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 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "9/30/55" or "24 Hours of the Rebel")

 

Directed by James Bridges
USA 1977

 

From James Bridges, the acclaimed director of The Paper Chase, The China Syndrome, Urban Cowboy, Mike's Murder, Perfect and Bright Lights, Big City, comes this classic 70s drama about the tragic death of James Dean on September 30, 1955 and the effects it has on a circle of friends in a small Arkansas town. Their leader Jimmy J. (Richard Thomas, TV's The Waltons) is a college undergrad who, like his cinematic hero, feels alienated and misunderstood. At the news of Dean's death, Jimmy J. gathers his friends, including fellow spirit Billie Jean (Lisa Blount, An Officer and a Gentleman), girlfriend Charlotte (Deborah Benson, Just Before Dawn), roommate Hanley (Tom Hulce, Amadeus), sidekick Eugene (Dennis Christopher, Breaking Away) and jock Frank (Dennis Quaid, Dreamscape), for an emotional vigil. What begins, however, as a soul-searching assemblage gives way to youthful revelry, drinking binges, police chases, midnight séances, graveyard mischief and ultimately, tragedy. Beautifully shot by the great Gordon Willis (The Godfather, Manhattan) and co-starring Susan Tyrrell (Fat City).

***

Rebel. Icon. Legend. James Deans untimely death on September 30, 1955, shocked the world and helped define an entire generation. This gripping drama chronicles the reactions of an Arkansas college town to the tragedy and focuses on Jimmy J., a young man who idolized the rising star. Racked with grief, Jimmy holds a vigil that quickly devolves into a drunken spectacle with its own catastrophic consequences. Dennis Quaid also stars in "September 30, 1955": a day that forever changed the lives of many.

Posters

Theatrical Release: August 1977 (Montréal Film Festival)

Reviews                                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Review: Scorpion Releasing / Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover

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Bonus Captures:
Distribution Scorpion Releasing / Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:41:18.572        
Video

1.85:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 24,234,655,530 bytes

Feature: 23,219,011,584 bytes

Video Bitrate: 26.88 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 1827 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1827 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Scorpion Releasing / Kino

 

1.85:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 24,234,655,530 bytes

Feature: 23,219,011,584 bytes

Video Bitrate: 26.88 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• NEW Audio Commentary by Peter Tonguette, the author of "The Films of James Bridges"

• Trailer (1:52)


 Blu-ray Release Date: April 13th, 2021
 Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 11

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Scorpion Releasing / Kino Blu-ray (April 2021): Scorpion Releasing / Kino have transferred James Bridges' September 30, 1955 to Blu-ray. It is on a single-layered disc with a supportive bitrate in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The 1080P shows rich grain textures and deep colors looking very film-like. The image quality is consistent providing a very pleasing HD presentation.

NOTE: We have added 48 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Scorpion Releasing / Kino use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (16-bit) in the original English language. There aren't many aggressive effects but a score by Leonard Rosenman (Hide in Plain Sight, Countdown, Rebel Without a Cause, The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond, Fantastic Voyage and A Man Called Horse) - plus music helping represent the era; Red Foley's Please Help Me I'm Falling, Jimmie Rodgers In the Jailhouse Now, Kitty Wells' Makin' Believe etc. It sounds clean and competent via the lossless. Scorpion Releasing / Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Scorpion Releasing / Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary by Peter Tonguette, the author of "The Films of James Bridges". He is genuinely passionate about this film and can discuss it in detail, the title, performers etc. as well as providing a lot on director James Bridges career and his other films. I like Peter Tonguette commentaries (Newman's Law, Soderbergh's The Underneath, The Sound Barrier, Perfect Friday, The Runner Stumbles etc.) quite a lot and this is another to add to that list. There is also a trailer for the film (and other films) as a supplement. 

James Bridges' September 30, 1955 is a far better film than I was anticipating and the Tonguette commentary definitely advanced my appreciation. It captures the spirit of the era very well. Richard Thomas is excellent and you can spot a young Tom Hulce and Dennis Quaid. I am glad to have seen the film on the Scorpion Releasing / Kino Blu-ray. This is very pleasant surprise and is definitely recommended!

Gary Tooze

 

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Box Cover

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Bonus Captures:
Distribution Scorpion Releasing / Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


 


 

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