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Directed by Henry King

USA 1945

In 1500, Duke Cesare Borgia hopes to marry his sister (widowed by poison) to the heir apparent of Ferrara, which impedes his conquest of central Italy. On this delicate mission he sends Andrea Orsini, his sister's lover and nearly as unscrupulous as himself. En route, Orsini meets Camilla Verano, wife of the count of Citta' del Monte (Borgia's next intended conquest); and sentiment threatens to turn him against his deadly master, whom no one betrays twice...

***

In this captivating epic of intrigue, action and romance, the handsome and masterful Tyrone Power (The Mark of Zorro) shines in the title role as Andrea Orsini, a bold and courageous warrior. The setting is Renaissance Italy, where the notorious and violent Borgia family, led by Cesare Borgia (Orson Welles, Compulsion), is determined to capture neighboring lands and expand the family's empire, power, and wealth. As a Borgia spy-soldier, Orsini is dispatched to a small territory Cesare hopes to capture. But Orsini becomes captivated by the intelligence and charm of the Duke and his young wife. Torn between allegiance to his master and a growing friendship with his assigned victims, Orsini becomes embroiled in a fierce and spectacular battle for justice and nobility. The great Henry King (David and Bathsheba) directed this glorious epic, which was beautifully shot on location by legendary cinematographer Leon Shamroy (Daisy Kenyon, Daddy Long Legs).

Posters

 

Theatrical Release Date: December 23, 1949

  DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

20th Century Fox (5-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Twentieth Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT

Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray RIGHT

 

Box Covers

   

 

   

   

Also available individually on DVD here:

   

Distribution 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Time: 1:46:48 1:47:00.455
Video 1.33:1
Average Bitrate: 6.25 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.33:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 25,287,020,665 bytes

Feature: 23,358,038,016 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 26.93 Mbps

Bitrate: Blu-ray
Audio English (2.0 stereo) - DUBs in French and Spanish

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1558 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1558 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps
Isolated Score:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

Subtitles English, Spanish, French, None English, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
All Original Aspect Ratios - 1.33 

Edition Details:

  •  Commentary on Blood and Sand by Director of Photography 2003-2006 President of the American Society of Cinematographers - Richard Crudo

  •  Restoration split-screen and Photo Gallery
    Isolated Score for Son of Fury
     Featurette: Tyrone Power - Behind the Scenes

  •  Stills Gallery, Advertising Gallery and Theatrical Trailer

  •  Commentary on Captain From Castile by Rudy Behlmer, Jon Burlingame and Nick Redman

  • Isolated Score

  •  Featurette: Tyrone Power's Leading Ladies

  •  Stills Gallery, Advertising Gallery and Theatrical Trailer

  • Isolated Score for Prince of Foxes

  •  MovieTone Newsreel: Tyrone Power Weds Linda Christian in Rome Ceremony

  •  On The Black Rose - Featurette Tyrone Power: Family Reunion

  •  Stills Gallery and Theatrical Trailer

  • NOTE: Each DVD includes 4 Lobby Card reproductions (postcard size) of that particular film


DVD Release Date: May 1st, 2007

5 Slim Slim Keep Cases inside a cardboard box
Chapters: various 

Release Information:
Studio: Kino
 

1.33:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 25,287,020,665 bytes

Feature: 23,358,038,016 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 26.93 Mbps

 

Edition Details:

• Audio Commentary by Film Historian Troy Howarth
• Movietone News: Tyrone Powers Weds Linda Christian in Rome Ceremony (3:05)
• Isolated Score Track
• Trailer for Prince of Foxes (Spanish - 2:55), Mark of Zorro (Teaser - 1:45), Rawhide (2:27), Compulsion (Teaser - 1:01), The Stranger (1:17)

Blu-ray Release Date: February 7th, 2017
Standard
Blu-ray Case

Chapters:8 

 

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray February 17': Firstly, the Tyrone Power Swashbuckler DVD boxset is reviewed HERE. Kino's Blu-ray transfer looks very film like with nice textures. The 2007 DVD was also very strong for its format, but the advancement in 1080P seems to be in supporting the grain, contrast is more layered, it's a brighter image and has more depth. Your extent of your system will largely determine the improvement you see from BD over SD.

Kino use a DTS-HD Master at 1558 kbps (16-bit). It exports the film's battle effects adeptly - not much swashbuckling till near the end. It's a rousing score by the great Alfred Newman (Cry of the City, The Diary of Anne Frank, Bus Stop, Blood and Sand, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Panic in the Streets, The Song of Bernadette etc. etc.) - very uplifting. It sounds tight and clean via the lossless with sneaky depth here and there. The Kino offers optional English subtitles and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'A'-locked.

Kino include a new (I don't believe I have heard it before) audio commentary by film historian Troy Howarth - and he is quite good keeping a quick pace - discussing, and extolling, Welles and attributes of the production, shooting locations etc. As on the DVD set there is the Movietone News: Tyrone Powers Weds Linda Christian in Rome and an option to hear the Newman's isolated score track but only in lossy Dolby. There are also trailers, or teasers, for Prince of Foxes (a barely watchable Spanish trailer), Mark of Zorro, Rawhide, Compulsion, and The Stranger.

I wouldn't label Prince of Foxes as a swashbuckler, per-se, but a darn effective historical drama/adventure with a grand performance from Welles as the ultra-baddie Cesare Borgia - woohoo! It's an enjoyable film - great art direction and costumes - especially for Power fans... recommended!

***

ON THE DVD: The 5 main features of this boxset are housed in individual slim Keep Cases (see image above) and they are also sold separately. All 5 DVDs are dual-layered - coded for Region 1 in the NTSC standard. Generally they look very consistent - quite strong transfer-wise. Each offer optional English, French and Spanish subtitles and DUBs (French and Spanish).

Prince of Foxes looks pretty strong - a shade of flickering contrast is noticeable - minor artifacts but detail is very good and black levels are adequate. It again has that dusted appearance at times but it didn't deter my enjoyment of the film one bit. Great to see Welles looking so majestic on screen. In the extras - Newman's score is again isolated for your listening pleasure - there is a MovieTone Newsreel: Tyrone Power Weds Linda Christian in Rome Ceremony running less than 3 minutes. Also included are a stills gallery, advertising gallery (mostly posters) and a theatrical trailer.

NOTE: Each DVD includes 4 Lobby Card reproductions (postcard size) of that particular film and a one page lining the keep case with a color image and listing the chapter stops.

Overall I would say that I am happy with the transfers. I get the feeling that they are as good as the existing elements would allow. Far from perfect but as good as they have looked in a long time.

Tyrone Power: The Swashbuckler Box Set is a wonderful collection - 4 of the 5 films were definitely above average classic Hollywood fare and I felt I learned a lot about this actor - his versatility - and reasons for his enduring popularity. With all the supplements, 2 commentaries and decent transfers of solid adventure films from the Golden age - this is a must-own collection in my opinion. I strongly recommend it. I thoroughly enjoyed my viewings. 
 

Gary W. Tooze


DVD Menus


 

Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray



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

 

Subtitle Sample Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 


Screen Captures

 

Twentieth Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

Twentieth Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

Twentieth Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

More Blu-ray Captures

 


 

Box Covers

   

 

   

   

Also available individually on DVD here:

   

Distribution 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

Slim Keep Case Cover

 

Also available individually here:




 

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