7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
In fog-dripping, barren and sometimes macabre settings, 11th-century Scottish nobleman Macbeth is led by an evil prophecy and his ruthless yet desirable wife to the treasonous act that makes him king.
Starring: Orson Welles, Jeanette Nolan, Dan O'Herlihy, Roddy McDowall, Alan NapierDrama | 100% |
War | 16% |
History | 12% |
Period | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.37:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Orson Welles' "Macbeth" (1948) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by novelist and critic Tim Lucas; archival audio commentary by Orson Welles biographer Joseph McBride; archival program with Peter Bogdanovich; archival program with former UCLA Film & Television Archive Preservation Officer Robert Gitt; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. Region-A "locked".
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.37:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Macbeth arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.
The release introduces recent 4K remasters of two versions of Macbeth, the original 1948 Version and the 1950 re-release Version. According to the back cover of the release, these remasters were completed at Paramount Pictures in 2022.
I have two other releases of Macbeth in my library. The first is this French release from local label Carlotta Films. The second is this American release from local label Olive Films. I did some comparisons with both.
The original, longer version of Macbeth is usually the one I screen at home because I tend to like it a bit more, but I do not dismiss the shorter re-release version. The other night, I viewed the original, longer version again. Its overall quality is good -- all visuals have fine organic qualities. However, because there are so many inherited source limitations -- all visible on every presentation from each release -- there are plenty of notable fluctuations in terms of delineation, clarity, and depth. On my system, this release gives the original longer version a slightly softer appearance, with some more pronounced fluctuations in select darker areas. However, it produces visuals that have marginally more attractive organic appearance than those from the other releases I have. The grayscale is good. Yes, in select darker areas some visuals still reveal shadows that could appear too thick, but this is how these shadows look on all releases. The lack of proper delineation and clarity, or at least what may appear as a lack of proper delineation and clarity, is a combination of source limitations and stylistic preferences. The French release, in particular, produces slightly sharper and occasionally brighter visuals, but it does not reveal better delineation. On this release, a lot of visuals reveal more pronounced surface imperfections, but there are plenty on the other two releases as well. Virtually all of these imperfections are source-related, too.
So, which of the three releases offers the best presentation of the original, longer version of Macbeth? They are all fine. I do not think that there is a clear winner because of the nature of the source limitations and fluctuations that exist on all three. However, despite producing slightly softer visuals, a case can be made that they are the most attractive organic visuals. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).
Both versions of Macbeth are presented with DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 tracks. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for both versions of the film as well.
The Kino Lorber release includes overture/exit music presents the original, longer version of Macbeth with overture/exit music that sounds pretty good. The dialog is fine too, but because of the heavy accents, most viewers will likely end up using the optional subtitles. Dynamic contrasts are unimpressive, but this is one of the most obvious source limitation on all presentations of Macbeth, including on the shorter, re-release version.
BLU-RAY DISC ONE - ORIGINAL 1948 VERSION
Do you need Kino Lorber's two-disc set if you already have in your library this two-disc set that Olive Films produced in 2016? Kino Lorber's two-disc set gives you two versions of the film with overture and exit music, both newly remastered in 4K at Paramount Pictures. While there are still plenty of source limitations on both versions of the film, I think that on this release they have the most attractive organic appearance. Admittedly, the difference is quite small, but it is something that purists will appreciate. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
蜘蛛巣城 / Kumonosu-jô
1957
2015
The Tragedy of Macbeth
1971
影武者
1980
1965
山椒大夫 / Sanshô dayû
1954
1955
1944
1971
Vredens dag
1943
2013
金陵十三钗 / 金陵十三釵 / Jīnlíng Shísān Chāi
2011
Kuroi ame
1989
2016
The Tragedy of Othello: The Moor of Venice
1951
1942
Die Blechtrommel
1979
V tumane
2012
1948
StudioCanal Collection
1985