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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(aka 'Bend of the Snake' or 'Where the River Bends')
Glyn McLyntock (James Stewart) is escorting a wagon train to Portland, when he
stops to save Emerson Cole (Arthur Kennedy) from being lynched. The new buddies
help fight off a pack of marauding Indians as the settlers bunk down for the
evening, but their friendship eventually turns to a bitter hatred fueled by the
greed of the crazed Gold Rush fever. Gambler Trey Wilson (Rock Hudson) is
choosing sides. Making new vows Glyn must face his notorious past to join the
familial settlement on the river's bend. |
Poster
Theatrical Release: January 23rd, 1952 - Oregon - USA
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Universal (Westerns Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal (James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Koch Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
1) Universal (Westerns Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT 2) Universal (James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND 3) Koch Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD 3) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray RIGHT
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Box Cover |
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Distribution | Universal Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC | Universal Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC | Koch Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray | Kino Media - Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:31:06 | 1:31:06 | 1:31:05.042 | 1:31:06.461 |
Video | 1.37:1
Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.74 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
1.37:1
Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.74 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
1080P / 23.976 fps Single-layered Disc Size: 23,254,016,752 bytesFeature: 22,635,988,992 bytesVideo Bitrate: 27.98Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
1080P / 23.976 fps Single-layered Disc Size: 22,975,911,061 bytesFeature: 20,836,644,864 bytesVideo Bitrate: 27.04Codec: 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: Koch Media Blu-ray |
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Bitrate: Kino Blu-ray |
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Audio | English (Dolby Digital 2.0), DUB: French (Dolby Digital 2.0) | English (Dolby Digital 2.0), DUB: French (Dolby Digital 2.0) |
DTS-HD Master Audio English 894 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 894 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit) DUBs:
DTS-HD Master Audio German 889 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 889 kbps / 16-bit (DTS
Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio English 626 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 626 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 320 kbps / 16-bit) |
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1555 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1555 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 |
Subtitles | English, Spanish, French, None | English, Spanish, French, None | English, German, None | English, None |
Features |
Release Information: Edition Details: •
Theatrical trailer (4:3) - 1:48 |
Release Information: Edition Details: • Theatrical trailer (4:3) - 1:48
set contains - Destry Rides Again / Winchester 73 / Bend
of the River / The Far Country / Night Passage / The Rare Breed |
Release Information: Studio: Koch Media Aspect Ratio:
1.37:1 1080P / 23.976 fps Single-layered Disc Size: 23,254,016,752 bytesFeature: 22,635,988,992 bytesVideo Bitrate: 27.98Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details: Blu-ray Release Date: August 10th, 2017 White Blu-ray Case Chapters 11 |
Release Information: Studio: Kino Aspect Ratio:
1.37:1 1080P / 23.976 fps Single-layered Disc Size: 22,975,911,061 bytesFeature: 20,836,644,864 bytesVideo Bitrate: 27.04Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details: • Theatrical Trailer (1:47) Blu-ray Release Date: April 16th, 2019 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 8 |
Comments: |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.
ADDITION: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray (April 2019): This is very similar to the Koch - skin tones are slightly warmer and the image minutely darker but it is not enough to pick-and-choose. It has the same minor color bleeding (see Simon's comments below) and same marks indicating it is from the same source. Technically both transfers are simple-layered with similar bitrates.
Kino has a slight edge in audio with a more roust DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel mono track. But it isn't very consequential. The Kino also offers English subtitles but is region 'A'-locked.
The big difference is that Kino add another excellent commentary by Toby Roan - who shares his extensive knowledge of westerns and the tinniest of details regarding the background of the production. He is always impressive. There is also a trailer.
Well, not a significant advancement in a/v but the commentary sells it. The Kino is warmly recommended for this classic Anthony Mann / Jimmy Stewart western genre effort.
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ADDITION: Koch Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray (October 2017): The 1080P can, for the most part, look quite pleasing but it has instances of color bleeding although it was minimal.
RE: Color bleeding, Simon tell us in email: "As you
probably know, this is inherent in only pre-1954 3-strip Technicolor
movies...... The 3 negatives shrink slightly at different rates.
Discerning eyes will notice it but overall the colors are brighter and richer than the older DVDs. My preference would have been for finer, more consistent, grain - it can tend to look blotchy. Detail advances and the score by Hans J. Salter (The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T., Man Without a Star, Cover Up, The Wolfman, The Mole People) via a lossless DTS-HD Master mono (in either English or German DUB options) - 16-bit - sounds very nice if lacking powerful depth. There are both optional English or German subtitles and the Blu-ray disc, starting with the Universal logo, is Region FREE. NOTE: the 2nd English track (4th, optional, track of the presentation) is an isolated effects and score track - also in DTS-HD Master.
Extras list a 'TV Synchro' which is the same video transfer but seem to offer an alternate German DUB (it starts with the 3rd track option - the second German track of the disc.) There is also a trailer, some artwork (mostly posters and titlecards) and another gallery with photos.
This is an imperfect video appearance - requires re-registering 3-strip - but I suspect it has more to do with the source and a restoration is required. The film, certainly warrants it, but will it ever come? I enjoyed seeing this classic on Blu-ray despite the weaknesses. A pure, Anthony Mann, western gem with a great cast. Winchester '73 and many more of the director-actor pairings need to be released on BD.
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ADDITION: James Stewart - The Western Collection contains Destry Rides Again / Winchester 73 / Bend of the River / The Far Country / Night Passage and The Rare Breed. These two Bend of the River editions are exactly the same - same 2003-dated VOB files. The only difference is that the cover is now a transparent slimcase with black and white art. I'd VERY high on this James Stewart - The Western Collection - we've reviewed/compared all titles now (links in paragraph above). For these six western gems the price amounts to $5 a piece which is really a ridiculous deal. Strongly recommended! ON THE ORIGINAL RELEASE: Don't fret over the Universal screen warning "This film has been modified from its original version. It has been formatted to fit your screen." - it was shot in 1.37 and this is how it is presented on this DVD. Dark with no digital manipulation and good colors, although skin tones seem quite reddish. This is a very sharp image and Universal have got a few of these from their Westerns Collection really right. No extras save a trailer but a damn good western and an above average image - tack on decent subtitles, original audio and a reasonable price and the formula equals - must buy status! out of |
James Stewart
- The Western Collection package
DVD Menus
NOTE: the editions are exactly the same (aside from a new slim case cover and black and white art!)
Koch Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Kino- Region 'A' - Blu-ray
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Subtitle Sample
1) Universal (Westerns Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Universal (James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND 3) Koch Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD 3) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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Subtitle Sample
NOTE: the DVD editions are exactly the same (aside from a slim case cover and black and white art!)
1) Universal (Westerns Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Universal (James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND 3) Koch Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD 3) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Universal (Westerns Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Universal (James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE 3) Koch Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Universal (Westerns Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Universal (James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND 3) Koch Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD 3) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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More Blu-ray Captures
1) Koch Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP 2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Koch Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP 2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Koch Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP 2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Koch Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP 2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Koch Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP 2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Koch Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP 2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Koch Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP 2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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More Blu-ray Captures