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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Don Siegel
USA 1968

 

From Don Siegel, the legendary director of Dirty Harry, Charley Varrick, The Black Windmill and Escape from Alcatraz comes this hardboiled crime-drama starring screen greats Richard Widmark (Backlash) and Henry Fonda (The Ox-Bow Incident). This critically acclaimed detective drama takes a hard-hitting look at the lives and loves of New York City’s top cops. Directed in gripping documentary style by Siegel, Widmark portrays the veteran Big Apple detective who is given only a few hours to track down a vicious killer. Fonda is the humane yet relentlessly forceful police commissioner who orders Widmark into the streets to solve the case, even though it might be his last assignment. The top-notch cast includes Inger Stevens (Firecreek), Harry Guardino (The Enforcer), James Whitmore (Them!), Susan Clark (Valdez Is Coming), Don Stroud (Coogan’s Bluff), Sheree North (Breakout), Warren Stevens (Forbidden Planet) and Raymond St. Jacques (Cotton Comes to Harlem). Screenplay by Abraham Polonsky (Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here) and Howard Rodman (The Six Million Dollar Man) with stunning CinemaScope cinematography by acclaimed DP Russell Metty (Touch of Evil).

***

It's a seemingly peaceful spring morning in New York City -- graduation day at the Police Academy -- and Police Commissioner Anthony X. Russell (Henry Fonda) is looking forward to giving a speech to the new officers. But all isn't well: Russell's been given apparently incontrovertible evidence that his oldest friend, Chief Inspector Charles Kane (James Whitmore), is shaking down a bar owner, and a black minister (Raymond St. Jacques) is claiming that his son was brutalized when he was picked up for questioning in a rape/assault case. Then Russell gets a call informing him that two first-grade detectives, Daniel Madigan (Richard Widmark) and Rocco Bonaro (Harry Guardino), allowed small-time hood Barney Benesch (Steve Ihnat) to get the drop on them, steal their guns, and escape while they were trying to pick him up for questioning at the request of Brooklyn detectives -- and Benesch is now a suspect in that earlier murder in Brooklyn. Madigan has other problems, including the fact that the commissioner -- his ex-captain -- doesn't trust him, always believing him to be a loose cannon who has taken advantage of the badge in accepting favors and cutting corners where peoples' rights were concerned. Madigan also has a beautiful, upwardly mobile wife (Inger Stevens) who loves him but can't abide all the time his job takes him away from her or crimps her socializing; and he has never fully gotten over Jonesy (Sheree North), a saloon singer he knew before he was married. Madigan and Bonaro are given 72 hours to bring in Benesch and begin beating the bushes for leads.

Excerpt from B+N located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: February 22nd, 1968

Reviews                                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Box Cover

  

or buy directly from Indicator:

BONUS CAPTURES:

Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:41:03.057         1:40:47.207   
Video

2.35:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 22,424,554,514 bytes

Feature: 21,098,182,656 bytes

Video Bitrate: 24.54 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 35,739,792,979 bytes

Feature: 27,618,266,496 bytes

Video Bitrate: 29.95 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate Kino Blu-ray:

Bitrate Indicator Blu-ray:

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1554 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1554 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Commentary:

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

LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -30dB
Isolated Music and Effects:

LPCM Audio Undetermined 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit

Subtitles English, None English (SDH), None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Kino

 

2.35:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 22,424,554,514 bytes

Feature: 21,098,182,656 bytes

Video Bitrate: 24.54 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson
• TV Spots (3:35)
• Theatrical Trailer (2:27)


Blu-ray Release Date:
November 12th, 2019
Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 9

Release Information:
Studio:
Indicator

 

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 35,739,792,979 bytes

Feature: 27,618,266,496 bytes

Video Bitrate: 29.95 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• Audio commentary with writers and film experts Barry Forshaw and Kim Newman (2022)
• Richard Widmark on ‘Madigan’ (1983): extract from the French television programme Cinéma cinémas (7:24)
• Super 8 version: cut-down home cinema presentation (17:54)

• Isolated Music and Effects Track
• Original theatrical trailer (2:27)
• Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography
• Limited edition exclusive 32-page booklet with a new essay by Elena Lazic, an archival interview with Don Siegel, an extract from A Siegel Film, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits


Blu-ray Release Date:
August 29th, 2022
Transparent Blu-ray Case

Chapters 12

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (August 2022): Indicator have also transferred Don Siegel's Madigan to Blu-ray. While this is on a dual-layered disc and has a higher bitrate than the 2019 Kino 1080P - the differences are almost non-existent. I might give a small edge to the Indicator's appearance in-motion, but colors, detail, contrast are almost exactly the same. 

