8.7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.8 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.6 |
A World War I French colonel goes head-to-head with the army's ruthless top brass when his men are accused of cowardice after being unable to carry out an impossible mission.
Starring: Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker, Adolphe Menjou, George Macready, Wayne Morris (I)Drama | 100% |
War | 20% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
English: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Stanley Kubrick's "Paths of Glory" (1957) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include an exclusive new audio commentary with critic Gary Giddins; audio interview with director Stanley Kubrick conducted by author Jeremy Bernstein; archival interview with Kirk Douglas; new video interview with producer James B. Harris; new video interview with artist and actress Christiane Kubrick; interview with director Stanley Kubrick's longtime executive producer, Jan Harlan; segment from the French news program JT Basse Normandie; and the film's original theatrical trailer. The disc also arrives with a 20-page illustrated booklet. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".
Awaiting orders
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Stanley Kubrick's Paths of Glory arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.
The following text appears inside the booklet provided with this Blu-ray disc:
"Stanley Kubrick's technical assistant Leon Vitali supervised this new high-definition digital transfer, which was created on an HD Spirit 2K from a 35mm fine-grain master positive from UCLA film archivist Robert Gitt's collection. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, scratches, splices, warps, jitter, and flicker were manually removed using MTI's DRS system and Pixel Farm's PFClean system.
Telecine supervisor: Leon Vitali.
Telecine colorist: Jeff Chavez/Point 360, Los Angeles."
This is a very strong high-definition transfer, one that represents a dramatic upgrade over the DVD release of Paths of Glory MGM released back in 1999. Fine object detail is very good, particularly during the daylight footage; clarity notably improved; and contrast levels are carefully balanced, producing terrific results during the nighttime footage. The color scheme is also impressive - there are a variety of rich blacks and gentle, natural looking grays and whites. Some mild noise corrections have been applied, but the film's grain structure is very much intact. There are no serious stability issues either. I also did not see any serious compression artifacts. Lastly, Criterion have performed a thorough cleanup, and as a result there are no annoying large scratches, cuts, debris, or stains. To sum it all up, this is yet another solid presentation of an important classic film, which certainly wasn't treated with the proper care when it appeared on DVD. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).
There is only one audio track on this Blu-ray disc: English LPCM 1.0 (Mono). For the record, Criterion have provided optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature.
The following text appears inside the booklet provided with this Blu-ray disc:
"The monaural soundtrack was remastered at 24-bit from Robert Gitt's 35mm monaural magnetic track. Clicks, thumps, hiss, and hum were manually removed using Pro Tools HD. Crackle was attenuated using AudioCube's integrated audio workstation."
The English LPCM 1.0 track is solid. Naturally, its dynamic amplitude is limited, but the sound conveys pleasing depth and fluidity. The dialog is clean, crisp, stable, and exceptionally easy to follow. Gerald Fried's prominent music score has has certainly benefited from the loseless treatment, particularly as far as the low frequencies are concerned (the brass section sounds fuller and better balanced; there are no sound distortions either). Lastly, I did not detect any disturbing pops, cracks, hiss, or dropouts to report in this review.
Commentary - an audio commentary with critic Gary Giddins (Warning Shadows: Home Alone with Classic Cinema) recorded exclusively for Criterion in 2010. This is a very strong commentary with an abundance of factual information pertaining to the film's production history, the true story that inspired it, the colorful cast (with very interesting comments by Mr. Giddins about the extreme political views some of the actors had), the film's reception (and banning) in France, director Stanley Kubrick's legacy, etc. In English, not subtitled.
Stanley Kubrick - an illustrated audio interview with director Stanley Kubrick conducted by author Jeremy Bernstein in 1966. In this very short interview director Stanley Kubrick addresses the different obstacles the cast and crew had to overcome, the film's critical reception, etc. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).
Kirk Douglas - an interview with the legendary actor, from February 3, 1979, in which he discusses his career and work on Paths of Glory. At the end of the interview, Kirk Douglas also sings an old song he once performed with Burt Lancaster. In English, not subtitled. (30 min, 1080i).
James B. Harris - a new video interview with the producer of Paths of Glory, James B. Harris, in which he discusses the production history of the film and his work with director Stanley Kubrick. In English, not subtitled. (22 min, 1080p).
Christiane Kubrick - in this interview, painter, singer, and actress Christiane Kubrick recalls her encounter with Stanley Kubrick and work on Paths of Glory. Christiane Kubrick was Stanley Kubrick's wife from 1958 until his death in 1999. In English, not subtitled. (7 min, 1080p).
Jan Harlan - an interview with director Stanley Kubrick's longtime executive producer, Jan Harlan (Barry Lyndon, Eyes Wide Shut) in which he discusses the filmmaker's legacy. In English, not subtitled. (10 min, 1080p).
Theophile Maupas - a segment from the French news program JT Basse Normandie focusing on the tragedy involving corporal Theophile Maupas, which was used as a foundation for director Stanley Kubrick's Paths of Glory. Researcher Jacqueline Laisne addresses the tragic story. In French, with optional English subtitles. (4 min, 1080i).
Trailer - the original theatrical trailer for Paths of Glory. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).
Booklet - a 20-page illustrated booklet containing James Naremore's essay "We Have Met the Enemy..." (Mr. Naremore is the author of On Kubrick [2007]. Among his other books are Acting in the Cinema [1988], More Than Night: Film Noir in its Contexts [2008], and the BFI monograph Sweet Smell of Success [2010]).
As expected, Criterion have given Stanley Kubrick's once very controversial Paths of Glory top-notch treatment. The film looks and sounds the best it ever has. Criterion's Blu-ray disc also contains some very good new supplemental features. This is definitely the type of treatment The Killing needs. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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Final Cut | 40th Anniversary Edition
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2019
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1930
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