Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Disc:

Video:

Audio:

• The John Player Lecture with Burt Lancaster conducted by Joan Bakewell at the National Film Theatre, London on June 22nd, 1972 - audio only

• New interview with actor Tony Bill (2017, 18:20)
• Archival Interview with author William Eastlake (1968, 29:46)
• Original theatrical trailer (3:24)
• Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by critic Brad Stevens, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and historic articles on the film
• World premiere on Blu-ray
• Limited Dual Format Edition of 3,000 copies

DVD included

Bitrate:

 

 

 

The Film:

Once on location deep in a Yugoslavian forest, Pollack learned just what a picture of this scale meant. What was supposed to have been a three-month shoot beginning in March 1968 stretched six months through the summer. After a lot of winter footage was in the can, the weather turned unseasonably hot, melting the snow and bringing buds out on the trees. Cinematographer Henri Decae, famous for his work on Francois Truffaut's The Four Hundred Blows (1959), refused to go on, insisting the scenes wouldn't match, and had to be persuaded to shoot at night with marble dust filling in for the long-gone snow. Lee Zavits, the film's special effects director, took an intense dislike to the central set piece, a million-dollar 10th century "castle" made out of Styrofoam, and kept threatening after a few drinks to blow it up. Zavits never intentionally took that step, but while the climactic fire scene was being set up, some gasoline in the moat went up in flames and set the structure ablaze sooner than planned. Luckily, Decae captured the conflagration on film, but the castle had to be completely rebuilt to shoot two more scenes.

Excerpt from the NYTimes located HERE

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

Castle Keep looks solid on Blu-ray from Indicator in the UK. There are some very striking sequences captured impressively in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio. This is only single-layered with a more modest bitrate but the 1080P looks fine with grain texture and pleasing depth. The army combatants drab cache greens and grays contrast dynamically to the film's richer reds, bright lime greens and yellows. This Blu-ray offers a clean, consistent and competent HD presentation. No noise, artifacts or distracting complaints.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indicator use a linear PCM mono track (16-bit) and the option of a DTS-HD Master 4.0 channel (also 16-bit) - I believe the 70 mm showings of Castle Keep used 6-track audio (and was 2.2:1 AR). There was some separation in the 4.0 channel but neither track had substantial depth in the final sequence's explosions, gunfire etc. The score is by Michel Legrand (La Piscine, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, The Young Girls of Rochefort, A Woman is a Woman, Cleo From 5 to 7, Ice Station Zebra) and has an occasional lighter tone - not one of his more memorable compositions, imo. But it does sound very clear with some buoyancy in the lossless. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles and my Oppo has identified it as being a region FREE playable worldwide.

Extras :

Indicator add supplements. The John Player Lecture with Burt Lancaster was conducted by Joan Bakewell at the National Film Theatre in London on June 22nd, 1972 and plays as audio only to the showing of the film with the caveat of limited quality due to the source. There is a new, 18-minute, interview with actor Tony Bill, entitled 'The Lullaby of War' - recalling the location in Yugoslavia and his part in the film playing Lt. Amberjack. Included is an archival interview, from 1968, with author William Eastlake running just shy of 1/2 hour. Lastly is an original theatrical trailer and the package contains a limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by critic Brad Stevens, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and historic articles on the film and a second disc DVD - this dual format edition is limited to 3,000 copies

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
I had only seen Castle Keep many years ago and had forgotten most of it. I like the concept and the film has an interesting juxtaposition of high culture, with fine art and wine, horseback riding on a palatial estate, against battle-worn soldiers, prostitutes etc. It carries through in the colors where brightness represents civilization and faded colors are destruction. I thought the film was very well shot but the languid pacing may have deterred interest for some, although the final sequence is riveting. The Indicator Blu-ray. is up to their usual very high standards - with a solid HD presentation and some keen supplements. War film fans may appreciate the cerebral aspects of Castel Keep more than the blood-and-guts content. 

Gary Tooze

July 13th, 2017

Reissued in March of 2021: or buy directly from Indicator: