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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka 'One Deadly Summer')

Directed by Jean Becker
France 1983

 

Eliane (Isabelle Adjani), a beautiful young woman, settles into a small town in the south of France with her introverted mother and physically handicapped father. Traumatized by her knowledge that her mother was raped by three men before she was born, Eliane thinks she's on a trail of vengeance when she's courted by a young garage mechanic (Alain Souchon), whose father has the only clue to the identity of her mother's aggressors. But as the story unfolds in Rashomon-like flashbacks and narrations, the tale becomes increasingly complex and leads inexorably to a stunning conclusion. Isabelle Adjani (Queen Margot, Camille Claudel, Diabolique) stars in this Jean Becker (Children of the Marshland, Conversations with My Gardener) directed tale of misunderstanding, obsession, and madness that s in the tradition of Swimming Pool and Open Your Eyes. One Deadly Summer (L'ete Meurtrier) was the winner of 4 Cesar Awards, including Best Actress for Isabelle Adjani. Newly-remastered in high definition.

Poster

Theatrical Release: May 11th, 1983

Reviews                                                               More Reviews                                                           DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Bayview Entertainment/Widowmaker - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Bayview - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Cult Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Covers

 

 

   

Distribution Bayview Entertainment/Widowmaker Home Video - Region 0 - NTSC Bayview Entertainment
Region 'A' -
Blu-ray
Cult Films
Region FREE -
Blu-ray
Runtime 2:13:04  2:13:19.408 2:13:19.408
Video 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 4.29 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s   

1.66:1 Disc Size: 37,220,962,544 bytes

Feature Size: 22,799,050,752 bytes

Total Bitrate: 19.98 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC

1.66:1 Disc Size: 43,485,687,121 bytes

Feature Size: 22,800,820,224 bytes

Total Bitrate: 19.98 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:

Bitrate: Bayview Blu-ray

Bitrate: Cult Blu-ray

Audio French (Dolby Digital 2.0)  LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit LPCM Audio French 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit
Subtitles English, None English, None English, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Tanelorn Films

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.66:1

Edition Details:

• none

DVD Release Date: May 11th, 2010

Keep Case
Chapters: 10

Release Information:
Studio:
Tanelorn Films

 

1.66:1 Disc Size: 37,220,962,544 bytes

Feature Size: 22,799,050,752 bytes

Total Bitrate: 19.98 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC

 

Edition Details:
1983 Cannes Film Festival Interview with Isabelle Adjani (20:39)
•  Vintage interview with director Jean Becker (24:41)
2007 interview with director Jean Becker (27:57)
Original Trailer (2:32)
Still photo gallery
 

Blu-ray Release Date: November 10th, 2015
White Blu-ray case

Chapters 10

Release Information:
Studio:
Cult Films

 

1.66:1 Disc Size: 43,485,687,121 bytes

Feature Size: 22,800,820,224 bytes

Total Bitrate: 19.98 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC

 

Edition Details:
"Director Jean Becker on One Deadly Summer" Interview with the director (29:13')
"Portrait of screenwriter" Japrisot
Documentary on Sébastien Japrisot, known as the Graham Green of France.
Author of the original novel and scriptwriter of the film (45:41)

DVD
 

Blu-ray Release Date: July 22nd, 2019
Standard Blu-ray case

Chapters 10

 

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Cult - Region FREE - Blu-ray August 19': British label CultFilms has released Jean Becker's "One Deadly Summer" on a dual-layered Blu-ray. We can see vie the bitrate graph and the running time (the exact same to the 1/1000th of a second) as the previously released Bayview Blu-ray. As is the bitrate. So we can presume it is from the same D1 source but colors can look minutely richer on the newer Cult transfer. It is, essentially, the same 1080P video.

The audio on the Cult Films disc would also appear to be the same 16-bit linear PCM track that appeared on the Bayview
Blu-ray. There are also optional English subtitles (white instead of Bayview's yellow) on this Blu-ray from Cult Films.

