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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(aka 'Place Aux Jeunes' or 'The Years Are So Long')
Directed by
Leo McCarey
USA 1937
Make Way for Tomorrow, Orson Welles
told Peter Bogdanovich: “Oh my God that’s the saddest movie ever made.” Long
unavailable for home viewing, Leo McCarey’s personal favourite among all his
films (which included
The Awful Truth and
An Affair to Remember) is sad, yes,
but it also stands as cathartic affirmation of the dignity of human feeling, and
in the testament of such achieves a subtle complexity of characterization on par
with Renoir, Ford, and Hawks. *** Leo McCarey’s Make Way for Tomorrow is one of the great unsung Hollywood masterpieces, an enormously moving Depression-era depiction of the frustrations of family, aging, and the generation gap. Victor Moore and Beulah Bondi headline a cast of incomparable character actors, starring as an elderly couple who must move in with their grown children after the bank takes their home, yet end up separated and subject to their offspring’s selfish whims. An inspiration for Ozu’s Tokyo Story, Make Way for Tomorrow is among American cinema’s purest tearjerkers, all the way to its unflinching ending, which McCarey refused to change despite studio pressure. *** With the possible exception of Yasujiro Ozu's Tokyo Story, this 1937 drama by Leo McCarey is the greatest movie ever made about the plight of the elderly. (It flopped at the box office, but when McCarey accepted an Oscar for The Awful Truth, released the same year, he rightly pointed out that he was getting it for the wrong picture.) Victor Moore and Beulah Bondi play a devoted old couple who find they can't stay together because of financial difficulties; their interactions with their grown children are only part of what makes this movie so subtle and well observed. Adapted by Vina Delmar from Josephine Lawrence's novel Years Are So Long, it's a profoundly moving love story and a devastating portrait of how society works, and you're likely to be deeply marked by it. Hollywood movies don't get much better than this. Excerpt from Jonathan Rosenbaum's capsule at the Chicago Reader located HERE |
Theatrical Release: May 9th, 1937
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
BAC Video - Region 2 - PAL vs. Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Box Covers |
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CLICK to order from: Note Cover listed at Amazon (left) is different than actual (below)
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Coming to the UK in April 2022, by Criterion, on Blu-ray: |
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Distribution | BAC Video - Region 2 - PAL | Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC | Masters of Cinema - Spine # 15 - Region 'B' - Blu-ray | Criterion Collection - Spine # 505 - Region 'A' Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:27:39 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:31:57 | 1:31:57.720 | 1:32:07.855 |
Video | 1.33:1
Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.4 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s |
1.33:1
Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 8.22 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
1080P / 23.976 fps Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 30,046,926,845 bytes Feature: 20,822,403,072 bytesVideo Bitrate: 26.98 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
1080P / 23.976 fps Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 37,728,193,287 bytesFeature: 27,031,019,520 bytesVideo Bitrate: 35.00 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate: PAL |
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Bitrate: Criterion |
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Bitrate: MoC Blu-ray |
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Bitrate: Criterion Blu-ray |
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Audio | English (Dolby Digital 2.0) | English (Dolby Digital 1.0) | DTS-HD Master Audio
English 1566 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1566 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz
/ 1509 kbps / 16-bit) |
LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit |
Subtitles | French (player generated) | English, none | English (SDH), none | English (SDH), none |
Features |
Release Information: Edition Details: • 15
minute introduction/documentary by Bernhard Eisenschitz (in French - no
subtitles) |
Release Information: Edition Details:
• Tomorrow, Yesterday, and Today, a new video interview featuring
filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich discussing the career of Leo McCarey and
Make Way for Tomorrow (19:52) |
Release Information: 1080P / 23.976 fps Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 30,046,926,845 bytes Feature: 20,822,403,072 bytesVideo Bitrate: 26.98 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details:
• 20-minute video piece with filmmaker and writer Peter Bogdanovich (The
Last Picture Show; The Cat’s Meow) discussing the film and Leo McCarey’s
career |
Release Information:
1080P / 23.976 fps
Dual-layered Blu-ray
Disc Size:
Feature: 27,031,019,520 bytesVideo Bitrate: 35.00 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details:
• Tomorrow, Yesterday, and Today, a new video interview featuring
filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich discussing the career of Leo McCarey and
Make Way for Tomorrow (19:53) |
Comments: |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - April 2015: While I don't discount the use of some of Criterion's magic touch their transfer is superior to The Masters of Cinema rendering. It is more robust with a higher bitrate (about 8 mbps more.) It shows significantly more grain texture and is darker. It also shows a bit more of the, light scratch, damage but I think that is a good trade-off. Criterion go with their typical linear PCM mono track and it sounds quite a bit stronger and deeper than their old DVD and my ears couldn't detect any difference with the MoC's DTS-HD Master track. Both offer optional English subtitles and the Blu-ray discs are coded for their corresponding geographic regions. Extras are a duplicate from both MoC Blu-ray and Criterion's 2010 DVD - the 20-minute, video interview featuring filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich - recorded in 2009 - discussing the career of Leo McCarey and Make Way for Tomorrow. The other piece has critic/writer Gary Giddins (Warning Shadows: Home Alone With Classic Cinema). He he talks about McCarey’s artistry and the political and social context of the film also for about 20-minutes - with the only difference being the enclosed liner notes booklets.
