A Quiet Place in the Country Blu-ray

Search DVDBeaver

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

(aka "Un tranquillo posto di campagna" or "Un coin tranquille à la campagne")

directed by Elio Petri
Italy/France 1968

A prominent painter Leonardo (Franco Nero, Django, Hitch-Hike, Nymph) is plagued by nightmares that include himself and his lover/press agent Flavia (Vanessa Redgrave, The Devils). His agent is convinced that he just needs some rest. So, he rents a villa in the countryside. Between creating a new painting and trying to fix up the dilapidated cottage, Leonardo’s nightmares continue but … they are now getting worse. Will the nightmares continue and take the artist into a downward spiral into madness?

***

A tale of mental disintegration seen from the victim's viewpoint, A Quiet Place in the Country (1969, Italian title: Un tranquillo posto di campagna) is an often brilliant fusion of experimental filmmaking pyrotechnics and gothic horror conventions. Made in the wake of the blockbuster musical, Camelot (1967), where Vanessa Redgrave and Franco Nero first met and became lovers, this further collaboration between them, directed by Elio Petri, is decidedly less conventional and almost forgotten today. The only reason it probably received distribution in an English-dubbed version in the U.S. in 1970 was due to the tabloid notoriety of Redgrave and Nero, who were living together openly and had a child together. (They eventually separated but reunited and were legally married in 2006).

Excerpt from TCM located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: 14 August 1969 (France)

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Comparison:

MGM (Limited Edition Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Scream Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Eric Cotenas for the MGM (Limited Edition Collection) Screen Caps!

(MGM (Limited Edition Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Scream Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT)

Box Covers
Distribution	MGM Region 0 - NTSC	Scream Factory/Shout! Factory Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:46:08	1:46:12.240
Video	1.82:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.23 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 37,623,144,277 bytes Feature: 29,747,066,880 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 29.99 Mbps
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: MGM (Limited Edition Collection)
Bitrate: Scream Factory Blu-ray
Audio	English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono; Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 mono	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1692 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1692 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio Italian 1565 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1565 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Commentary: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1721 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1721 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles	English, none	English, none
Features	Release Information: Studio: MGM Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.82:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical Trailer (16:9; 2:07) DVD Release Date: 30 November 2011 Amaray Chapters	Release Information: Studio: Shout! Factory 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 37,623,144,277 bytes Feature: 29,747,066,880 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 29.99 Mbps Edition Details: • New Interview with Actor Franco Nero (32:07) • New Audio Commentary with Film Historian/Author Troy Howarth • Theatrical Trailer (2:09) Release Date: September 26th, 2017 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters: 15

Comments

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

ADDITION: Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray September 2017: This is described as being from the best existing sources. The 1080P transfer is on a dual-layered disc with a high bitrate. Flesh tones move to being more realistic (cooler and less orange). Detail rises and there is a fine sheen of grain. In my notes I mentioned a waxiness but I didn't see it in the screen captures. There is some frame-specific damage (see sample below) and it varies from emulsion anomalies to deep scratches but they only last briefly.

Shout! Factory give the option of English or Italian audio tracks in 24-bit, 2,0 channel mono, DTS-HD tracks. There are some disparate effects in the opening and scattered throughout. The score is by Ennio Morricone (The Fifth Cord, Luna, A Bullet for the General, Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion, U Turn, Stay As You Are etc. etc.) but as Troy Howarth describes in the commentary - not an easy listening experience. It does, however, suit the film's... unusualness. There are optional English subtitles (see sample below) on the Region 'A'-locked Blu-ray disc.

I really enjoyed the new audio commentary with Film Historian/Author Troy Howarth who really helps explain sopem of the subtler and less identifiable intricacies of the plot. He makes the point twice that A Quiet Place in the Country is certainly not a Giallo (and he would know - being author of So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films) Anyway, I felt like I learned a lot - he discuses both Franco Nero, Vanessa Redgrave - their relationship and plenty more. Very much worth the indulgence. There is also a new 1/2 hour interview with Franco Nero in Italian with English subtitles and he's good to follow. Lastly is a theatrical trailer.

I was ambivalent about this film, but this Blu-ray edition really advanced my appreciation - especially with the Howard commentary. Certainly a highly unusual film - even stylistically that you will note from the opening credits. Certainly recommended!

- Gary and Eric