The Strange One Blu-ray

We have started a Patreon page with the hopes that some of our followers would be willing to donate a small amount to keep DVDBeaver alive. We are a tiny niche, so your generosity is vital to our existence.

We are talking about a minimum of $0.10 - $0.15 a day, perhaps a quarter (or more) to those who won't miss it from their budget. It equates to buying DVDBeaver a coffee once, twice or a few times a month. You can then participate in our monthly Silent auctions, and have exclusive access to many 'bonus' High Resolution screen captures - both 4K UHD and Blu-ray (see HERE).

To those that are unfamiliar, Patreon is a secure/verified third-party service where users can agree to a monthly donation via credit card or PayPal by clicking the button below.

Search DVDBeaver

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

1) US Title TOP

2) IUK Title - BOTTOM

Directed by Jack Garfein
USA 1957

Legendary actor Ben Gazzara made his feature film debut in The Strange One, recreating his Broadway role in Calder Willingham's gripping "End as a Man." Gazzara stars as Cadet Sgt. Jocko DeParis, a sadomasochistic bully in a Southern military academy who uses his magnetism and the school's own military code to manipulate his fellow cadets and officers. When he engineers the expulsion of a hated rival, his reign of terror begins to unravel. The film features a solid cast drawn from The Actor's Studio in New York, including Pat Hingle, Mark Richman, George Peppard (also in his film debut) and Larry Gates, and is directed by Jack Garfein and scripted by Willingham, based on his novel.

***

Adapted from Calder Willingham's novel, End as a Man, this uncompromising exposé of the practice of hazing in a military college features a number of actors from New York's famed Actors Studio - including Ben Gazzara, Pat Hingle, Clifton James, and George Peppard - each at the start of their lengthy careers in film.

Posters

Theatrical Release: April 12th, 1957

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Comparison:

Sony Pictures - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Box Cover		or directly from: Bonus Captures:
Distribution	Sony Pictures - Region 1 - NTSC	Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:39:27	1:39:44.770
Video	1.85:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.29 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 33,181,449,486 bytes Feature: 28,502,393,856 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.97 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Bitrate Blu-ray:
Audio	English (Dolby Digital mono)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1037 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1037 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit) Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles	English, French, None	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Sony Pictures Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Ben Gazzara Remembers The Strange One (10:37) • Previews DVD Release Date: June 16th, 2009 Keep Case Chapters: 12	Release Information: Studio: Indicator 1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 33,181,449,486 bytes Feature: 28,502,393,856 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.97 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Audio commentary with critic Nick Pinkerton (2020) • Finding Direction (2020): Jack Garfein recalls his directorial debut and his work with the Actors Studio (10:11) • Ben Gazzara Remembers ‘The Strange One’ (2009): archival interview with the acclaimed actor (10:38) • Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography • Original theatrical trailer (2:04) • Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Brad Stevens, Ben Gazzara on The Strange One, an archival interview with Jack Garfein, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits Blu-ray Release Date: April 27th, 2020 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 (April 2020): Indicator have transferred Jack Garfein's The Strange One to Blu-ray. The BD offers two presentations of the film: The Strange One, with the original US title sequence, and End as a Man with the rarely seen UK title. After the opening credits it is the same transfer (seamlessly branched). The image is a notable advancement over the muddy DVD from 2009. The 1080P image is brighter, exports frequent depth and may show slightly more information in the frame. It retains a heavy film-like appearance transferred on a dual-layered disc with a maxed out bitrate. The image is clean with very few speckles and no damage. It looked extremely even and pleasing on my system.

NOTE: We have added 40 more large resolution Blu-ray captures for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

On their Blu-ray, Indicator use a DTS-HD Master mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. It also advances on the DVD - notable in the effects (imposing train whistle, formations etc.) and score by Kenyon Hopkins (The Fugitive Kind, Downhill Racer, 12 Angry Men, The Hustler, Wild River) sounding authentically flat, tight and consistent in the lossless. Indicator offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

The Indicator Blu-ray offers a new (2020) audio commentary with critic Nick Pinkerton who identifies the many 'substitute' phalluses held in Jock's hand, the vague homoeroticism (with mention of 'gag reflex') and how this may be representing the lead character's repressed homosexuality. There are frequent great one liners and Nick tells us plenty about the relationship of the film to the Actor's Studio as well as the (failed) relationship between director Jack Garfein and producer Sam Spiegel. It is excellent as he references written statement from principles regarding aspects of the production, how it evolved and so much more. It's great. "Finding Direction" is a new 10-minute interview as 90-year old Jack Garfein recalls his directorial debut and his work with the Actors Studio, as well as his survival from imprisonment in the Auschwitz concentration. The Blu-ray also has the 10-minute Ben Gazzara Remembers ‘The Strange One’ from 2009, on the DVD. There is an original theatrical trailer, an image gallery of on-set and promotional photography, plus the package has a limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Brad Stevens, Ben Gazzara on The Strange One, an archival interview with Jack Garfein, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits

The 'Jocko' character is maniacally evil and played brilliant by Gazzara. The Strange One has an intentional uncomfortable-ness surrounding it. I thought the history discussed by Pinkerton about Jack Garfein and the whole production increased my appreciation by quite a lot, although I already liked the film. Certainly the upgrade to Blu-ray is a welcome one what with the lackluster DVD - and with the inclusion of the new supplements makes this very easy to recommend. Tons of value here.

Gary Tooze

ON THE DVD: The Sony single-layered DVD is somewhat disappointing with the image looking quite poor - muddy contrast and softer than one might have anticipated. There are plenty of digital artifacts - probably due to the exceedingly low bitrate. The film is very dark in low-lit scenes and I see no effort to artificially improve the appearance. Overall, it is quite weak visually... but in the end - clean of damage and watchable.

udio is unremarkable and optional subtitles are included. The only extra has an aged Gazzara reflecting back on the production for just over 10-minutes. Always frank, he is quite interesting to listen to to. There are also some previews of unrelated Sony films.

The film carries some viable historical relevance being the first work directed by and starring members exclusively from New York's Actor’s Studio. The Strange One is a totally unique and memorable expression - very much worth seeing. It's a shame the DVD transfer quality is sub-standard but on the basis of the film, extra feature and price - it is recommended!

Gary W. Tooze