8.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Captain of a tramp steamer and a maiden-lady can't stand each other on a trip down a river, However it does not take long before their dislike turns to love.
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Robert Morley, Peter Bull (I), Theodore BikelDrama | 100% |
Romance | 58% |
War | 51% |
Period | 38% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.37:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
English: LPCM 2.0 Mono
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region B (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 0.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
John Huston's "The African Queen" (1951) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of StudioCanal. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by script supervisor Angela Allen and critic Ian Christie; archival audio commentary by cinematographer Jack Cardiff; archival program with co-screenwriter Peter Viertel; behind the scenes stills; vintage trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
StudioCanal's release of The African Queen is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray is Region-B "locked".
I do not have a market version of the combo pack. I was sent only a 4K Blu-ray disc to review.
Please note that all screencaptures included with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc, including the actual color values of this content.
The combo pack offers a native 4K presentation of the 4K restoration of The African Queen that was completed in 2010. In the United Kingdom, the 4K restoration was first introduced on Blu-ray by ITV Studios with this release. In the United States, the 4K restoration was introduced by Paramount Pictures with this release.
Earlier tonight, I viewed the 4K restoration on 4K Blu-ray and thought that its presentation was magnificent. But I was not surprised because even on the Blu-ray, and after all these years, the 4K restoration still looks enormously impressive. Now, in native 4K, the visuals are lusher, tighter, and boasting superior delineation, clarity, and depth. In my opinion, the two most significant strengths of the native 4K presentation are in the areas of color reproduction and delineation/density levels. The expanded color palette and HDR grade give the entire film a type of Technicolor vibrancy that is simply impossible to reproduce on Blu-ray, and on my system the upgrade in quality was very obvious. Also, in many areas, both well-lit and darker ones, background information looked better defined. I will concede that some of the difference I observed has something to do with the superior encoding, but the native 4K visuals clearly have superior density levels too. In close-ups, and there are many throughout the film, this superiority is quite obvious. Image stability is outstanding. The entire film looks spotless. Finally, I did not notice any encoding anomalies to report in our review.
The following technical information about the 4K restoration was provided by StudioCanal:
"For the 2010 4K restoration of The African Queen, Romulus Films -- one of the film's original production companies -- provided access to the original three-strip negative at a London facility where the film was carefully scanned and digitized. The separate elements were then transferred to Los Angeles and painstakingly recombined and inspected frame by frame to ensure that every detail aligned and that any dirt and scratches were removed.
To ensure that the restored picture matched the filmmakers' original vision, Paramount arranged a screening of an MPAA archive print for the film's original cinematographer, Academy Award winner Jack Cardiff, whose comments were recorded live during the screening. That same archival print was later screened alongside the newly restored version so that the restoration team could ensure that all of Cardiff's notes had been addressed. The result is a vibrant, warm picture that reverentially recreates the film as it was originally meant to be seen."
There is only one standard audio track on this release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.
The lossless track is very good. All exchanges are clear, sharp, and stable. Even though plenty of natural sounds and noises interact with the music, dynamic balance is good as well. There are no traces of age-related anomalies. However, now that we have Dolby Atmos, I would not have been opposed to the idea of having a new Dolby Atmos track, like the ones the folks at Sony prepare for various releases of older films. Some of the most impressive footage with the boat being tossed around can probably sound a little better. Regardless, I think that purists will be very happy with the LPCM 2.0 track.
StudioCanal's release introduces a wonderful native presentation of the excellent 4K restoration of The African Queen that premiered in 2010. This native presentation is the best presentation of the film that I have seen to date. Also, the release has a big selection of exclusive new and archival bonus features that were previously used by other boutique labels. Hopefully, it won't be long before Paramount produces a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo release of The African Queen for the U.S. market as well. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Special Restoration Edition
1951
Masters of Cinema | Limited Edition
1951
Masters of Cinema
1951
Vintage Classics
1951
1939
1942
Digitally Restored
1943
1966
Special Edition | Sony Collector's Edition #13
1954
2012
2012
1996
Premium Collection | Remastered
1965
Arrow Academy
1990
2014
Indicator Series
1965
2003
2008
Masters of Cinema
1927
1932
2008
60th Anniversary Edition | Sony Collector's Edition #18
1953
2005
1939