Those partial to grain will appreciate the Criterion -
which we give their Blu-ray
the nod with a slightly superior video transfer of this must-own film.
***
It really comes down to mathematics and the picture-boxed Criterion is
501 pixels where the dual-layered Blu-ray
is, more than double at, 1080. MoC have upgraded the audio to a lossless DTS-HD Master 2.0 mono at 1566 kbps. The inherent defects still exist but audio does appear to have a more resonant quality. There are optional English subtitles and my Momitsu has identified it as being a region 'B'-locked. Video extras duplicate the Criterion with a 20-minute, video interview featuring filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich - recorded in 2009 - discussing the career of Leo McCarey and Make Way for Tomorrow. The other piece has critic/writer Gary Giddins (Warning Shadows: Home Alone With Classic Cinema). He he talks about McCarey’s artistry and the political and social context of the film also for about 20-minutes. Masters of Cinema have included a lengthy booklet featuring a new essay on the film by writer and Library of America editor Geoffrey O’Brien, and an excerpt from Josephine Lawrence’s source novel Years Are So Long. An important classic looking and sounding as good as it ever has for your home theater appreciation. Good grief what a film experience... and now better than ever. STRONG recommendation! *** ADDITION: Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - February 2010: Cinephiles were ecstatic that Criterion included this magnificent title for a spine #. It's a film that frequently leaves me aching. Criterion's transfer is pictureboxed - with a black border circumventing the frame - marginally limiting the resolution. For a detailed description of picture-boxing see our Kind Heart and Coronets review HERE. Comparatively the Criterion image is a significant improvement over the hazier, greenish with muddier contrast, and horizontally stretched image of the BAC French release from 2008. The Criterion shows grain and the improvement is greater than I was expecting. Light scratches are pushed beneath the surface. In motion this looks more heavily textured and just grand. Detail is dramatically superior and there is much more information in the frame. I consider this an extremely important release for Criterion and, aside from some minor flickering contrast, my only disappointment is that it didn't make it to Blu-ray from the esteemed distributors. I'm still delighted with this transfer and it will have a revered place in my library. Audio, like on the BAC, has some weakness but with the film approaching it's 75th year - it is hard to complain. Significant pops, hiss or other distracting deficiencies have been removed or lessened so as not to impinge on the viewing experience. Criterion, as typical, offer removable English subtitles. Extras on the NTSC disc are excellent although there are only two digital supplements and no commentary. Tomorrow, Yesterday, and Today is a new, 20-minute, video interview featuring filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich discussing the career of Leo McCarey and Make Way for Tomorrow. It was recorded specifically for Criterion in Los Angeles, 2009. The other interview has critic/writer Gary Giddins (Warning Shadows: Home Alone With Classic Cinema). He he talks about McCarey’s artistry and the political and social context of the film also for about 20-minutes. Criterion have included a 32-page liner notes booklet featuring new essays by critic Tag Gallagher and filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier, and an excerpt from late film scholar Robin Wood’s 1998 piece “Leo McCarey and ‘Family Values’”. One Beaver's easiest recommendations - as we gave the nod to the BAC - we surely endorse a purchase of the, superior-on-every-front, Criterion package. My favorite DVD of this early year. Our highest recommendation! ***
ON THE FRENCH BAC DVD: The image quality is what it is and, as you can judge by the screen captures below, remains quite imperfect. However, to be able to have the film in one's DVD library at all, far outweighs the inferiorities. Looking to be taken from an analog source the transfer (decent bitrate) is both dual-layered and progressive. Contrast is not strong (fluctuates) but black levels have some infrequent depth. The French subtitles are player generated and can be removed on some players. If not people may re-burn - see HERE. Audio is perhaps even a notch below the video quality but dialogue is audible enough for the film to reach you. The disc is coded for region 2 in the PAL standard. The supplements - a 15 minute talk by Bernhard Eisenschitz - is only in French with no subtitle options - but there is a stills gallery. The DVD is strongly recommended for the depth of emotion the film evokes and it, personally, ranks as one of the best pieces of pure cinema I've seen in years. |
French Package
DVD Menus
BAC Video - Region 2 - PAL LEFT vs. Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC RIGHT
1) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray LEFT 2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray RIGHT |
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Screen Captures
1) BAC Video - Region 2 - PAL TOP 2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND 3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray THIRD 4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
1) BAC Video - Region 2 - PAL TOP 2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND 3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray THIRD 4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
1) BAC Video - Region 2 - PAL TOP 2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND 3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray THIRD 4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
1) BAC Video - Region 2 - PAL TOP 2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND 3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray THIRD 4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
1) BAC Video - Region 2 - PAL TOP 2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND 3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray THIRD 4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
1) BAC Video - Region 2 - PAL TOP 2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND 3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray THIRD 4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
1) BAC Video - Region 2 - PAL TOP 2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND 3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray THIRD 4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
1) BAC Video - Region 2 - PAL TOP 2) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND 3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray THIRD 4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
Box Covers |
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CLICK to order from: Note Cover listed at Amazon (left) is different than actual (below)
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Coming to the UK in April 2022, by Criterion, on Blu-ray: |
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Distribution | BAC Video - Region 2 - PAL | Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC | Masters of Cinema - Spine # 15 - Region 'B' - Blu-ray | Criterion Collection - Spine # 505 - Region 'A' Blu-ray |