Panic in Year Zero Blu-ray - Ray Milland / Frankie Avalon

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

(aka 'End of the World' or "Survival")

directed by Ray Milland
USA 1962

When Harry Baldwin (Ray Milland, The Lost Weekend) takes his family on a fishing trip, their holiday is brutally interrupted as a catastrophic atomic war breaks out, destroying their suburban Los Angeles home. What remains of the United Nations announces on the radio that society has broken down, and the Baldwins realize that they must quickly learn how to navigate this new ‘year zero’, and do whatever it takes in order to survive. Milland stars alongside teen idol Frankie Avalon as well as directing this bleak and visceral apocalypse thriller, described as ‘the most expressive on-the-ground nightmare of the cold-war era’ (Village Voice).

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Panic in Year Zero is quite compelling - a nuclear attack leaves Los Angeles in chaos and ignites survival fear and hording throughout the city and suburbs. Trying to escape the disaster, a family is luckily heading for their usual vacation spot only to encounter moral and ethical decisions of their own enroute. Exhaustive star Ray Milland both directs and stars in a fairly low budget 'cold-war-panic' film that poses some heavy questions. It's hard not to get caught up in the ensuing battle for existence, envisioning yourself in the family's shoes. One heck of a fun night... bring the popcorn!

Posters

Theatrical Release: July 5th, 1962

More Apocalypse-related films on Blu-ray and DVD reviewed (click review buttons to also see

comparisons where applicable) from our article Films From The End of the World:

Reviews DVD Reviews

Comparison:

MGM - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Rimini Editions - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Radiance - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Box Covers

BONUS CAPTURES:

Distribution

MGM Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC

Kino Lorber
Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Rimini Editions
Region FREE - Blu-ray

Radiance
Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Runtime	1:32:09	1:32:06.604	1:32:02.808	1:32:02.808
Video	2.32:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.74 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 23,639,941,607 bytes Feature: 20,494,030,848 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 26.21 Mbps	1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 30,841,684,126 bytes Feature: 21,894,297,600 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 28.07 Mbps	1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 37,922,782,254 bytes Feature: 27,111,128,064 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 34.94 Mbps
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate MGM:
Bitrate Kino Blu-ray:
Bitrate Rimini Blu-ray:
Bitrate Radiance Blu-ray:
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1582 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1582 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	DTS-HD Master Audio English 2019 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2019 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)	LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -30dB
Subtitles	English, French, Spanish, None	None	French, None	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: MGM Home Video Aspect Ratio: 2.32:1 Edition Details: • trailer (2:23) DVD Release Date: March 22nd, 2005 Keep Case Chapters: 16	Release Information: Studio: Kino Lorber 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 23,639,941,607 bytes Feature: 20,494,030,848 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 26.21 Mbps Edition Details: • Audio Commentary by Film Historian Richard Harland Smith • Intro by legendary director Joe Dante (9:10) • Trailers (*Panic in the Year Zero* - 2:24, *X-Ray, the Man With the X-Ray Eyes* - 2:19, *Premature Burial* - 2:31) Standard Blu-ray case Blu-ray Release Date: April 19th, 2016 Chapters: 8	Release Information: Studio: Rimini 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 30,841,684,126 bytes Feature: 21,894,297,600 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 28.07 Mbps Edition Details: • Alexandre Piletitch (25:29 - French only / no subtitles) • Atomic Shock - Joe Dante on Panic in Year Zero (9:09) DVD Custom Blu-ray case Blu-ray Release Date: May 18th, 2022 Chapters: 10	Release Information: Studio: Radiance 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 37,922,782,254 bytes Feature: 27,111,128,064 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 34.94 Mbps Edition Details: • Audio commentary by critic Richard Harland Smith (2016) • New interview with Kim Newman (2024 - 20:55) • Ray Milland archival interview (1972 - 30:31) • Atomic Shock! - An interview with filmmaker Joe Dante (2016, 9:10) • Trailer (2:23) Reversible sleeve featuring designs based on original posters Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by film critic Christina Newland Transparent Blu-ray case Blu-ray Release Date: November 18th, 2024 Chapters: 10

Rimini Blu-ray

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Radiance - Region 'B' - Blu-ray January 2025': The Kino has been OOP (out-of-print) for a while. This new Region 'B' Radiance Blu-ray edition of Ray Milland's Panic in Year Zero! has an almost duplicate image quality to the French Rimini 1080P release from 2022. They also have the same running time to the 1/1000th of second. Looking at the static screen capture comparisons below there is virtually no difference. If you have to give and edge top one of the other the Radiance has the max'ed out bitrate and may appear better in-motion.

