The Quiet American Blu-ray

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

directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
USA 1958

A love triangle brews amidst a growing political tempest in this "brilliantly intellectual" (Los Angeles Times) film in which nothing is quite as it seems. Adapted from the acclaimed novel by Graham Greene, Academy Award®-winning* writer-director Joseph L. Mankiewicz's screenplay "delivers dialogue that not only sparkles but bites deep with the irony of truth" (Citizen-News). In 1952, Saigon is caught between the corrupt colonial powers and the Communist uprising. An idealistic young American (Audie Murphy) champions a shadowy Third Force, but cynical British journalist Thomas Fowler (Michael Redgrave) is concerned only with the American's interest in his mistress. When jealousy forces Fowler to take sides at last, the personal and political consequences are devastating.

Poster

Theatrical Release: February 5th, 1958

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Comparison:

MGM - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT

Box Covers
Distribution	MGM - Region 1 - NTSC	Twilight Time Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	2:01:44	2:02:01.355
Video	1.62:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.59 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 33,364,722,094 bytes Feature: 32,750,125,056 bytes Video Bitrate: 29.99 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0), DUB: French (Dolby Digital 2.0)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1960 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1960 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Isolated Score: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1771 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1771 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles	English, French, Spanish, None	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: MGM Home Video Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 1.62:1 Edition Details: • none DVD Release Date: April 19th, 2005 Keep Case Chapters: 16	Release Information: Studio: Twilight Time 1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 33,364,722,094 bytes Feature: 32,750,125,056 bytes Video Bitrate: 29.99 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Isolated Music Track with Some Effects • Original Theatrical Trailer (2:15) • Liner notes by Julie Kirgo • Limited to 3,000 Copies! Blu-ray Release Date: May, 2017 Black-Standard Blu-ray case Chapters: 24

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Twilight Time - Region FREE Blu-ray June 2017': Twilight Time's new 1080P is on a dual-layered disc with a high bitrate. It so refreshing compared to the lackluster, non-anamorphic, MGM DVD from 2005. The 1.85:1 aspect ratio shows more information in the frame on the left edge and lose some on the bottom of the frame. The visuals are brighter, crisper and the contrast is significantly more layered. It looks significantly better - it was like seeing the film for the first time.

Twilight Time use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (24-bit). It is an obvious improvement over the SD with more demonstrative, deeper, effects and consistent, clear dialogue. The score by Mario Nascimbene (When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth, The Barefoot Contessa, Barabbas, A Farewell to Arms, Love in the City) gains benefit from the uncompressed transfer and plays well with the occasional action and augmenting the film's established tone. It is also available in an isolated score (with some effects). There are optional English subtitles and the Blu-ray disc is region FREE - limited to 3,000 copies.

Only a trailer and liner notes by Julie Kirgo. I wasn't fully invested in The Quiet American that I wasn't overly impressed with when seeing it years ago. But the the improved a/v did, again, make a difference and I will re-visit, this politically interesting effort, it in the future. I got more out of it but some important extras or a commentary would embolden appreciation further.

***

ON THE DVD: MGM put out some very poor DVDs.... and this is no exception. Non-progressive (rife with combing), non-anamorphic, yellow subtitles , no extras and to be frank - the modest transfer did not make this a worthwhile viewing.