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Hornet's Nest [Blu-ray]
(Phil Karlson, Franco Cirino, 1970)
Review by Gary Tooze
Production: Theatrical: Produzioni Associate Delphos Video: Kino Lorber
Disc: Region: 'A' (as verified by the Oppo Blu-ray player) Runtime: 1:49:54.170 Disc Size: 24,566,514,679 bytes Feature Size: 22,320,089,088 bytes Video Bitrate: 24.02 Mbps Chapters: 8 Case: Standard Blu-ray case Release date: September 8th, 2015
Video: Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1559 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1559 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Subtitles: English, None
Extras: • Trailers: Hornet's Nest (2:39), The Train (4:36), The Secret Invasion (3:11)
Bitrate:
Description: Hollywood icon Rock Hudson (All That Heaven Allows) stars in this explosive WWII thriller, filled with enough action and suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat until the climactic finale. Hudson portrays Captain Turner, an American Army officer whose troop has parachuted into the Italian town of Reanoto to blow up a vital dam being used by the Nazis. Upon their landing, the troop is attacked by the Germans, leaving Turner as the lone survivor. He s rescued by a group of Italian boys the only survivors of a small town massacred by the Nazis. Outstanding performances by Sylva Koscina (Lisa and the Devil) and Sergio Fantoni (Esther and the King) with top-notch direction by Phil Karlson (99 River Street) make this one of the most realistic war films ever made. Featuring a beautiful and haunting score by the legendary Ennio Morricone (Navajo Joe, Face to Face).
The Film:
Captain Turner (Rock Hudson) is the American paratrooper who employs Italian children to blow up a strategic dam controlled by the Nazis. He is the only survivor of his unit gunned down during the jump. Rescued by the moppets, he slaps and rapes German medico Bianca (Sylva Koscina), which implausibly leads her to trust Turner and help in the clandestine mission. Aldo (Mark Colleano) is the youthful leader who helps Turner carry out the bombing in exchange for an attack on his village. When the Nazis control the small town, their allegiance quickly changes as they fight the Germans they once considered allies. Excerpt from MRQE located HERE
One of the more offbeat World War II adventure films and a relative obscurity in Rock Hudson's film career, Hornet's Nest (1970) follows Captain Turner (Hudson), leader of an American commando unit, as he parachutes into Italy with his team to blow up an important dam. But the Nazis discover the plan and kill all the Americans as they land. Turner, though wounded, is the only survivor, and he is taken to safety by a gang of orphaned Italian boys who are part of the Resistance. The boys then locate a German doctor, Bianca (Sylva Koscina), and force her to treat Turner's wounds. After his recovery, Turner decides to recruit the boys as his new commando team in destroying the dam; they agree but only if they're also allowed to take revenge on the Nazis who have captured their village. Excerpt from TCM located HERE
Image : NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. Hornet's Nest comes to single-layered Blu-ray by Kino Lorber. There is a touch of brittleness to the visuals. I don't suspect digital manipulation and contrast is adept supporting some depth. Colors (flesh tones) seem true with richness in the Nazi-uniform reds. The many outdoor sequences are pleasing with some detail in the frequent close-ups. The source is clean, and the image quality consistent. This Blu-ray gave me a watchable, but not overwhelming, viewing in regards to the HD picture quality.
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Audio :Kino Lorber use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track at 1559 kbps in the original English language. The film's effects - rifle and machinegun fire, explosions etc. come through with some less-noticeable depth. The score is by Ennio Morricone (A Bullet for the General, Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion, U Turn, Stay As You Are etc. etc.) and it supports the film less-remarkably. It all sounds clear and consistent. There are optional English subtitles offered and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'A'-locked.
Extras : Only a trailer for Hornet's Nest and two other films.
BOTTOM LINE: Gary Tooze August 31st, 2015
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About the Reviewer: Hello, fellow Beavers! I have been interested in film since I viewed a Chaplin festival on PBS when I was around 9 years old. I credit DVD with expanding my horizons to fill an almost ravenous desire to seek out new film experiences. I currently own approximately 9500 DVDs and have reviewed over 5000 myself. I appreciate my discussion Listserv for furthering my film education and inspiring me to continue running DVDBeaver. Plus a healthy thanks to those who donate and use our Amazon links.
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