NOTE: We have added 46 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Indicator use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. Madigan has an 'old fashioned' score by Don Costa (Rough Night in Jerico), with striking cues. It does advance upon the 16-bit Kino sounding a shade deeper and more impacting in spots. Indicator offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

Indicator include a new commentary by writers Barry Forshaw (author the BFI Film Classics' The War of the Worlds book) and Kim Newman (author of Anno Dracula 1999: Daikaiju). They initially talk about the credit name 'Donald' Siegel, as opposed to 'Don' determining that there was no specific reason for it. They state that Siegel said this was the most talented cast he had ever worked with. They discuss this as a transitional film with some political themes. They talk about the screenwriter Abraham Polonsky, the cast and much more about the production with tangential links to other films. It's at their usual very high standard and worth the listen. Indicator also add a 7.5-minute extract of an interview with Richard Widmark about ‘Madigan’ from the 1983 French television programme Cinéma cinémas. Included is the paired down Super 8 version running shy of 18-minutes, an original theatrical trailer and their usual image gallery of on-set and promotional photography. The package has a limited edition exclusive 32-page booklet with a new essay by Elena Lazic, an archival interview with Don Siegel, an extract from A Siegel Film, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits.

Technically, Indicator's Blu-ray advances in the a/v of their transfer of Don Siegel's Madigan. It offers a new commentary, a rarely seen Widmark interview, other supplements including a 32-page booklet. Madigan has the director's efficiency and sexiness creating a different style of police drama - as they state in the Kino commentary "fresh for its time". It's a Neo-Noir that works on a few levels - flawed, duplicitous, characters and their interpersonal relationships, some procedural detective work, depth within the occupational hazards of being a cop (or Commissioner) and a final shoot-out. Gotta give the Indicator the nod for those who want the best Blu-ray edition. Although made in 1968 - it has elements of the tough, realism of 70's police dramas that many find so appealing. This is certainly recommended!  

***

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (October 2019): Kino have transferred Don Siegel's Madigan to Blu-ray. It is on a single-layered disc with a reasonable bitrate. It looked pretty good on my system. Not dynamic but film-like, a shade of inconsistency, but true colors with some richness and pleasing contrast. The 1080P services the film presentation very well.

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (16-bit) in the original English language. Madigan has an interesting score by Don Costa, sounding a deep and atmospheric in an unusual manner - there is consistent and clear dialogue. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray have a new audio commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson. These guys are great together - they reveal the conflict with Siegel and producer Frank P. Rosenberg with specific anecdotes. They find interesting details (the sans-serif font of the titles being used in TV shows like Columbo and McCloud) in Siegel's direction, the locations, Russell Metty's, less-remarkable, cinematography, relationship to the TV show Naked City and much more referencing other films and past interviews. It definitely helps with appreciation of this excellent late 60's cop drama. There are also TV Spots and a theatrical trailer as supplements.

I really enjoyed my viewing on Blu-ray. With the highly valuable commentary this is a definite recommendation! 

Gary Tooze

 


Menus / Extras

 

Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

 

Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 


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

 

1) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Indicator - Region 'B'- Blu-ray  BOTTOM

 


1) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Indicator - Region 'B'- Blu-ray  BOTTOM

 


1) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Indicator - Region 'B'- Blu-ray  BOTTOM

 


1) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Indicator - Region 'B'- Blu-ray  BOTTOM

 


1) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Indicator - Region 'B'- Blu-ray  BOTTOM

 

 


 

More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE

 

 


Box Cover

  

or buy directly from Indicator:

BONUS CAPTURES:

Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray


 


 

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