7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Boxer Midge Kelly rises to fame...mainly by stepping on other people.
Starring: Kirk Douglas, Marilyn Maxwell, Arthur Kennedy, Paul Stewart (I), Ruth RomanFilm-Noir | 100% |
Sport | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Romance | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.37:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
English: LPCM 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region B (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Mark Robson's "Champion" (1949) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka Entertainment. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new audio commentary by film scholar Jason A. Ney and promotion al materials for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".
One last match
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Champion arrives in Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka Entertainment.
In the United States, Olive Films released Champion on Blu-ray in 2013. I have the release in my library. It is sourced from an older but very solid organic master that was supplied by Paramount Pictures. This release is sourced from the same master.
There are a few areas with minor density fluctuations, but they are inherited from the source that was used to produce the master. (I assume that it was an interpositive, but do not have technical credits to confirm). Grain exposure is very nice and there are no traces of problematic digital adjustments. From time to time grain can appear slightly overexposed or underexposed, but all of the visuals, including the ones that reveal the age of the master, have a very pleasing appearance. In fact, if you project the film, you will quickly realize that it looks exactly like a slightly aged film should. The entire master is very nicely graded, too. Blacks are stable and lush but not boosted, while grays and whites appear nicely balanced. Aside from some minor tweaks that can rebalance the whites and selected highlights, I think that the grayscale is already wonderful. Image stability is very good. Lastly, from time to time you will notice a few minor specks and even a couple of larger scratches, but they are not at all distracting. The bottom line is this: what you get from this release is a very solid organic presentation of Champion. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.
I would describe the lossless track as solid. If you turn up the volume a lot, from time to time you will notice some extremely light background hiss trying to sneak in. Obviously, there are digital tools now that quite easily and quickly eliminate it. However, there are no distortions or any of those annoying pops that usually that tend to appear on unrestored audio tracks of older films. What the balance? There are some minor fluctuations, but this film has quite a few group and mass scenes where organic sounds and noises interfere with the dialog. While some minor rebalancing work can be done, I don't think that it will make a notable difference. I think that main unevenness is part of the original soundtrack that was finalized in 1949.
It is impossible to discuss Champion without mentioning The Set-Up because they are very similar and in my opinion two of the best films to be released in 1949. I prefer the latter because Robert Ryan is astonishing in it, but Kirk Douglas' transformation into the ruthless boxer Midge Kelly is a genuine masterclass in acting, too. Champion is a top film noir folks, so if you don't yet have it in your library, I urge you to pick up your copy now. Eureka Entertainment's release is sourced from the same older but very solid organic master Paramount Pictures licensed to Olive Films for their North American release of the film in 2013. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Indicator Series | Standard Edition
1956
Premium Collection
1949
Masters of Cinema
1954
1947
Indicator Series
1947
1958
Arrow Academy
1950
Masters of Cinema
1947
1932
The Big Carnival / Masters of Cinema
1951
Indicator Series
1949
Arrow Academy
1948
1954
Arrow Academy
1949
Masters of Cinema
1948
1946
1946
Indicator Series
1951
1945
Indicator Series
1949