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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (August 2020): Kino have transferred Helmut Käutner's Black Gravel to Blu-ray. It offers both the uncensored "Premiere" version and the re-edited "Distribution" version of the film.

A text screen informs us that the "Digitalization was sponsored by the Federal Commissioner for Culture and the Media according to a resolution by the German Parliament." The Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung has preserved a print of the uncensored premiere version. Using this as a reference, the premiere version was digitally reconstructed in 2016, utilizing the camera negative as the primary source. Scenes missing from the original negative were provided from the surviving print.

The two versions don't look exactly the same; the "Distribution" version is a bit weaker in terms of contrast although they share the same light damage marks (see sample below). Despite housing both films and lessoning the bitrate - the image quality is quite appealing, although there is some flickering damage at 10:30 + 17:30 - both in the bar - and 33:00 in the church. It's unusual and noticeable but doesn't last long. Detail is strong - notable in the close-ups and contrast is nicely layered. It's not perfect but the restoration has done an admirable job that looks quite pleasing in 1080P. It looked very good on my system.  

The reasoning behind the two version is stated as "Shortly after the release of Schwarzer Kies (Black Gravel) in April 1961, the Central Council of Jews in Germany filed a criminal complaint against the production company Ufa Film Hansa and director Helmut Kautner for publicly insulting the Jewish community.The case was eventually dropped by prosecutors.
For the further distribution in Germany, Ufa removed the offending scenes, against Kautner's objections. In addition, two scenes were inserted, which were not included in the premiere version, and which significantly affect the ending of the film.
These cuts and changes were made in the camera negative, which was the source for this presentation of the distribution version of Black Gravel."

NOTE: We have added 58 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a linear PCM dual-mono track (16-bit) in the original German language with minor English. It sounds consistent with an occasionally awkward (I'm thinking specifically the end credits) score by Bernhard Eichhorn, sounding clean and adding some early 60's atmosphere. Kino offer optional English subtitles, for both versions, on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary by Olaf Möller (on the longer "Premiere" version only.) He talks about the anti-Semitic charges against the 'Premiere' version and that the film had other issues as well. He identifies the removed sequences. He informs us that a bit player in the beginning, Peter Nestler, became an interesting director who eventually moved to Sweden to work. He tells us that Black Gravel marked a significant point the career of the director Helmut Käutner who cared about the zeitgeist. He did a lot of TV work after this. He discusses the interesting careers of many of the performers in the film - Ingmar Zeisberg, Anita Höfe, Ilse Pagé etc. West German cinema producing many good tough male actors and much more. It is very informative and I enjoyed listening to him - his English is quite good.   

Helmut Käutner's Black Gravel evokes Film Noir, Henri-Georges Clouzot’s The Wages of Fear with the atmosphere of Carol Reed's The Third Man.  I loved seeing it. The commentary is informative about the production and what was happening at the time Black Gravel was made. This is an excellent choice for Kino to bring to Blu-ray. They just keep impressing us with their film choices and many commentaries. This one is strongly recommended!

Gary Tooze