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The Brave One [Blu-ray]
(Irving Rapper, 1956)
Review by Gary Tooze
Production: Theatrical: King Brothers Productions Video: VCI
Disc: Region: FREE (as verified by the Oppo Blu-ray player) Runtime: 1:39:48.649 Disc Size: 24,284,059,668 bytes Feature Size: 21,898,856,448 bytes Video Bitrate: 19.67 Mbps Chapters: 13 Case: Standard Blu-ray case Release date: June 14th, 2016
Video: Aspect ratio: 2.50:1 Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Audio: LPCM Audio English 4608 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 4608 kbps / 16-bit LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit LPCM Audio French 768 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit
Subtitles: English, Spanish, None
Extras:
• Re-Mastered Trailer (2:51)
Bitrate:
Description: A film full of warmth and sensitivity, The Brave One is story about the friendship of a boy and a bull. Gitano or Gypsy is the name the boy gives the bull whose life he saves during a storm. The animal follows him around like a puppy until the legal owners spirit the mature Gitano away to do battle with top matador Fermin Rivera in the Plaza de Mexico bullring in Mexico City. The boy protests in vain at the cruelty of the arena and finally secures a "pardon" for his pet signed by the President of Mexico, but he is too late. The bullfight continues. What follows is such a display of courage that the crowd calls for the "undulto" a demand that the bull be allowed to live. Based on a true incident, the film earned a "Best Story" Academy AwardŽ for Robert Rich - who, much to the embarrassment of the Academy, turned out to be blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo.
The Film: The Brave One is a bull named Gitano (or Gypsy). Mexican lad Michael Ray "adopts" Gitano after saving the animal's life during a storm. The friendship between bull and boy is threatened when Gitano's legal owners claim the animal and ship it off to the bullring. Moved by the boy's plight, the President of Mexico signs a "pardon" for Gitano-but not soon enough to prevent the bull's appearance at the Plaze de Mexico at Mexico City, where he faces top matador Fermin Rivera. The Brave One was helmed by Irving Rapper, a man best known for his Bette Davis vehicles at Warner Bros. Based on a true incident, the film earned a "best story" Academy Award for one Robert Rich-who, much to the embarrassment of the Academy (and the delight of civil libertarians) turned out to be blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo. Long available only in its "flat", black and white TV version, The Brave One was recently restored to its Technicolor and CinemaScope glory by the American Movie Classics cable service Excerpt from MRQE located HERE
According to the promotional narrative in the trailer: “…again
and again and again your blood will raise, your heart stand still as you
share the hopes and dreams and fears of every boy who ever had a pet …”.
And, while the second part of that statement is valid for modern-day
viewers of any age, the film’s lengthy run time is likely to cause
boredom (instead of causing a rise in the blood). Excerpt from TheSkyKid located HERE
Image : NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. WTF? The Brave One comes to Blu-ray from VCI. The, presumably restored, image is problematic. Aside from looking very green at times - where is the grain? The transfer is flat and overly digitized showing an unpleasant, waxy, DNR-heavy appearance. Ughhh. VCI may have finally used AVC over MPEG2 but this manipulation is worse, IMO. Horrid.
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Audio :VCI use a linear PCM with the 3 options of a 5.1 bump (with little separation but intense depth), 2.0 channel or a French DUB - all at 16-bit. I did notice some sync issues with the dialogue but the score composed by the great Victor Young (The Big Clock, The File on Thelma Jordan, Three Faces West, The Sun Shines Bright, Johnny Guitar, China Gate etc.) sounds pleasing. There are optional English or Spanish subtitles offered and the box back-cover states it is 'Region A'-locked.
Extras : Only a re-mastered trailer and 1/2 hour's worth of the musical score by Victor Young.
BOTTOM LINE: Gary Tooze June 10th, 2016
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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.
Although I never wanted to become one of those guys who
focused 'too much' on image and sound quality - I
find HD is swiftly pushing me in that direction. 60-Inch Class (59.58” Diagonal) 1080p Pioneer KURO Plasma Flat Panel HDTV PDP6020-FD
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