Firstly, a HUGE thanks to our Patreon supporters. Your generosity touches me deeply. These supporters have become the single biggest contributing factor to the survival of DVDBeaver. Your assistance has become essential. We are always trying to expand Patron benefits... you get access to the Silent Auctions and over 5000 unpublished screen captures (in lossless PNG format, if that has appeal for you) listed HERE. Please consider helping with $3 or more each month so we can continue to do our best in giving you timely, thorough reviews, calendar updates and detailed comparisons. Thank you so much. We aren't going to exist without another 100 or so patrons.


 

Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

Directed by John Guillermin
USA 1968

 

From John Guillermin, the outstanding director of The Blue Max, The Bridge at Remagen, Skyjacked, The Towering Inferno, King Kong and Death on the Nile, comes this thrilling mystery in the tradition of Harper and The Long Goodbye. Down-on-his-luck New York private eye P.J. Detweiler (George Peppard, Newman’s Law) takes a bodyguard job to protect Maureen Preble (Gayle Hunnicutt, Scorpio), the mistress of shady millionaire William Orbison (Raymond Burr, Rear Window). P.J. gets in over his head after Orbison’s business partner is gunned down and he’s framed for the murder. It becomes clear to P.J. that he’s been set up and after his release by the authorities, he makes it back to New York to confront the masterminds of the plot. Beautifully shot in CinemaScope by Loyal Griggs (Shane) with a memorably jazzy score by Neal Hefti (Duel at Diablo). The wonderful supporting cast includes Brock Peters (Framed), Wilfrid Hyde-White (The Third Man), Coleen Gray (Kiss of Death), Susan Saint James (Love at First Bite) and Anthony James (High Plains Drifter).

***

Reluctant New York City private eye P.J. Detweiler is hired as a bodyguard to protect Maureen Preble, the mistress of shady millionaire William Orbison. In truth, Orbison plans a deadly intrigue in which P.J. is to play a central part. Meanwhile, complications ensue as P.J. gradually falls in love with Maureen.

Posters

Theatrical Release: February 1st, 1968

Reviews                                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Review: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

  

Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:48:56.696        
Video

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 36,987,981,237 bytes

Feature: 34,146,293,760 bytes

Video Bitrate: 37.92 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

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

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1556 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1556 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Kino

 

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 36,987,981,237 bytes

Feature: 34,146,293,760 bytes

Video Bitrate: 37.92 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger and Steve Mitchell
• Theatrical Trailer (2:04)
• Image Gallery (2:18)


Blu-ray Release Date:
October 6th, 2020
Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 9

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (September 2020): Kino have transferred John Guillermin's P.J. to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "Brand New 2K Master". I think this may be the first time this is available (never on DVD nor VHS.) The 1080P looks great... rich, deep colors (reds), well-layered contrast, depth and fine grain. There is no digitization, nor damage - and the overall 2.35:1 HD presentation is excellent.

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (16-bit) in the original English language. There is potent gunplay and a gumshoe-y score by Neal Hefti (Duel at Diablo, Boeing, Boeing, Lord Love a Duck, How to Murder Your Wife, A New Leaf, and many TV credits ex. Batman), sounding clean and supportive. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary by the lads; Howard S. Berger and Steve Mitchell (remotely - thanks COVID - but clean and audible) doing their usual excellent job - discussing John Guillermin a lot (highly educational), his other films, the boom of detective films in the 60's, Peppard, Gayle Hunnicutt (her debut feature)... although they don't talk about P.J. itself a lot. There is a theatrical trailer and an image gallery.

John Guillermin's P.J. is good. Not cheesy - in fact, quite harsh. I always had a prejudice against Peppard (maybe because I grew up, just, outside The 'A'-Team TV show) - seeing him as too good-looking for these type of roles (ditto for Robert Wagner) but he is excellent as P.J.. It has great support from Raymond Burr, Coleen Gray, femme-fatale Gayle Hunnicutt... I was very pleased to see it on Kino Blu-ray with the commentary included. A bona-fide case could be made for this being Neo-Noir. Regardless, absolutely recommended!

Gary Tooze

 


Menus / Extras

 


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

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

  

Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

  

Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


 


 

Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

Hit Counter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

 CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Thank You!