Radiance go linear PCM mono and it may have an authentic flatness not present on the Rimini. Les Baxter's (The Dunwich Horror, How to Stuff a Wild Bikini, Switchblade Sisters, The Man With the X-Ray Eyes, A Life at Stake, The Comedy of Terrors, Dagmar's Hot Pants Inc., The Beast Within, the US version of Baron Blood, etc.) score may be a semi-tone crisper. This UK edition Blu-ray has optional English (SDH) subtitles and is region 'B'-locked.

The big difference are the extras. Radiance duplicate the audio commentary by film historian Richard Harland Smith who points out some interesting research that enhances the viewing. He's always good and, until the film comes true, it is still very relevant. In a new 21-minute interview, recorded exclusively for Radiance in 2024, author and critic Kim Newman (author of Classic Monsters Unleashed) examines Ray Milland, the star and director of Panic in Year Zero. Included is a 1972 interview at the University of London, where Ray Milland discusses his life and career to date for 1/2 hour. He addresses working with Jacques Tourneur and much more. In a 2016 interview with director Joe Dante, entitled "Atomic Shock!", he discusses Panic in Year Zero! and its historical context, with its release in 1962 coming at the peak of nuclear fears and cold war paranoia. It runs 9-minutes and was on both other Blu-ray editions. Lastly, is a rather beat-up trailer and the package has a reversible sleeve featuring designs based on original posters (see below) and a limited edition booklet featuring new writing by film critic Christina Newland.

Milland gets to direct and Panic in Year Zero! - an early 60's Cold War fear flic. It has a less-detailed apocalypse, societal breakdown where guns speak the loudest, and survivalism. One of my favorites of the genre from this era along with The Last Man on Earth, Day the World Ended and The Day the Earth Caught Fire. I better go buy some, more, cans of beans... The Radiance Blu-ray is the best for the a/v, subtitles and many extras. An easy keeper for moi.

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ADDITION: Rimini Editions - Region FREE - Blu-ray September 2024': The Kino has been OOP (out-of-print) for a while and Radiance is coming out with a Region 'B' Blu-ray edition of Ray Milland's Panic in Year Zero! in November 2024, HERE. I seem to have lost my Kino (sufficing with the poor MGM DVD) and took a chance on this, reasonably-priced, French Blu-ray. It's Region FREE and the French subtitles are fully removable (phew!) The 1080P compares well and may even be a slight notch superior to the Kino. Audio takes a further bump with 24-bit lossless - augmenting the score by Les Baxter (The Dunwich Horror, How to Stuff a Wild Bikini, Switchblade Sisters, The Man With the X-Ray Eyes, A Life at Stake, The Comedy of Terrors, Dagmar's Hot Pants Inc., The Beast Within, the US version of Baron Blood, etc.) that emboldens themes including dire circumstance and distrust. Like the Kino, still no English subtitles. A French-only extra along with the Joe Dante piece in previous editions. A second disc PAL DVD is included. We've reviewed a few other Rimini Blu-ray editions; Noirs like Somewhere in the Night and Kansas City Confidential - and have not been disappointed.

NOTE: We have added 64 more large resolution Rimini Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

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ADDITION: Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray March 16': This new 1080P image is quite a step-up from the old SD. We lose a sliver of information on the top and side edges but the improved contrast and detail is remarkable. Either the DVD is vertically stretched or the Blu-ray has some Cinemascope mumps (or a little of both) but the Blu-ray looked great in-motion with plenty of depth. It has a touch of appealing gloss, as well, and it's very clean and crisp by comparison to the interlaced DVD.

Kino Lorber use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track at 1582 kbps (16-bit) in the original English language. Strangely, there are very few effects in the film - but the animated score is by AIP go-to guy Les Baxter (X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes, US version of Baron Blood, The Beast Within etc.) and sounds jazzy and tight via the lossless - quite the groovy theme song! There are no subtitles offered and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'A'-locked.

Kino add some keen extras - notably another enjoyable audio commentary by film historian Richard Harland Smith who points out some interesting research that enhances the viewing. There is also a 10-minute introduction by director Joe Dante giving further background and his personal enjoyment of the film. We also get trailers for some Milland/Kino Blus; Panic in Year Zero, X-Ray, the Man With the X-Ray Eyes and Premature Burial.

I always love a good (or bad) apocalypse film and despite the flaws this captures a time and it's one of those movies I always seem to reach for - if I'm in that mood. Great tow own in HD and the commentary adds immense value and we certainly give this a recommendation.

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ON THE DVD (2005): Well, there are two schools of thought - transfer great films to DVD properly, add competent extra features and sell for a healthy price OR slap it onto to DVD - tabled with another minor film of similar genre and charge peanuts. MGM have opted for choice #2 for their Midnite Madness series.

Yes, like the second feature The Last Man on Earth, this is not progressive (see last capture), and no extras for 'Panic..." to speak of, but for enjoyment ratio over $'s - you really can't beat this and we love the anamorphic widescreen although the image has some softness. We still endorse for fans.

Gary W. Tooze