Written on the Wind Blu-ray

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

directed by Douglas Sirk
USA 1956

Bathed in lurid Technicolor, melodrama maestro Douglas Sirk’s Written on the Wind is the stylishly debauched tale of a Texas oil magnate brought down by the excesses of his spoiled offspring. Features an all-star quartet that includes Robert Stack as a pistol-packin’ alcoholic playboy; Lauren Bacall as his long-suffering wife; Rock Hudson as his earthy best friend; and Dorothy Malone (who won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance) as his nymphomaniac sister.

***

Mitch Wayne (Rock Hudson) is a geologist working for the Hadleys, an oil-rich Texas family. While the patriarch, Jared (Robert Keith), works hard to establish the family business, his irresponsible son, Kyle (Robert Stack), is an alcoholic playboy, and his daughter, Marylee (Dorothy Malone), is the town tramp. Mitch harbors a secret love for Kyle's unsatisfied wife, Lucy (Lauren Bacall) -- a fact that leaves him exposed when the jealous Marylee accuses him of murder.

Posters

Theatrical Release: December - 1956 - USA

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Comparison:

Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Universal - Region 2 - PAL vs. Elephant Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Big thanks to our good friend Christian at for the Universal Screen captures!

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Universal - Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) Elephant Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT

Box Covers
			Coming to Blu-ray from Criterion in February 2022:
Distribution	Criterion Collection - Spine # 96 - Region 0 - NTSC	Universal Video Publishing Region 2 - PAL	Elephant Films Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:39:36	1:35:21 (4% PAL speedup)	1:39:30.381
Video	1.75:1 Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.54 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.86:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 8.66 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	2.0:1 Disc Size: 22,499,886,870 bytes Feature Size: 19,103,483,904 bytes Total Bitrate: 19.98 Mbps Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC
Bitrate - Blu-ray
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 1.0)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby) , DUBs: French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby), German (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1927 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1927 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio French 2057 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2057 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles	English, None	English (hoh), French, German, Dutch, Polish, Czech, Hungarian and none	French, and none
Features	Release Information: Studio: Criterion / Home Vision Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 1.75:1 Edition Details: • The Melodrama Archive: An annotated filmography of director Douglas Sirk with hundreds of behind-the-scenes and production photos, plus vintage lobby cards • Original theatrical trailers for Written on the Wind and All That Heaven Allows • Liner notes by noted film theorist Laura Mulvey DVD Release Date: June 19th, 2001 Keep Case Chapters: 23	Release Information: Studio: Universal (Europe) Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 1.86:1 Edition Details: • Trailer DVD Release Date: February 21st, 2005 Keep Case Chapters: 18	Release Information: Studio: Elephant Films 2.0:1 Disc Size: 22,499,886,870 bytes Feature Size: 19,103,483,904 bytes Total Bitrate: 19.98 Mbps Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC Edition Details: • Le Film Par Jean-Pierre Dionnet (13:26) � Stills Gallery (2:29) • Credits / trailer • Second disc DVD included! Blu-ray Release Date: May 3rd, 2016 Transparent Blu-ray case inside cardboard slipcase Chapters 13

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Elephant Films - Region FREE- Blu-ray - March 17': The 1080p looks pretty sweet - even single-layered with a modest bitrate. It is brighter than the SD transfers, detail notable rises and contrast has more layers. Skin tones cool - colors look more realistic and there is now depth apparent. It is also, thankfully, in the correct 2.0:1 aspect ratio. Bravo Elephant Films!

DTS-HD Master (24-bit) 2.0 channel sounds great - the score by Frank Skinner (Canyon Passage, Magnificent Obsession, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, All That Heaven Allows, and The Naked City) tightens and adds significantly to the film experience, in this reviewers opinion. There is an untested French DUB. Only French subtitles but they are removable when the English-language option is chosen. Great news is that the Blu-ray disc is Region FREE. It starts with the Universal logo.

Only a pittance of extras and only in French but the film's impact advances dramatically in HD making this very desirable. Absolutely recommended!

***

ON THE DVDs: Firstly, the Universal PAL edition is sold in the UK and in Germany under the same ASIN#. The only difference is in the language of the menus and the cover.

Both editions look fantastic... but they are different. I think a decision on superiority may simply come down to personal preference (as it always does). I think both versions are equally as sharp, and although I would initially tend to lean to the Criterion, I suspect it is only that the image is brighter, not necessarily sharper. Both editions show good film grain and both are framed slightly differently for DVD. Because the Criterion is brighter the colors are very slightly different. It is impossible to know which is most accurate. Honestly, I think the Universal may be the truer film-like appearance, but its is hard to say with any measure of assurance. The Criterion may be more appealing to some as it is brighter and the colors are, hence, more vibrant. Contrast and black levels looks very good on both. The Criterion has the better extras, but if you are not interested in them, then it makes sense to buy the less expensive Universal edition if you are not bothered by it being slightly darker.

- Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

(Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Universal - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)