This is where it differs the most from the 2015 Bayview
Blu-ray. There are two main extras on this release, one being the previously released (on the Bayview Blu-ray) 29-minute director interview, and the other being "Portrait of Screenwriter Japrisot", running around 45-minutes about the screenwriter (and novelist) used for the film. Sébastien Japrisot did the original screenplay, adaptation and wrote the dialogue for Rene Clement's Hitchcockain mystery/thriller Rider on the Rain, which I loved. There is also a second disc DVD included.

To those that missed this
Blu-ray release when it appeared under the Bayview label, this new release of "One Deadly Summer" from Cult Films is very similar with different color subtitles and a supplement. Not worth a double-dip but if forced to choose I would go with the Region FREE Cult Films Blu-ray.

Colin Zavitz

***

ADDITION: Bayview - Region 'A' - Blu-ray November 15': The DVD was quite strong but you can see in our comparison captures the improvement in the higher resolution. Detail is superior and the grain textures are prevalent and consistent. Generally a brighter image, still in original 1.66:1, and the 1080P is a noticeably better.

Bayview use a linear PCM 2.0 channel (16-bit) and it adds to the presentation. The score carries some depth although there isn't an abundance of aggressive effects. Georges Delerue's (Mister Johnson, Jules et Jim, The Woman Next Door, The Last Metro, Day For Night) music benefits from the uncompressed rendering creating atmosphere where there would be none. There are optional English (yellow) subtitles (see sample) and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'A' disc.

Where the DVD had no supplements - there are some extras on the Blu-ray. We get a 20-minute,1983 Cannes Film Festival, interview with Isabelle Adjani and others by the sea discussing the film, her character etc. There is a 25-minute vintage interview with Becker plus another from 2007 for close to a 1/2 hour. It's discussed how Adjani was the first choice but they had to wait 2 years for her. All video supplements are, in HD, and in French with English subtitles. There is an original trailer and still photo gallery as well.

I probably liked this film better in this repeat viewing - the higher resolution may have helped. It's very French, mysterious, and has the appeal of Adjani as an exhibitionist. :) It's a pretty good film and one I will certainly revisit yet again. Better than most of the rubbish out of Hollywood. Yes, absolutely recommended!  

***

ON THE DVD (2010): So, One Deadly Summer finally comes to NTSC with a surprisingly strong, progressive, anamorphic (original 1.66) and dual-layered transfer. It has some grand moments - especially the outdoor scenes. Close-ups look great, minimal artefacts - I was impressed!

Audio is an unremarkable but clear 2.0 channel mono and the subtitles are optional. The disc is coded `free` in the NTSC standard.

This is totally bare-bones (no extras) with 10 chapter stops and optional subtitles - that's all folks. Still, I think the release should be commended - it looks very strong for SD and the film itself has gained some stature - even beyond Adjani's gratuitous nudity. The thriller aspects kind of sneak up on you after all the sexuality. A curious and appealing film effort from Becker - certainly worthy of repetition but deserves some discussion supplements. Priced high - but, I don't know - could be very worth it for some. Give it a spin. 

Gary W. Tooze


Menus


 

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Cult Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 


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

 

Subtitle Sample

 

1) Bayview - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Bayview - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE

3) Cult Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

Screen Captures

 

1) Bayview - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Bayview - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE

3) Cult Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Bayview - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Bayview - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE

3) Cult Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Bayview - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Bayview - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE

3) Cult Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Bayview - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Bayview - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE

3) Cult Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Bayview - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Bayview - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE

3) Cult Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Bayview - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Bayview - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE

3) Cult Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Bayview - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Bayview - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE

3) Cult Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


More Blu-ray Captures

 

1) Bayview - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Cult Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Bayview - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Cult Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Bayview - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Cult Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Bayview - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Cult Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Bayview - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Cult Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Bayview - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Cult Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Bayview - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Cult Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Bayview - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Cult Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Bayview - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Cult Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

Box Covers

 

 

   

Distribution Bayview Entertainment/Widowmaker Home Video - Region 0 - NTSC Bayview Entertainment
Region 'A' -
Blu-ray
Cult Films
Region FREE -
Blu-ray

Box Covers

   

Distribution Bayview Entertainment/Widowmaker Home Video - Region 0 - NTSC Bayview Entertainment
Region 'A' -
Blu-ray



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