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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
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Theatrical Release: February 22nd, 1968
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Box Cover |
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Re-released by Indicator on Blu-ray in February 2025: 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-rayDisc Size: 22,424,554,514 bytesFeature: 21,098,182,656 bytes Video Bitrate: 24.54 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
2.35 :1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 35,739,792,979 bytesFeature: 27,618,266,496 bytes Video Bitrate: 29.95 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate Kino Blu-ray: |
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Bitrate Indicator Blu-ray: |
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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) 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 Dolby
Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -30dB 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-rayDisc Size: 22,424,554,514 bytesFeature: 21,098,182,656 bytes Video Bitrate: 24.54 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details:
• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve
Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson
Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 9 |
Release Information: Studio: Indicator
2.35 :1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 35,739,792,979 bytesFeature: 27,618,266,496 bytes Video Bitrate: 29.95 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details:
• Audio commentary with writers and film experts Barry Forshaw and Kim
Newman (2022)
• Isolated Music and Effects Track
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!
***
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!
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Menus / Extras
Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
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Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
1) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP2) Indicator - Region 'B'- Blu-ray BOTTOM |