7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Joker Jackson and Noah Cullen are two convicts on the run. Escaping from a Southern work gang, the two men are bound together by an unbreakable iron chain and separated by an unbridled hatred towards each other. Relentlessly pursued by a posse and bloodhounds, they put aside their differences to survive. But when a lonely woman breaks their chain and deliberately sends Cullen to certain death, Jackson must decide what's more important: saving Cullen...or saving himself.
Starring: Tony Curtis, Sidney Poitier, Theodore Bikel, Charles McGraw, Lon Chaney Jr.Thriller | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: LPCM 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Region B (locked)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Stanley Kramer's "The Defiant Ones" (1958) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British label Eureka Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include an exclusive new interview with critic Kim Newman and vintage trailer for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".
The fugitives
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Stanley Kramer's The Defiant Ones arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka Entertainment.
The release is sourced from an older master that was likely prepared by MGM some time ago. However, the majority of it is rather good. The daylight footage typically boasts nice depth and clarity is never seriously compromised. Where source limitations become more pronounced the two areas that are impacted are usually density and sharpness (see screencapture #1). During the darker footage these types of limitations are further exacerbated and in some cases they flatten the grain quite dramatically (see screencapture #10). The grading is good. There are no serious stability issue, though a few slightly uneven transitions are present. There are no large cuts, damage marks, warped or town frames to report, but some tiny flecks and even minor vertical lines as well as some blemishes remain. My score is 3.75/5.00. (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: LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.
The audio is very clear and stability is excellent. Dynamic intensity is good as well, though as it is the case with these types of early period films the limitations of the original sound design are quit obvious. There are no distracting pops, cracks, or newly introduced digital distortions to report in our review.
The style of The Defiant Ones and the social messages that are channeled through it do not come together particularly well. I agree with Kim Newman that there is a certain cartoonish element in the film that hurts its authenticity, and even alters its identity in a way that almost certainly does not reflect Stanley Kramer's original vision for it. I also think that Newman's speculation that a different pair of 'rougher' leads likely would have delivered a far better film is spot on. Eureka Entertainment's new Blu-ray release of The Defiant Ones is sourced from a good organic master, but there is room for some meaningful improvements.
Indicator Series | Limited Edition
1966
1972
1993
Premium Collection
1949
Limited Edition
1953
1967
Warner Archive Collection
1950
1957
Masters of Cinema
1977
Masters of Cinema
1950
1974
Premium Collection
1955
Warner Archive Collection
1939
1951
Indicator Series
1953
1974
1957
1973
Premium Collection
1947
1974-1975