Broken Arrow Blu-ray Jimmy Stewart

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

directed by Delmer Daves
USA 1950

Along with the lesser known ”Devils Doorway” (Anthony Mann, 1950), ”Broken Arrow” was the first film to treat Indians in a serious manner. Prior to these films, Indians were reduced to prop-status, posing dangers for stagecoaches and farmers, but with “Broken Arrow”, the Indians were shown as a people with problems, with traditions and with a heart – and mind. Later films would take up on this and directly accuse the Indian Bureau and Washington for the mistreatment of Indians.

Retired army captain Tom Jeffords (James Stewart) aids a deadly wounded Apache boy back to life and thus comes face to face with the more human side of the Apaches. As the war between the white man and the Apaches now is running on its tenth year, Jeffords believes that he can make peace by creating a dialogue between the two sides, thus learns the speak Apache and goes to meet their leader, Cochise (Jeff Chandler).

This is also a perfect film for James Stewart, who, while already had begun his, what would become legendary collaboration with Mann with “Winchester '73” the year prior, here is more sympathetically and nice-guy. But in retrospective, what a risk to take as an actor.

This was basically dynamite material back in the 50s, and MGM actually held back “Devils Doorway” because of the sympathy with the Indians, but later released it, after the success of “Broken Arrow”. So despite “Devils Doorway” being the better film, “Broken Arrow” takes, and deserves, the credit for making Indians appear as human beings. A monumental Western.

Henrik Sylow

Posters

Theatrical Release: July 21st, 1950

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Comparison:

Optimum Classics (Western Classics) - Region 2 - PAL vs. 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC vs. Sidonis - Region 'B' - Blu-ray vs. Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

1) Optimum - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT

2) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Sidonis - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - THIRD

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

Big thanks to Henrik Sylow for the DVD Review!

Box Covers

Distribution	Optimum Classics Region 2 - PAL	20th Century Fox Region 1 - NTSC	Sidonis Region 'B' - Blu-ray	Kino Lorber Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:28:51 (4% PAL speedup)	1:32:36	1:32:42.056	1:32:42.390
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.40 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 8.72 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 29,571,558,206 bytes Feature: 24,778,389,504 bytes Video Bitrate: 30.00 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video	1.33:1 Disc Size: 19,977,759,324 bytes Feature Size: 18,766,651,392 bytes Total Bitrate: 23.92 Mbps Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate PAL
Bitrate NTSC
Bitrate: Sidonis Blu-ray
Bitrate: Kino Blu-ray
Audio	2.0 Dolby Digital Mono	English (Dolby Digital mono), English (Dolby Digital 2.0), DUBs French (Dolby Digital mono), Spanish (Dolby Digital mono)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 2045 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2045 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio French 1577 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1577 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1556 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1556 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Subtitles	None	English, Spanish, None	French (forced when English audio is chosen)	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Optimum Classics Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • None DVD Release Date: February 21, 2005 Keep case Chapters 12	Release Information: Studio: 20th Century Fox Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • 2 Fox MovieTone Newsreels • Pressbook and poster gallery • Trailer • Restoration credits DVD Release Date: May 22nd, 2007 Keep case Chapters 28	Release Information: Studio: Sidonis Aspect Ratio: - 2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 29,571,558,206 bytes Feature: 24,778,389,504 bytes Video Bitrate: 30.00 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Introduction by Patrick Brion (22:20) • Bernard Tavernier (16:27) Blu-ray Release Date: April 24th, 2012 Standard Blu-ray case inside cardboard slipcase Chapters 12	Release Information: Studio: Kino 1.33:1 Disc Size: 19,977,759,324 bytes Feature Size: 18,766,651,392 bytes Total Bitrate: 23.92 Mbps Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 Video Edition Details: • Fox MovieTone Newsreel (0:58) • Trailers for *Broken Arrow* (1:59), *No Highway in the Sky* (2:09), *Ten Seconds To Hell* (2:14) and *Tales of Terror* (2:21) Blu-ray Release Date: April 18th, 2017 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters:8

Comments

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

ADDITION: Kino - Region 'A' Blu-ray - April 2017: Wow - almost 5 years ago I threw the Sidonis Blu-ray into a snow bank before urinating on it. The image quality is about the same with Kino's new 1080P - except, of course, the Kino is vastly preferred as it DOESN'T HAVE NON-REMOVABLE FRENCH SUBTITLES!

This is, pretty much, the whole story - Kino use a slightly lesser DTS-Master HD for the sound at only 16-bit. The score is composed by Hugo Friedhofer (Between Heaven and Hell, Man in the Attic, Ace in the Hole, Body and Soul, Gilda, The Bishop's Wife). Kino offer optional English subtitles and their Blu-ray disc is region 'A'-locked.

The only extras are 4 trailers (Broken Arrow, No Highway in the Sky, Ten Seconds To Hell and Tales of Terror ) and a Foxtone Newsreel sporting the new 50 stars flag with Stewart and Paget.

A must-own western for fans of the genre. I'm so relieved to have the Kino - strongly recommended!

***

ADDITION: Sidonis - Region 'B' Blu-ray - May 2012: Shameful... as Bill informs us - some of these new French Blu-rays (like Pork Chop Hill) - on many players - will NOT remove the French subtitles when the original English audio is chosen. We've seen this in the past from some DVDs out of France. In a word 'silly'. As opposed to making a list of Blu-ray machines that will play the film in its original theatrical state (English language without forced subtitles) - we only confirm that HTPC software may be the most reliable method for viewing. If you know you player is capable of removing subtitles both 'on the fly' and when 'forced' with a specific language option - you will probably be safe. The menu screens do not allow this option - which we can now presume means many players will be ineffectual at at desirable level of viewing.

As far as the image goes - I think this may be more correct color-wise than either DVD. It is dual-layered with a high bitrate but has some smearing and I wouldn't say it is visually perfect - but easily superior to the SD treatments. We get lossless audio that sounds very competent handling the Hugo Friedhofer score. The subtitle issues is discussed above - most may only watch this in a French DUB or with English language and forced French subtitles.

Extras have Brion and Tavernier in two separate pieces discussing the film and Delmer Daves - only in French - no subtitles.

I think most should pass on this and hope the transfer is lent to someone, probably in the UK, like Optimum who won't have forced subtitles. It's a solid western but the Fox DVD is a mass of green crap... have patience, friends.

***

ADDITION: 20th Century Fox - NTSC - May 07': Although I am still not fully satisfied that either of these editions are representing the accurate colors - the new dual-layered 'restored' Fox edition is marred by the heavy green like some telecine had an unknown depressed button. It has probably had some digital touch-ups but may be more desirable next to the washed-out Optimum edition. Henrik (below) identified some color alignment inaccuracies in the PAL releases as well.

Other differences are that the NTSC offers some subtitle options, stereo mix and mono audio options and gives some supplements - albeit basic ones (2 Fox MovieTone newsreels, pressbook/poster gallery and trailer).

Classic and important western that we strongly recommend seeing the film for fans of the genre.

- Gary Tooze

***

ON THE OPTIMUM: The image has, at times for a short while, minor flaws in form of Technicolor frames not being in alignment and lack of "focus" (in lack of a better word). But apart from these very briefly flaws, the image is beautiful.

Sound is original mono and dialogue is clear. No noise.

- Henrik Sylow

Menus

(Optimum Classics - Region 2 - PAL LEFT vs. 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC RIGHT)