7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Harold Robbins' best-seller about '30s Hollywood comes to the screen in a torrent of frank, controversial and (for the times) sensational scenes that helped break the Production Code. George Peppard is the ruthless tycoon who (with amazing parallels to Howard Hughes) builds a multi-million-dollar empire. Carroll Baker, who performs a razzle-dazzle striptease atop a glittery chandelier, is the Jean Harlow-type star. In addition to its depiction of the wild life in Tinseltown's early days, the film also boasts Alan Ladd's terrific final screen performance as the hero's sidekick, Nevada Smith.
Starring: George Peppard, Carroll Baker, Alan Ladd, Robert Cummings, Martha HyerDrama | 100% |
Romance | 37% |
Period | Insignificant |
Melodrama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.36:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Edward Dmytryk's "The Carpetbaggers" (1964) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by critic Julie Kirgo; new audio commentary by critic David Del Valle; and vintage trailer for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".
Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.36:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Carpetbaggers arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.
The release is sourced from a very beautiful recent 4K master that was struck from the original camera negative. I like this master a lot, and unless it is eventually made available on 4K Blu-ray, this 1080p presentation will remain the definitive presentation of The Carpetbaggers. Delineation, clarity, and depth range from excellent to stunning, so a lot of the visuals are truly quite striking. Density levels are excellent too, so even on a very large screen the visuals still look most impressive. Color reproduction and balance are as good as they can be. All primaries and all supporting nuances are very, very healthy as well. Unsurprisingly, the dynamic range of the visuals is outstanding. (If you upscale the release to 4K, large portions of the film boast the look that you would expect to get from a native 4K presentation). There are absolutely no traces of problematic digital adjustments. Image stability is excellent. There are no distracting age-related imperfections to report, either. (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).
There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.
I viewed the entire film with the 2.0 track. However, given how The Carpetbaggers was screened theatrically with a multichannel stereo mix, the 5.1 track is great to have, too. I did test a couple sequences with it, and my next viewing of The Carpetbaggers will most likely not be with the 2.0 track. The dialog is always very clear, sharp, and stable. Balance is great as well.
Trash film? I don't think so. The Carpetbaggers is like a hot razor blade that cuts through all of the isms and the hypocrisy that always surrounds them, which the two sexes have worked hard to legitimize over the years. Is it a very cynical film? Yes, absolutely, but the real truth-telling films have to be, or otherwise they are pretenders. One more thing. I have Harold Robbins' book and The Carpetbaggers replicates its bold style very, very well. It changes a few bits, or perhaps it is better to write that it expands them, but it is as hard-hitting and illuminating as Robbins' writings. Kino Lorber's release is sourced from a very beautiful recent 4K master that was struck from the original camera negative. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
1931
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1968
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