7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Two strangers dressed as minstrels arrive at a castle in advance of court festivities—and are revealed to be emissaries of the devil, dispatched to spread heartbreak and suffering. Their plans, however, are thwarted by an unexpected intrusion: human love.
Starring: Arletty, Marie Déa, Fernand Ledoux, Alain Cuny, Gabriel GabrioForeign | 100% |
Drama | 88% |
Romance | 28% |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
French: LPCM Mono
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Marcel Carne's "Les visiteurs du soir" a.k.a "The Devil's Envoys" (1942) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include original theatrical trailer and a documentary film featuring interviews with author and Carne friend Didier Decon, archivist Andrew Heinrich, film historian Alain Petit, and journalist Philippe Morisson. The release also arrives with an illustrated booklet featuring an essay by film critic Michael Atkinson. In French, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".
Why are you all laughing?
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Marcel Carne's Les visiteurs du soir arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.
The following text appears in the booklet provided with this Blu-ray disc:
"This new digital transfer was created in 2K resolution on a Spirit 2K Datacine from a 35mm fine-grain inerpositive struck from the original nitrate negative. The restoration of Les Visiteurs du Soir was undertaken by SNC at Scanlab in Paris. Additional image and audio restoration was done by Criterion.
Restoration supervisor: Filmo, Paris.
Colorist: Gilles Grannier/Scanlab, Paris.
Digital restoration of soundtrack: L.E. Diapason, Epinay-sur-Seine, France.
Photochemical restoration of soundtrack: NLF, Vanves, France."
The new restoration of Les Visiteurs du Soir is quite beautiful. From start to finish there is very pleasing depth and clarity. Even the nighttime sequences in the garden where the lovers meet boast very good detail and stable contrast levels. More importantly, however, there are no traces of excessive degraining. Edge-enhancement is also not a serious issue of concern (see how crisp but natural the panoramic shot is in screencapture #2). Color grading does not disappoint either - there is a good range of solid blacks, grays, and whites. This being said, there are a few very small skips where frames are apparently missing, but this should not be something that will distract viewers. A few very small vertical lines also pop up here and there, but overall the restorers have clearly removed as much debris and damage marks as possible without affecting the integrity of the film. To sum it all up, this is a competent, very impressive restoration of Marcel Carne's legendary film which will undoubtedly please its fans. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray disc: French LPCM, 1.0. For the record, Criterion have provided optional English subtitles for the main feature.
There are no serious technical issues to address in this review. The lossless track has a somewhat limited dynamic amplitude, but this should not be surprising given the age of the film and its original sound design. As far as I am concerned, the restorers have optimized and stabilized the audio as best as possible - and it clearly shows. Balance is very good and there are no sudden drops in dynamic activity or problematic distortions. The English translation is excellent.
The great success and reputation of Marcel Carne's Children of Paradise have somewhat overshadowed his Les Visiteurs du Soir. For what its worth, I think that the film is just as unique. It is unusually cruel but beautiful and enormously elegant. I don't particularly like the long and passionate political 'readings' that typically follow it, as I am not convinced that the film was meant to be that kind of a political statement, but some of the symbolism is obviously wide open to personal interpretation. Criterion's presentation of Les Visiteurs du Soir is excellent. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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