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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

directed by Max Ophuls
USA 1948

 

Of all the cinema's fables of doomed love, none is more piercing than this. Fontaine nurses an undeclared childhood crush on her next-door neighbour, a concert pianist (Jourdan); much later, he adds her to his long list of conquests, makes her pregnant - and forgets all about her. Ophüls' endlessly elaborate camera movements, forever circling the characters or co-opting them into larger designs, expose the impasse with hallucinatory clarity: we see how these people see each other and why they are hopelessly, inextricably stuck.

Excerpt from TimeOut Film Guide located HERE

 

Posters

 

Theatrical Release: April 28th, 1948

Olive's first 'Signature' Blu-ray releases:

 Macbeth

(1948)

 High Noon (1952)

 Johnny Guitar (1954)

The Night of the Grizzly

(1966)

 The Quiet Man (1952)

 Hannie Caulder

(1971)

 Father Goose (1964)

Operation Petticoat

(1959)

Reviews                                                                                  More Reviews                                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Comparison: 

Wild Side Vidéo (Out-of-print) - Region 0 - PAL vs. Second Sight - Region 2- PAL vs. Olive Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Olive Films (Signature) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

1) Wild Side Video - Region 0 - PAL LEFT
2) Second Sight - Region 2- PAL - SECOND
3) Olive Film - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD
4) Olive Film (Signature) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray RIGHT
 
Box Cover

.

  

All 4 Second Sight Ophuls Films/DVD

Distribution

Wild Side Vidéo

Region 0 - PAL

Second Sight

Region 2 - PAL

Olive Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray Olive Films (Signature) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:23:27 (4% PAL speedup) 1:23:30 (4% PAL speedup) 1:27:24.822 1:27:24.113

Video

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 8.42 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.4 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 15,920,075,475 bytes

Feature: 15,798,079,488 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 22.00 Mbps

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 41,075,221,282 bytes

Feature: 26,948,917,248 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 35.00 Mbps

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

Bitrate : Wild Side Vidéo

Bitrate: Second Sight

Bitrate: Blu-ray

Bitrate: Blu-ray

Audio English (Dolby Digital Mono) English (Dolby Digital Mono) DTS-HD Master Audio English 891 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 891 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit)

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1787 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1787 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 2000 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2000 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)

Subtitles French (non-removable) None None English (SDH), None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Wild Side Video

Aspect Ratio - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Audio Commentary by Philippe Roger
• Presentation of the film by Noël Herpe
• A propos de Max Ophüls, interviews with Noël Herpe (15:05 min) and Ulla de Colstoun (06:26 min)
• Filmographies
• Photo Gallery
• 8-pages Booklet with Liner Notes by Philippe Garnier
• Web Links

DVD Release Date: 2 September 2003
Digipak Case
Chapters: 8

Release Information:
Studio: Second Sight
 

Aspect Ratio - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Video Essay by Tag Gallagher

 

DVD Release Date: September 18th, 2006
Keep Case
Chapters: 16

Release Information:
Studio: Olive Films

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1

1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 15,920,075,475 bytes

Feature: 15,798,079,488 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 22.00 Mbps

Edition Details:

• none 

Blu-ray Release Date: October 16th, 2012
Standard Blu-ray Case
Chapters: 8

Release Information:
Studio: Olive Siganture

Aspect Ratio:

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 41,075,221,282 bytes

Feature: 26,948,917,248 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 35.00 Mbps

Edition Details:

• Audio commentary by Max Ophüls expert Lutz Bacher
• “A Deal Made in a Turkish Bath” – interview with Oscar-winning  documentarian Marcel Ophüls (13:22)
• “An Independent Woman: Changing sensibilities in a post-war Hollywood” – interview with Professor Dana Polan (16:35)
• “Ophülsesque: The Look of Letter from an Unknown Woman” – with cinematographers Ben Kasulke and Sean Price Williams (17:35)
• “Letter from An Unknown Woman: Passion’s Triumph” – visual essay by film scholar Tag Gallagher (24:28)
• Essay by critic Molly Haskell (7:32)

Blu-ray Release Date: December 5th, 2017
Transparent Blu-ray Case inside cardboard slipcase
Chapters: 8

 

 

Comments

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

ADDITION: Olive Signature - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - December 17': The upgraded 1080P transfer is from a 4K restoration and is, finally, dual-layered supported with a max'ed out bitrate - more than double that of Olive's own 2012 Blu-ray. The huge notable difference though is in the ratios - with the older Olive being 1.33;1 and vertically squeezed (thinner faces) and the newer Signature transfer showing a shade less on the right edge, is in the more accurate 1.37:1 and has wider, fatter faces - which tends to look more accurate to my eye. This is most apparent when toggling between the full resolution screen captures. The 4K-restoration is, authentically darker and far more film-like in-motion. Beside it, the 2012 1080P looks boosted. Grain is far better supported in the new Signature edition.

The audio transfer also upgrades from 16-bit to 24-bit - still, lossless, DTS-HD Master tracks. This is evident in the score by Daniele Amfitheatrof (Edge of Eternity, The Lost Moment, The Desperate Hours, Human Desire) that sounds tight, augmenting the emotional atmosphere and romance of the evolving story. There are optional  yellow, English subtitles (see sample below) but this time the disc is Region 'A'-locked and this Signature Blu-ray release is a limited edition pressing of 3,500 units with no more than 5 per household.

