6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Policemen Bonaro and Madigan lose their guns to fugitive Barney Benesch. As compensation, the two NYC detectives are given a weekend to bring Benesch to justice.
Starring: Richard Widmark, Henry Fonda, Inger Stevens, Harry Guardino, James WhitmoreCrime | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
English: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region B (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Don Siegel's "Madigan" (1968) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the disc include exclusive new audio commentary by critics Barry Forshaw and Kim Newman; archival interview with Richard Vidmark; vintage promotional materials for the film; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".
We've got snipers everywhere. He won't get away.
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Madigan arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.
This upcoming Region-B release is sourced from the same master that the folks at Kino Lorber worked with to produce this Region-A release in 2019. This is an older master that was supplied by Universal.
Obviously, the entire film can look fresher, more vibrant, and healthier. However, despite some inconsistencies in terms of density and delineation, I think that the overwhelming majority of the visuals look quite good. Again, it is easy to tell that in certain areas there is room for meaningful improvements, but considering how disappointing older masters that emerge from Universal's vaults typically are, the quality of the visuals is consistently good. What are some of the major improvements that can be made? If the film is restored in 4K and properly regraded, I am convinced that there will be an across-the-board elevation of the dynamic range of the visuals, so delineation, clarity, and depth will instantly benefit. Sharpness will be affected as well, but not significantly because the scope cinematography actually introduces quite a bit of natural softness. (A native 4K presentation will obviously produce different results). Color balance can be strengthened, with brighter and darker areas benefiting the most because it is where supporting nuances appear slightly subdued, but I already think that some of the primaries are quite nice. The rest looks good, so at best there might be some opportunities for minor cosmetic adjustments. All in all, even though Madigan has a slightly dated appearance now, I think that it looks good in high-definition. (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 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.
Don Costas' soundtrack begins to make an impression as soon as the film's opening credits appear and the quality of the sound is excellent. Even if you turn up the volume of your system, you will not detect any troubling anomalies in the upper register. The dialog is always very clear, stable, and clean. Can a brand new audio mix introduce any significant improvements? At the moment, my answer is a solid no.
I find the presence that New York has in Madigan quite a bit more attractive than the minor triumphs and failures of the characters that Don Siegel's camera follows. I don't want to imply that the drama is meaningless, but the city comes alive in a very special way and it is what ultimately makes the film great. This upcoming release is sourced from an older but good master that was supplied by Universal Pictures. I think that Madigan is a very, very fine addition to Indicator/Powerhouse Films' catalog, so my advice is to add it to your collection in two weeks. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
1965
1950
Premium Collection
1951
1950
Arrow Academy
1944
Premium Collection
1966
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1949
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1939
The Big Carnival / Masters of Cinema
1951
Masters of Cinema
1947
1963
Arrow Academy
1948
Indicator Series | Standard Edition
1954
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1957
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1981
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1974