Boxcar Bertha Blu-ray - Barbara Hershey

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

directed by Martin Scorsese

USA 1972

Boxcar Bertha, Martin Scorsese's first studio film for Hollywood, shot on the limited budget of $600,000, is slightly better than its formulaic offering. It comes off as a fair imitation of the recent box office smash Bonnie and Clyde. This impersonal Scorsese project, based on the memoirs of the real Boxcar Bertha Thompson, shuns anything heavy or smacking of politics, and instead concentrates on the farcical nature of the work. There are set comedy and almost hard-core sex pieces, that seemed more commercially intended than artistic. This is not one of Scorsese's stronger films. But it gets by on the charms of its stars, Barbara Hershey and David Carradine, and it's filled with the latest cinematic tricks such as quick fades and dreamy soft-focuses. There are also some breezy characters who are easy to handle and add a certain corny charm. It gets away with its mix of hayseed comedy antics and some bloodshed, as it all appears as harmless fun until the murders start coming-- culminating in, of all things, a crucifixion.

Excerpt of Dennis Schwartz's review on Ozu's World located HERE

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Theatrical Release: June 14th, 1972

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MGM - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray

1) MGM - Region 1- NTSC LEFT

2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT

Cover and Individual purchase link
	CLICK logo to order the whole Boxset!
Runtime	1:28:03	1:28:46.654
Video	1.85:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.95 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.85:1 Disc Size: 24,995,496,755 bytes Feature Size: 23,698,698,240 bytes Total Bitrate: 29.99 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:
Bitrate Blu-ray :
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1844 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1844 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Isolated Score: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1697 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1697 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles	English, Spanish, French, None	English (SDH), None
Features:	Release Information: Studio: MGM Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterboxed - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • trailer (2:30) DVD Release Date: January 11th, 2005 Keep case Chapters 16	Release Information: Studio: Twilight Time 1.85:1 Disc Size: 24,995,496,755 bytes Feature Size: 23,698,698,240 bytes Total Bitrate: 29.99 Mbps Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC Edition Details: • Isolated Score Track • Original Theatrical Trailer (2:30) • 8-page liner notes by Julie Kirgo Limited to 3,000 units Blu-ray Release Date: October, 2016 Transparent Blu-ray case Chapters 24

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray November 16': The new Twilight Time Blu-ray is a big advancement over the 2005 DVD - sold individually but also as part of the The Martin Scorsese Film Collection reviewed HERE. With 5X the bitrate and 1080P resolution - contrast - notably colors are richer, skin tones warmer and detail superior. It's dual-layered with a very high bitrate and in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio but has a shade cropped off the right and bottom edges as compared to the SD - but it's not a lot. The Blu-ray wins in every visual category and looks solid in-motion.

Audio is likewise impressive using a DTS-Master 24-bit supporting the sounds of the trains and the score is attributed to fiddler Gib Guilbeau and trombonist Thad Maxwell (both their only films credits) and we also get Mozart's Piano Sonata no. 11 in A, K. 331, Mov. 3. It is also available in a lossless isolated track option. Effects are naturalistic and there is some depth present. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles and the Blu-ray disc is region FREE - playable world-wide.

Only a trailer and isolated score - too bad Marty couldn't do a commentary. Of course, the standard 8-page liner notes by Julie Kirgo is there and this Twilight Time is, like most, limited to 3,000 units.

The Blu-ray a/v is such an advancement - it's like seeing the film anew. Hershey is great - it still feels more like Corman than Scorsese but that adds a fun edge. Not a classic but enjoyable and worth the re-peat viewing I gave it. To each his own.