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

ADDITION: BFI Blu-ray (July 2020): BFI have transferred Lewis Gilbert's The Good Die Young to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "Newly remastered by the BFI and presented in High Definition". This Blu-ray also contains (seamlessly-branched) the option of seeing the Export version of The Good Die Young made available for the first time. It is an extended overseas-only version of the film containing anti-establishment sentiments considered too strong for British audiences of the day. Both version look the same and have max'ed out bitrates. Generally, the 1080P image is strong with a few scenes having marginally faded contrast. There is plenty of consistent grain and the visuals are generally clean showing good detail in the original 1.66:1 aspect ratio. I was very pleased with the HD presentation.

NOTE: We have added 98 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, BFI use a linear PCM dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. There are some aggressive effects that carry weight and score by the great Georges Auric (The Mind Benders, The Lavender Hill Mob, Heaven Knows Mr. Allison, It Always Rains on Sunday, Dead of Night, The Innocents, Lola Montes, Rififi, Wages of Fear), adding building tension to the atmosphere. Some may note Lambert Williamson's Piano Blues played in the Pub. It all sounds tight and supportive via the uncompressed. BFI offer optional English subtitles (see sample below) on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

Aside from the inclusion of the Export version, BFI add some other, less related, supplements. When Giants Fought is a 1/2 hour 1926 short about a contentious but historic bare-knuckle conflict of 1810. It is vividly revisited in this power-packed silent boxing drama, with a newly commissioned musical score by Mordecai Smyth. Midnight Taxi is a 17-minute short from 1946 about a London cabby uncovers the city's secret nightlife in this surprising plug for post-war National Savings. Under Night Streets is 20-minute from 1958. After the last tube has gone, an army of underground workers get busy down below. I really enjoyed the 1/2 hour Not Like Any Other Director: Lewis Gilbert from 1995 with a highly complimentary introduction to the director by Michael Caine in this excerpt from an on-stage interview at London's National Film Theatre. There is a lengthy image gallery and for purchasers of the first pressing there is a fully illustrated booklet with new writing on the film and full film credits. The package has a second disc PAL DVD.

I loved every minute of The Good Die Young. Lewis Gilbert made a brilliant Noir with a stacked cast including Laurence Harvey, Gloria Grahame, Richard Basehart, Joan Collins, John Ireland, Stanley Baker, Margaret Leighton, and Robert Morley. It's a film I am extremely pleased to own this looking and sounding so strong - thanks BFI for another wonderful Blu-ray. Dark Cinema fans shouldn't hesitate for a minute. This is a keeper!

Gary Tooze