Valentino Blu-ray - Rudolf Nureyev

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Ken Russell
US / UK 1977

One of flamboyant director Ken Russell's more accessible biopics, Valentino is not totally successful but has several moments that are unforgettable. Among these are a horrifying jail sequence which takes advantage of the director's uncanny ability to capture grotesque cruelty; an explicitly sensual almost-seduction in a faux desert setting; and a powerful (and painful) climactic boxing scene. There are also a number of the director's trademark over-the-top visual flourishes, such as Leslie Caron's entrance as she comes to view Valentino's body; like most such moments, it's ultimately distracting and goes on too long to make the desired contribution to the film, but it's impressive nonetheless. Fortunately, Russell keeps much of his excesses under control; unfortunately, the script does not reward him for his relative restraint, as it fails to create a fully three-dimensional portrait of the titular character. It revolves around an intriguing idea ' that the screen's greatest lover was actually a slave to the women in his life ' but that idea is not really developed, and there is no attempt to explore why this should have been. Indeed, aside from the fact that Valentino is presented as a reluctant sex symbol who would rather have devoted his time to growing oranges, there is little interesting about the character. Rudolph Nureyev's unsure performance does not help matters, although he at least is physically right for the role. Caron is amusing in a supporting part, but Michelle Phillips fares less well; she is too relentlessly one-note for a role of this size. Like many films about performers, Valentino fails to make the central character come alive, but it does have enough assets to keep the viewer fairly entertained.

Posters

Theatrical Release: September 7th, 1977

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Comparison:

BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray vs. Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

1) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - LEFT

2) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT

Box Covers
Distribution	BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray	Kino Lorber Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	2:07:38.041	2:07:47.868
Video	Disc Size: 44,704,644,541 bytes Feature Size: 35,916,754,944 bytes Total Bitrate: 27.01 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC	Disc Size: 24,545,681,712 bytes Feature Size: 22,172,264,448 bytes Total Bitrate: 19.97 Mbps Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: BFI Blu-ray
Bitrate: Kino Blu-ray
Audio	LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit LPCM Audio English 768 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit Isolated Music and Effects track: LPCM Audio English 768 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit Commentary: LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1598 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1598 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps
Subtitles	English, None	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: BFI Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio - 1.85:1 Disc Size: 44,704,644,541 bytes Feature Size: 35,916,754,944 bytes Total Bitrate: 27.01 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC Edition Details: • Audio commentary with Tim Lucas • Original TV spots and trailers (2:30 + 4:45) • Dudley Sutton remembers Ken Russell and filming Valentino (2015, 21:48) • The Guardian Lecture: Ken Russell in conversation with Derek Malcolm (1988, 90 mins, audio with stills) • Lynn Seymour remembers Rudolf Nureyev (2003, 8:40, audio with stills) • Tonight: Nureyev on Ken Russell and Valentino (1977, 9:33) • Stills & Special Collections gallery (2016, 9:31) • The Funeral of Valentino (1926, 8:44) • Textless opening and closing credits (4:14) • Isolated music and effects track • Fully illustrated 18-page booklet with extensive credits and newly commissioned essays DVD of the feature and extras Blu-ray Release Date: February 29th, 2016 Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters: 12	Release Information: Studio: Kino Lorber Disc Size: 24,545,681,712 bytes Feature Size: 22,172,264,448 bytes Total Bitrate: 19.97 Mbps Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC Edition Details: • Audio Commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas • "Trailers From Hell" with Bernard Rose (3:21) • Animated Montage of Behind-the-Scenes Images (1:08) • Orson Welles Remembers Rudolph Valentino (17:08) • Trailer For Valentino's Classic "Blood and Sand" (2:02) • Footage of Valentino's Funeral Procession (3:03) • Trailer Gallery (1:42, 3:04, 2:44) Blu-ray Release Date: January 5th, 2016 Standard Blu-ray case Chapters 9

Comments:

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

ADDITION: BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray February 16': Short story is that both are strong releases, with much in common, but BFI nudges ahead on the video presentation with dual-layering and a higher bitrate that showing in a richer, darker image. You can see for yourself in the compared captures - deeper blacks and more intense colors and it adds a slight preference - notable in-motion as well. For many these differences will be negligible.

Both use lossless transfers - liner PCM for BFI (both stereo and mono options) and DTS-HD Master for Kino at about the same kbps - and both are 16-bit. We get plenty of music in the film including Stanley Black's (Happy Ever After, The Day the Earth Caught Fire, War-Gods of the Deep, 1960's Hammer film Stop Me Before I Kill! ) Dark Eyes, El Choco and Ferde Grofé Sr. as well as Richard Day-Lewis (New Star in Heaven Tonight), Chris Ellis (The Sheik of Araby.) It supports the film's moods well and both tracks are competent, clean and export buoyancy, but only the BFI has optional English (SDH) subtitles. They are coded for their respective regions ('A' for Kino and 'B' for BFI.)

Both have the excellent and rewarding Tim Lucas commentary and while Kino add another 1/2 hour of good supplements, BFI go the extra mile including a new 21-minute piece of Dudley Sutton remembering Ken Russell and filming Valentino and a 90-minute The Guardian Lecture: Ken Russell in conversation with Derek Malcolm plus and isolated music and effects track, a DVD (Dual Format) and a fully illustrated 18-page booklet with extensive credits and newly commissioned essays.

While BFI get the nod as the superior Blu-ray package (subs, better video, more audio options and bonus extras), I'll still state both have plenty of value and region 'A'-locked audiences shouldn't feel slighted in the least by the Kino. We recommend both, but faithful Russell fans should indulge in the British disc - Valentino is quite the ride and the Lucas commentary is a super addition.

Gary W. Tooze

Menus

BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray