L.A. private eye Philip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) takes on a blackmail
case...and follows a trail peopled with murderers, pornographers, nightclub
rogues, the spoiled rich and more. But Raymond Chandler's legendary gumshoe
solves it in hard-boiled style - and style is what The Big Sleep is all about.
Director Howard Hawks serves up snappy character encounters, brisk pace and
atmosphere galore. Classic Noir !
English
(SDH),
Japanese, French, German, Spanish, Polish, None
Features
Release Information:
Studio: Warner Home Video
Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33
Edition Details:
• Cast & Crew
• 1945/1946 comparison (16:31) (no subtitles)
• Behind the scenes - Production notes (8 pages)
• Theatrical trailer (1:52) (no subtitles)
DVD
Release Date: February 15th, 2000
Snap Case
Chapters 32
Release Information:
Studio:
Warner
Disc Size: 40,804,292,524 bytes
Feature Size: 29,628,346,368 bytes
Total Bitrate:
29.94
Mbps
Dual-layered
Blu-ray
MPEG4 - AVC
Edition Details:
• 1945 Alternate Version (1:56:18 - 8 M 480i)
• 1945/1946 comparison (35:59)
• Introduction by Robert Gitt (1:14)
• Trailer (1:50)
Blu-ray
Release Date: February 23rd, 2016
Standard
Blu-ray case
Chapters
32
Comments
NOTE:
The below
Blu-ray captures were
obtained directly from the
Blu-ray
disc.
ADDITION: Warner Archive - Region FREE -
Blu-ray
February
16':
Just look at those black
levels and the grain. Warner go dual-layered and it looks rich and
ravishing. It looks marvelous flirting with moiring.
Warner remain authentic with a DTS-HD Master track at
1562 kbps (24-bit). It sounds predictably flat but clean showing a
smattering of depth in the gunplay effects and the
Max Steiner score (Casablanca,
The Caine Mutiny,
Bird of Paradise,
Beyond the Forest,
Pursuedetc. etc.)
sounds appropriately dramatic and marvelous in lossless. There are some foreign-language,
lossy, DUBs. The Warner
Blu-raydisc offers subtitles in English (SDH) and a
few foreign languages, and is region FREE.
We again get the, almost 2-hour, 1945 alternate version (only in 480i,
though) and the excellent, extensive, comparison (longer than the
original DVD one) and short intro by Robert Gitt. Plus a trailer.
Don't hesitate - the luscious video is as seductive as
Lauren
Bacall
and the
audio adds another layer of prime home theatre viewing. I've already
watched the 1080P twice. My gripe: couldn't Warner find the cash to add
a few new extras? maybe a commentary? Anyway, our highest
recommendation.
***
ON THE DVD:
Image quality of this DVD is
acceptable. 1946 theatrical version (Side A) is included with the
less-familiar 1945 prerelease version (Side B). Shadow detail and black
levels are strong. Sharpness is adequate and there is visible film grain.
Subtitles are well done. Bravo to Warner to include both releases. If we
are looking for a re-release- perhaps a commentary and a slight tightening
of the image would be in order. No likely to see anytime before HD DVD
though.
-
Gary Tooze
DVD Menus
Warner -
Region FREE -
Blu-ray
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BLU-RAY
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