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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

directed by Robert Wise
USA 1959

Harry Belafonte was both producer and star of this hard-edged film noir crime drama. Dave Burke (Ed Begley, Sr.) is an ex-cop who has been kicked off the force for refusing to inform on his colleagues to the State Crime Committee. Short on money, the former policeman jumps to the other side of the law and plans to knock over a bank in upstate New York. He'll need help, so Burke brings in two other men to assist him -- Johnny Ingram (Belafonte), a jazz musician with an addiction to gambling that's put him deep in debt to gangster Bacco (Will Kuluva), and Earl Slater (Robert Ryan), a disturbed war veteran who hasn't been able to find work after serving time for manslaughter. While their common greed and desperation has brought these men together, their differences threaten to tear them apart, especially when Slater's fear and hatred of black men rises to the surface. Blacklisted screenwriter Abraham Polonsky co-wrote the screenplay for Odds Against Tomorrow, using his friend John O. Killens as a "front." John Lewis of the Modern Jazz Quartet contributed a memorable musical score.

***

Considered by many to be the last of the true 40s and 50s film noirs, is the story of a daring robbery gone wrong.

When ruthless killer Earle Slater (Robert Ryan) teams up with crooked ex-cop Dave Burke (Ed Begley), and gambler Johnny Ingram (Harry Belafonte) to rob a New York bank, things quickly start to go wrong. Fuelled by his racist hatred, Earle continually clashes with Johnny resulting in the heist quickly spiralling out of control. With the escalating tension comes increasing violence as Slater's prejudice drives both him and Ingram to the very edge.

With its dark jazz score and brooding atmosphere Odds Against Tomorrow represents one of the most important films about race and racism, and was directed by four time Oscar winner Robert Wise (The Sound of Music, West Side Story).

Posters

Theatrical Release: October 15th, 1959 - USA

Reviews                                                                       More Reviews                                                                  DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

MGM -  Region 1 - NTSC vs. BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray vs. Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Covers

  

Coming to Blu-ray from Kino in January 2024:

Distribution MGM - Region 1- NTSC BFI Video
Region 'B' -
Blu-ray
Olive Films
Region 'A' -
Blu-ray
Runtime 1:36:00 1:35:46.500 1:36:18.814
Video 1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.48 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s  

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 44,096,182,668 bytes

Feature: 28,274,804,736 bytes

Video Bitrate: 35.04 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 23,793,517,870 bytes

Feature: 23,643,985,920 bytes

Video Bitrate: 28.98 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

Bitrate BFI Blu-ray:

Bitrate Okive Blu-ray:

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) 

LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
Robert Ryan at the National Film Theatre: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1996 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1996 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles English, French, Spanish, None English (SDH), None English, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: MGM Studios

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1

Edition Details:

• None 

DVD Release Date: December 2nd, 2003

Keep Case
Chapters: 20

Release Information:
Studio:
BFI Video Publishing

 

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 44,096,182,668 bytes

Feature: 28,274,804,736 bytes

Video Bitrate: 35.04 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

Odds Against Tomorrow post screening Q+A with Harry Belafonte (49:14)

Adrian Wootton on Odds Against Tomorrow (29:31)

The Guardian Interview: Robert Wise at the National Film Theatre ( 1:13:50)

The John Player Lecture: Robert Ryan at the National Film Theatre

• Original trailer (3:10)
• Fully illustrated booklet with new writing on the film


Blu-ray Release Date: October 24th, 2016
Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 10

Release Information:
Studio:
Olive Films

 

1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 23,793,517,870 bytes

Feature: 23,643,985,920 bytes

Video Bitrate: 28.98 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• None


Blu-ray Release Date: May 29th, 2018
Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 10

 

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: (May 2018) Olive Region 'A' - Blu-ray: The distinguishing feature of the Olive Blu-ray is that it is in the 1.85:1 widescreen aspect ratio. It is only single-layered and seems to have the exact same light vertical scratches. The bitrate is slightly lower and the image may not be as crisp but it looks quite pleasing in-motion with nicely layered contrast. I didn't have any complaints.

Olive use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel mono track (24-bit) supports the film's moody score by Jazz pianist John Lewis. He, Ray Brown, Milt Jackson and drummer Kenny Clarke who were the original members of the Modern Jazz Quartet. It sounds atmospheric and moody in lossless. Of course, we also get the bonus of Harry Belafonte's My Baby's Not Around and All Men Are Evil. The Olive have optional English subtitle sin a gaudy yellow, 'shouting' (CAPITALS). font - see sample below. Their Blu-ray disc is Region 'A'-locked.

No extras - not even a trailer.

Fans of the film will appreciate that this is in widescreen - which, debatably, is the correct theatrical aspect ratio. The lack of extras are unfortunate - but the accurate AR should sway many. Kind of a must-own...   

***

ADDITION: (October 2016) BFI Region 'B' - Blu-ray: WOW - does this ever look amazing. The essential Noir Odds Against Tomorrow get the Blu-ray treatment from BFI in the UK and the results are leaps and bounds beyond the greenish 2003 DVD from MGM. The film's magnificent shadow and light cinematography comes through so well with the layered contrast of 1080P resolution. I can't say more than the captures - there are some speckles and light vertical scratches but this is a huge triumph for Noir fans. The grain is consistent and fine. It looks just as brilliant in-motion. The dispute rages on about the Aspect ratio... one day a 1.85:1 will surface!

BFI use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit). There are optional English subtitles on the region 'B'-locked Blu-ray.

I haven't had a chance to indulge in the extras - tonight I will make the time. BFI stack the package starting with a 50-minute Odds Against Tomorrow post screening Q+A with Harry Belafonte from August 2009 - Chicago, Adrian Wootton on Odds Against Tomorrow for just shy of 1/2 and hour. A 1 1/4 hour Guardian Interview: Robert Wise at the National Film Theatre and The John Player Lecture: Robert Ryan at the National Film Theatre that appears to play alongside the film. There is an original trailer and a liner notes illustrated booklet with new writing on the film.

I'm very pleased with this Blu-ray. You can appreciate Odds Against Tomorrow to a much higher degree with both the stellar a/v and the extensive supplements. I could have taken captures of the latter scene with Gloria Grahame and Ryan all day. We give this our highest recommendation!

***

ON THE DVD: Standard fare from MGM - good, but not great image - very green - poor contrast and muddy - no extras at all. This is a pretty interesting film from a master director, it would have been nice if they had put some effort into it as it was released only last year (2003).  out of         

Gary W. Tooze


Recommended Reading in Film Noir (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)

DVD Menus

BFI Video - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 

 

Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


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

 

Subtitle Sample - Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) BFI Video Region 'B' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE

3) Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


 

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) BFI Video Region 'B' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE

3) Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


 

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) BFI Video Region 'B' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE

3) Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


 

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) BFI Video Region 'B' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE

3) Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


 

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) BFI Video Region 'B' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE

3) Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


 

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) BFI Video Region 'B' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE

3) Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

More Blu-ray Captures

 

1) BFI Video Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP

3) Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) BFI Video Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP

3) Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) BFI Video Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP

3) Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) BFI Video Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP

3) Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) BFI Video Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP

3) Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) BFI Video Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP

3) Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) BFI Video Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP

3) Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) BFI Video Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP

3) Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) BFI Video Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP

3) Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) BFI Video Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP

3) Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

Box Covers

  

Coming to Blu-ray from Kino in January 2024:

Distribution MGM - Region 1- NTSC BFI Video
Region 'B' -
Blu-ray
Olive Films
Region 'A' -
Blu-ray


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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

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Gary Tooze