While the 2012 was bare-bones, there are plenty of supplements here in the Signature release starting with an audio commentary by Max Ophüls expert Lutz Bacher, author of Max Ophuls in the Hollywood Studios. It's a bit dry, reading from text, a few gaps and while I didn't find his tone engaging - there are plenty of interesting facts exported. “A Deal Made in a Turkish Bath” is a 13-minute interview with Oscar-winning documentarian Marcel Ophüls (The Sorrow and the Pity) - on of the director giving details of his father and his work and style. “An Independent Woman: Changing sensibilities in a post-war Hollywood” is a 17-minute interview with Professor Dana Polan and I enjoyed the analysis. “Ophülsesque: The Look of Letter from an Unknown Woman” has cinematographers Ben Kasulke and Sean Price Williams talking about the director's unique style for over 17-minutes. I loved Tag Gallagher's 25-minute visual essay “Letter from An Unknown Woman: Passion’s Triumph” and there is also an essay by critic Molly Haskell.

Easily the Olive Signature is the definitive Blu-ray edition, although I have not seen the French Carlotta edition available HERE. Letter From an Unknown Woman is a must-own film, imo. The 4K-restored transfer, commentary and extras make it essential. This has our strongest recommendation!

***

ADDITION: Olive Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray - October 12': The improvement in the 1080P video is evident here - noticeable by the screen capture comparisons. Details tighten and artifacts morph into film-grain. Contrast has deeper layered in HD. I think it looks quite nice although technically could be far more robust. There is more information in the frame on all  4 edges but, depending on how discerning you are, or your system - this is not a demonstrative superiority - but it certainly exists. The Blu-ray , I think - is the North American debut of this masterpiece film that never came out in NTSC on DVD - so we have that benefit as well - no PAL speedup. The audio has a lossless upgrade but remains modest and there are no subtitles. It remains bare-bones with no extras. I still adore Ophuls' film - and this is a worthy part of every digital collection. Fabulous cover too! The film is very strongly recommended!

***

ON THE DVDs: As the Wild Side Video Collector's Edition DVD is very Out-of-Print this comparison was primarily done to identify any irregularities - especially in the framing. I'm pleased to report that there are none of any significance.

I'd say the French DVD looks superior - with less visible artifacts, but the UK DVD is not fatally behind. The Wild Side appears to have richer black levels and is a bit smoother, but the Second Sight shows the faux-grain (which I like). The Wild Side has non-removable French subtitles, and the Second Sight offers none. I didn't notice any strong differences in audio (both offer original English only).

Extras: The Wild Side is stacked, but unfortunately (for us) nothing is in English (Noël Herpe Introduction etc.). The Second Sight has the least of all 4 Ophuls films/DVDs released at this time. This has an interesting 23 minute Tag Gallagher video essay. It always a pleasure to hear Tag's essential input - I hope he is used much more in future supplements.

Overall the French DVD is a classic, but weighing all factors (availability, Tag's video essay in English) - I'd say picking up the Second Sight is a great decision. I feel this way about all the other Ophuls Second Sight DVDs as well. Brilliant cinema and the digital presentations are a very welcome effort. Bravo Second Sight!

 - Gary Tooze

 


 Menus

 

(Wild Side Vidéo - Region 0 - PAL LEFT vs. Second Sight - Region 2- PAL RIGHT)

 

 

Olive Film - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

Olive Film (Signature) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


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

 

Subtitle Sample Olive Film (Signature) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

 
1) Olive Film - Region FREE - Blu-ray LEFT
2) Olive Film (Signature) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray RIGHT
 

 

1) Wild Side Video - Region 0 - PAL TOP
2) Second Sight - Region 2- PAL - SECOND
3) Olive Film - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD
4) Olive Film (Signature) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 

 

1) Wild Side Video - Region 0 - PAL TOP
2) Second Sight - Region 2- PAL - SECOND
3) Olive Film - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD
4) Olive Film (Signature) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 

 

1) Wild Side Video - Region 0 - PAL TOP
2) Second Sight - Region 2- PAL - SECOND
3) Olive Film - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD
4) Olive Film (Signature) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 

1) Wild Side Video - Region 0 - PAL TOP
2) Second Sight - Region 2- PAL - SECOND
3) Olive Film - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD
4) Olive Film (Signature) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 

1) Wild Side Video - Region 0 - PAL TOP
2) Second Sight - Region 2- PAL - SECOND
3) Olive Film - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD
4) Olive Film (Signature) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 

More Blu-ray Captures

 

Report Card:

 

Image:

Signature Blu-ray

Sound:

Signature Blu-ray

Extras: Signature Blu-ray

 
Box Cover

.

  

All 4 Second Sight Ophuls Films/DVD

Distribution

Wild Side Vidéo

Region 0 - PAL

Second Sight

Region 2 - PAL

Olive Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray Olive Films (Signature) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray




 

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Gary Tooze

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