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 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka 'One of Our Aircraft Is Missing')

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/direct-chair/powell.htm
UK 1942

 

As 49th Parallel would be the Canadian influenced propaganda effort by Powell & Pressburger - One of Our Aircraft is Missing is the Dutch equivalent. Supporting the war effort - Michael Powell was commissioned by the British government and the film he and Emeric Pressburger made focuses on six Royal Air force men who find themselves stranded in Holland after their bomber, "B for Bertie", is shot down by anti-aircraft fire after a raid on Stuttgart. The servicemen are all competent and affable - in civilian life they are a garage proprietor, an actor, a Yorkshire businessman, a pilot, and a professional footballer. All are given the help and resources they require from the sympathetic Dutch farmers and country people. Googie Withers plays the woman who formulates the final arrangements for their trek to the safe North Sea where they can eventually be picked up by the Allies. The cast and crew (including Powell acting in a guest appearance!) runs like a who's who of film language - cinematography is by Ronald Neame, editor: David Lean - playing the Dutch priest: Peter Ustinov etc.

In the powerful canon of Powell & Pressburger this gets little mention as it doesn't reach the lofty heights of Black Narcissus or I Know Where I'm Going but the film is still one of the best to come out of the war effort with multiple telltale's of the pairings obvious greatness. Essential cinema.

Posters

Theatrical Release: June 27th, 1942

Reviews                                                                               More Reviews                                                                        DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Universal Pictures Video (UK) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Box Covers

 

   

BONUS CAPTURES:
Distribution Universal Pictures Video (UK)  - Region 2 - PAL Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:38:21 (4% PAL Speedup) 1:42:55.836  1:42:55.169  
Video 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.9 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 24,306,955,055 bytes

Feature: 24,086,310,912 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 27.70 Mbps

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 49,515,959,008 bytes

Feature: 26,377,731,648 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 29.91 Mbps

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

Bitrate Olive: Blu-ray

Bitrate BFI: Blu-ray

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0)  DTS-HD Master Audio English 1832 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1832 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 320 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 320 kbps / DN -31dB
Subtitles English, None English, None English, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Universal Pictures Video (UK)

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1

Edition Details:

• none 

DVD Release Date: May 15th, 2006
Transparent Keep Case
Chapters: 10

Release Information:
Studio: Olive Films

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1

1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 24,306,955,055 bytes

Feature: 24,086,310,912 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 27.70 Mbps

Edition Details:

• None

 Blu-ray Release Date: November 15th, 2016
Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters: 8

Release Information:
Studio: BFI

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 49,515,959,008 bytes

Feature: 26,377,731,648 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 29.91 Mbps

Edition Details:

• Newly recorded audio commentary by film scholar Ian Christie
• An Airman's Letter to His Mother (1941, 5:46): Michael Powell's powerful propaganda short, narrated by John Gielgud
• The Volunteer (1944, 44:11): an entertaining look at the Fleet Air Arm, directed by Powell & Pressburger and starring the legendary Ralph Richardson
• Target for Tonight (1941, 50:02): a record of a Wellington bomber's mission over Germany
• The Biter Bit (1943, 14:19): a glowing tribute to the Allied bombing campaign, narrated by Ralph Richardson
• Image gallery
**FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Fully illustrated booklet with new essays by Ian Christie and Professor Sarah Street, writing on the extras by Alex Prideaux and full film credits
Limited edition (3000 copies): packaged with a re-production of the original storybook based on the film by Emeric Pressburger

 Blu-ray Release Date: October 4th, 2021
Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters: 12

 

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - October 2021': Short comment: The BFI has a slightly superior 1080P video, authentic mono audio (lossless), a new, and excellent, Ian Christie commentary, Powell shorts and a booklet. It beats out the 2016 Olive Blu-ray in every area.  The BFI is on a region 'B'-locked Blu-ray disc.

NOTE: We have added 35 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

Still such a British great war film - the first by "The Archers" with the joint writer-producer-director 'Powell and Pressburger' credit. As Wikipedia identifies: "A reversal of the plot of Powell and Pressburger's previous film, 49th Parallel (1941), One of Our Aircraft is Missing has the British trying to escape with the help of various locals. In the 49th Parallel, the Germans stranded in Canada argued and fought amongst themselves, while the British fliers in this film work well together as a team." It has Ronald Neame as cinematographer and film editing by David Lean! For the brilliant cinema - this BFI Blu-ray, easily the best for your home theater, is strongly recommended!  

***

ADDITION: Olive - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - November 2016': Beside the new Olive 1080P transfer - the 2006 DVD looks too bright in spots. The HD advances in grain support, detail and superior contrast. many will appreciate that it alleviates the PAL speedup issue of the SD - now seeing the film in theatrical running time. It is far superior in-motion but the visuals are not overwhelming fro the format and damage exists in the form of light scratches and frame-specific speckles. There isn't a pervasive score but you can hear the heart-warming scene with Onward Christian Soldiers, whistled by Bernard Cribbens, providing inspiration. There are optional English (yellow font) subtitles. No extras - not even a trailer - on the region 'A'-locked Blu-ray disc.

***

ON THE DVD: Very decent transfer from Universal UK on this clandestine masterpiece. How it evaded me on the releases calendar I'll never know. There is a shade of brightness boosting, some artifacts and a few scratches visible, but it is progressive and tight to the frame edges. Contrast and black levels are very good. No extras but optional English subtitles are offered. Audio was fairly strong considering the age of the film. The price is reasonable for such a fabulous piece of cinema - just a shame it is bare-bones. We strongly recommend!  

Gary W. Tooze

 

DVD Menus


 

Olive Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

 

BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 

 

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

 

Subtitle Sample

 

1) Universal (UK) - Region 2 - PAL TOP
2) Olive Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE
3) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

Screen Captures

 

1) Universal (UK) - Region 2 - PAL TOP
2) Olive Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE
3) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Universal (UK) - Region 2 - PAL TOP
2) Olive Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE
3) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Universal (UK) - Region 2 - PAL TOP
2) Olive Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE
3) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Universal (UK) - Region 2 - PAL TOP
2) Olive Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE
3) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Universal (UK) - Region 2 - PAL TOP
2) Olive Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE
3) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 

 

More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE

 

Associated Reading (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)

Box Covers

 

   

BONUS CAPTURES:
Distribution Universal Pictures Video (UK)  - Region 2 - PAL Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray




 

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