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

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

 

1) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

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

 

1) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

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

 

 

Box Covers

    

Distribution Kino Lorber
Region 'A' - Blu-ray		 Masters of Cinema - Spine #110
Region 'B' - Blu-ray




 

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Gary Tooze

Many Thanks...