Firstly, a massive thank you to our Patreon supporters. These supporters have become the single biggest contributing factor to the survival of DVDBeaver. Your assistance is essential to our survival.
What do Patrons receive, that you don't?
1)
Our
weekly
Newsletter
and
Calendar Updates
sent to your Inbox!
Please consider keeping us in existence with a couple of dollars or more each month (your pocket change! / a coffee!) so we can continue to do our best in giving you timely, thorough reviews, calendar updates and detailed comparisons. I am indebted to your generosity. |
Search DVDBeaver |
S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
Directed by Richard Fleischer
USA 1973
A criminally underrated and explosively violent gangster saga from director
Richard Fleischer, The Don Is Dead features one of the all-time great
casts of tough guy actors: legendary multiple Oscar®-winner Anthony Quinn,
Robert Forster (Jackie Brown), and Frederic Forrest (Apocalypse Now) are joined
by Al Lettieri (The Getaway), Joe Santos (The Friends of Eddie Coyle), Abe Vigoda (The Godfather), Vic Tayback (Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore), Victor
Argo (Taxi Driver), and Sid Haig (House of 1000 Corpses). Riddled with as many
double crosses as bullet hits, The Don Is Dead is like a gritty 70s pulp
paperback come to bloody life. *** Power Built an Empire… Passion Destroyed It! When the reigning Don dies, a bloody, all-out power struggle ensues to determine who will be the next Capo. Don Angelo (Quinn), a notorious crime czar, is poised to take control of the Syndicate. But when he discovers that an ambitious lieutenant (Robert Forster, Jackie Brown) from his own family has become a rival for the love of his beautiful mistress, the Don vows to turn the streets red with the blood of the traitor, triggering an internal mob war of wills and weapons in this hard-hitting tale of betrayal, ambition and revenge. |
Posters
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Theatrical Release: November 14th, 1973
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Eureka - Region 'B' - Blu-ray vs. Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Box Cover |
|
|
Distribution | Eureka - Region 'B' - Blu-ray | Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:53:38.728 | 1:53:53.743 |
Video |
1.85 :1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 38,104,478,007 bytesFeature: 36,581,823,552 bytes Video Bitrate: 36.31 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
1.85 :1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 36,990,466,092 bytesFeature: 35,702,857,728 bytesVideo Bitrate: 37.93 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
||
Bitrate Eureka Blu-ray: |
|
|
Bitrate Kino Blu-ray: |
|
|
Audio |
LPCM Audio English
2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit |
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1558 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1558 kbps / 16-bit (DTS
Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -31dB |
Subtitles | English (SDH), None | English (SDH), None |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Eureka
1.85 :1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 38,104,478,007 bytesFeature: 36,581,823,552 bytes Video Bitrate: 36.31 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details: • Brand new feature length audio commentary by author Scott Harrison• Theatrical trailer (1:43) • PLUS: A collector's booklet featuring an extensive essay on the crime films of director Richard Fleischer by film writer and journalist Barry Forshaw
Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters 10 |
Release Information: Studio: Eureka
1.85 :1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 36,990,466,092 bytesFeature: 35,702,857,728 bytesVideo Bitrate: 37.93 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details: • NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian and Critic Sergio Mims-Theatrical Trailer (1:44)
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
(February 2021): Kino have also transferred Richard Fleischer's The Don
is Dead
to Blu-ray. This is, likewise, on a
dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. The image looks very similar to
the Eureka 1080P - also dual-layered with a max'ed out bitrate. I can't see
any significant difference in the picture quality.
For the audio, Kino goes DTS-HD Master - lossless but at 16-bit. I
didn't notice in the
Goldsmith score but the LPCM adds a flatter
representation of the aggressive effects.
Kino, also offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A'-locked
Blu-ray.
The Kino
Blu-ray
offers a new commentary by Sergio Mims. He
references a lot of gangster films, the performers and much more. His
delivery is enthusiastic and expresses his passion for film - as well as
plenty of knowledge of cinema,
Fleischer, Quinn,
Robert Forster and more of the cast/crew.
Not the same commentary as Eureka's with Scott Harrison but I appreciated
the differences and fresh take on
The Don
is Dead. There is also a theatrical trailer.
I suppose the Eureka takes a notch ahead of the
Kino with the improved audio and inclusion of the booklet in their package.
I'm very pleased that this Fleischer mob-war film made it to
Blu-ray
on both sides of the pond. This Kino is also recommended!
***
NOTE: We have added 44 more large
resolution Blu-ray captures
(in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE
On their
Blu-ray,
Eureka use a linear PCM 2.0 channel track (24-bit) in the original
English language. The film has plenty of gunplay effects - quite
explosive plus other aggressive elements (explosion, fire, car crashes
etc.). The score by
Jerry Goldsmith (Link, Breakout,
The
Salamander,
The
Mephisto Waltz,
Seconds,
Hoosiers,
The Blue Max,
Breakheart Pass,
The Omen)
supports the film well adding to the 'tough guy' atmosphere via the
uncompressed. Eureka offer optional English subtitles on
their Region 'B'
Blu-ray.
The Eureka
Blu-ray
Richard Fleischer's The Don is
Dead
is uncompromising - a harsh mob film. I saw it decades ago and
it's not easy to forget. This film is a notable to have been adapted,
from Marvin H. Albert pulpy novel, by Christopher Trumbo son of
blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo. He also worked on the Nakia TV
series with Robert Forster. Typical of the director this can be seen as
a cold, realistic, expression - violent yet polished. I was in the mood
for The Don is
Dead
and I found the Eureka Blu-ray
very satisfying. It offers a commentary and booklet. Really an
exceptionally well realized mob film from the early 70's Recommended! |
Menus / Extras
Eureka - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
![]() |
![]() |
Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
1) Eureka - Region 'B' - Blu-ray TOP2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Box Cover |
|
CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures: Also coming to Blu-ray from Kino in March 2021: |
Distribution | Eureka - Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Search DVDBeaver |
S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |