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H D - S E N S E I

A view on Blu-ray by Gary W. Tooze

New York Express aka "Blindfold" [Blu-ray]

(Philip Dunne, 1965)

Released in the UK, on Blu-ray by 101 Films in September 2017:

Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Theatrical: Universal Pictures

Video: Explosive-Media / Kino Lorber

Disc:

Region: FREE / Region 'A' (as verified by the Oppo Blu-ray player)

Runtime: 1:41:54.441 / 1:42:15.170

Disc Size: 24,421,140,964 bytes / 22,633,531,949 bytes

Feature Size: 23,708,454,912 bytes / 21,118,869,504 bytes

Video Bitrate: 26.06 Mbps / 24.44 Mbps

Chapters: 11 / 8

Case: Standard Blu-ray case (both)

Release date: August 5th, 2016 / September 10th, 2019

Video (both):

Aspect ratio: 2.35:1

Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Audio:

LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit

DUB:

LPCM Audio German 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1555 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1555 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)

Subtitles:

English, German, none

English , none

Extras:

• Gallery (6:07)

• Image Gallery (1:31)
• TV Promo (1:08)

Bitrate:

1) Explosive Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

Description: When top-level scientist Arthur Vincenti (Alejandro Rey) suffers a nervous collapse, his military handlers fear he may be at risk of being kidnapped by a group of international terrorists who sell their victims to the governments of communist nations. Vincenti's psychiatrist, Dr. Bartholomew Snow (Rock Hudson), and fractious sister, Vicky (Claudia Cardinale), are drawn into a web of intrigue alongside the mysterious Fitzpatrick (Guy Stockwell), who claims Vincenti may already be an enemy agent.

The Film:

A wryly self-mocking spy thriller coating a convoluted international plot and stock genre characters (psychologist, mad scientist, security chief, et al) in the requisite '60s gloss. The final film as director of former Fox contract writer (How Green Was My Valley, Forever Amber, The Robe, etc) Dunne.

Excerpt from TimeOut located HERE

A patient being psychoanalyzed by Dr. Bartholomew Snow is a government scientist who evidently has had a mental breakdown. General Pratt, a national security chief, hides the patient, Arthur Vicenti, in a remote place known only as "Base X," forcing Dr. Snow to wear a blindfold whenever he is taken there.

Enemy agents want to know what Vicenti knows, so he is in danger. The patient's sister, beautiful Vicky Vicenti, mistakenly believes that Dr. Snow is the one who abducted him. When she has the doctor arrested, Snow tells both the authorities and the press that he and Vicky are actually having a lovers' quarrel and are engaged to be married.

A man named Fitzpatrick turns up and claims to Dr. Snow that it is actually General Pratt himself who is the enemy agent. Unable to find the general, Dr. Snow tries to recreate sounds he heard while blindfolded to trace his way back to Base X.

He does so, only to find that Fitzpatrick has taken both Vicenti and Pratt captive. But soldiers arrive in airboats and place Fitzpatrick under arrest, leaving Vicky to consider whether she would like her make-believe engagement to Dr. Snow to be real.

Excerpt from Wikipedia located HERE

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

New York Express (Blindfold) appears quite pleasing on Blu-ray from Explosive-Media out of Germany. The 2.35:1 image looks superior to SD with solid detail and consistent colors. It handles the darker scenes well without noise. This Blu-ray looks decent - 1080P and supports the film reasonably well.

Not too different, the Kino seems to have richer colors (reds) and warmer skin tones but the framing and technical side are near duplicates. If forced to choose, the Kino gets the nod... by a nose.

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

1) Explosive Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

1) Explosive Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

1) Explosive Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

1) Explosive Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

1) Explosive Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

More Explosive Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray Captures

Audio :

Explosive-Media offer an uncompressed DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel stereo track (with an optional German DUB) requiring minimal depth but the film doesn't need an abundance of floor rattling. There are optional English and German (SDH) subtitles and my Oppo has identified it as being region FREE.

Kino use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel mono (16-bit) with their audio transfer. My ears could not detect any differences. The score is by Argentinean Lalo Schifrin (famous as the guy behind the Mission: Impossible theme as well as The Osterman Weekend, Day of the Animals, Hit!, Man on a Swing, Tango and many other films.) The music adds a light quality switching adeptly between the film's moods. There are optional English subtitles on Kino's Region 'A'-locked Blu-ray disc.

Extras :

Only a gallery of images associated with the film.

Kino only advance by a hair with their own gallery, TV Promo and other trailers. No commentary on this one.

Explosive Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

BOTTOM LINE:
New York Express (Blindfold) certainly evokes Donen's Charade. It's a fun spy-spoof with watchable stars. I think this was a good choice to bring to Blu-ray. I thoroughly enjoyed the film and the interaction of Rock, Claudia and her photogenic knockers. I enjoyed my viewing and may revisit when in the mood. Solid a/v and despite the bare-bone status - it has value. Pleasant discovery.

Still a cute film with overtones of many before it - but this has, always likeable Rock and always sexy Claudia. It's a fun thriller and Kino's bare package doesn't pretend its more. An enjoyable diversion, at the right price.

Gary Tooze

February 16th, 2017

September 5th, 2019

Released in the UK, on Blu-ray by 101 Films in September 2017:

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 3500 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.

Gary's Home Theatre:

60-Inch Class (59.58” Diagonal) 1080p Pioneer KURO Plasma Flat Panel HDTV PDP6020-FD

Oppo Digital BDP-83 Universal Region FREE Blu-ray/SACD Player
Momitsu - BDP-899 Region FREE Blu-ray player
Marantz SA8001 Super Audio CD Player
Marantz SR7002 THX Select2 Surround Receiver
Tannoy DC6-T (fronts) + Energy (centre, rear, subwoofer) speakers (5.1)

APC AV 1.5 kVA H Type Power Conditioner 120V

Gary W. Tooze

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