7.9 | / 10 |
Users | 4.9 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
In 1942, a family of Dutch Jews hides in an attic from the Nazis, but just before the war ends they're found out and sent to concentration camps--an experience recorded in the famous diary of a little girl.
Starring: Millie Perkins, Joseph Schildkraut, Shelley Winters, Richard Beymer, Gusti HuberHistory | 100% |
War | 87% |
Biography | 53% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: Dolby Digital 4.0
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
Spanish: DTS 2.0
Italian: DTS 2.0
German: DTS 2.0
Polish: DTS 2.0
English, English SDH, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
BD-Live
Region free
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
You don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow.
The Diary of Anne Frank is the cinematic retelling of one of the greatest yet also most
tragic
stories to come out
of
World War II, chronicling the lives of two Jewish families in hiding from Nazi occupiers in
Amsterdam. The wondrous true story of survival, hardship, coming-of-age, romance, and fear
through the most crucial years of the War is conveyed splendidly in this motion picture classic,
the
film the recipient of three Oscars and nominated for five more, including Best Picture and Best
Director, George Stevens. The Diary of Anne Frank stirs the soul and engages the mind,
the film certainly not a typical War film, its approach instead one meant to place audiences in the
hideout with the Franks and Van Daans, to convey the raw emotion, terror, and daily routine of a
limited lifestyle that only through the strength of the human spirit could they endure, and in that
regard the film is a complete success. The Diary of Anne Frank represents a remarkable
technical achievement, too, the film able to completely overwhelm audiences with its confined
shooting locations and limited camera movements; it often feels like a stage production with only
the occasional injection of cinematic flair and dramatic license to differentiate it from the book
and play, but the film's faithfulness to the material and respect for the characters and situations,
above all else, make The Diary of Anne Frank a wondrous cinematic achievement,
even some 50 years after its initial release.
Anne Frank
The Diary of Anne Frank debuts on Blu-ray with a faithful 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer. The film begins with several scenes that serve up a plethora of pops and white speckles jumping all over the screen, accompanied by plenty of grain. The pops and speckles appear intermittently throughout the film, but the transfer generally appears blemish-free in most scenes. Detail, generally speaking, never stands out as above-average, and the image doesn't offer all that much in the way of depth. Nevertheless, some details stand out nicely, for instance rainwater glistening off a hat or the fine details in the decorative curtains seen in the hideout. Many shots take on a soft and occasionally borderline blurry appearance, while others take on a slight glow. Most of the blurry imagery appears in backgrounds and on the sides of the frame, but center-frame objects generally take on a fairly sharp, clear, detailed appearance. Nevertheless, the Blu-ray seems to replicate the film nicely enough. The transfer features a consistent but slight grain field that adds a film-like feel to the experience. Though certainly not the most visually impressive catalogue transfer Fox has produced, this one is a definite winner in context and easily bests any previous home video versions of the film.
The Diary of Anne Frank arrives on Blu-ray with a DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Despite the 5.1 master, the track features virtually no rear-channel presence. Nevertheless, and most importantly, the lossless treatment allows for a clear and concise delivery of the film's limited but all-important sound design where silence is often just as important as dialogue, music, or sound effects. Music, particularly that heard during the prelude, plays clearly and strongly, focused in the center but with adequate support from the front left and right channels. Sound effects, too, play nicely enough in context; whether the heavy clanking of soldiers' boots on the streets below the loft, the screaming siren attached to a vehicle rolling by, or explosions heard both near and far during allied bombing raids, the track delivers all that is required of it with an appropriate level of gusto and clarity. Most importantly, dialogue reproduction remains rock-solid throughout, though on several rare occasions it can seem the slightest bit muffled under music or select sound effects. Generally, this track satisfies and, like the entirety of the technical presentation, serves only to reinforce rather than define The Diary of Anne Frank.
The Diary of Anne Frank makes its Blu-ray debut with plenty of bonus materials. First
among them is a commentary track with George Stevens, Jr., son of the film's director, and
Actress
Millie Perkins. The track is rather informative, the participants speaking on the real-life events,
shooting locations that varied between real historical locations and the sets on the 20th Century
Fox sound stage, the authentic feel of the props seen throughout the film and the realism they
lent
to the story, filming techniques, and plenty more. A fine mix of historical recreation and technical
information, the commentary track serves the film well and should satisfy those yearning to learn
more about the background of both the story and the construction of the film. Next up are
several features that cover a broad spectrum of the filmmaking process and the history of the
true-life
story. George Stevens in WWII (480p, 7:40) recounts the story of the film's director
eschewing part of his Hollywood career for service as a combat photographer in the War and
shows some of his color footage from both combat and the Dachau concentration camp. The
Making of 'The Diary of Anne Frank': A Son's Memories (480p, 25:05) features George
Stevens, Jr. recalling his father's career and their work on The Diary of Anne Frank,
covering a spectrum of topics on how the film was assembled.
Next is 'The Diary of Anne Frank': Memories from Millie Perkins and Diane Baker (480p,
25:54), a piece containing the actresses recounting how they landed the roles, recalling their
careers, speaking of their rehearsals, experiences on the set, working with their fellow actors, and
more. Shelley Winters and 'The Diary of Anne Frank' (480p, 7:00) features highlights of
a 1983 interview between Winters and Stevens, Jr. The Sound and Music of 'The Diary of
Anne Frank' (480p, 7:54) is next, a piece that examines the film's sound effects and
Oscar-nominated score. 'The Diary of Anne Frank': Correspondence (480p, 13:12)
features Stevens, Jr. reading aloud letters that speak on the film and the actual events depicted
therein. Fox Movie Channel Presents: Fox Legacy with Tom Rothman (480p, 14:08), a
studio piece that looks back on the film and the historical events that define it.
'The Diary of Anne Frank': Echoes from the Past (480p, 1:30:07) is another of the
excellent documentaries that accompany many of the classic Fox releases, this one recalling both
the film and the actual events that inspired it in great detail, with plenty of historical footage,
clips from the film, and interviews. 'The Diary of Anne Frank' Excerpt from 'Geroge Stevens:
A Filmmaker's Journey' (480p, 7:59) is a selection from the 1984 film directed by Stevens,
Jr. that focuses on the importance of The Diary of Anne Frank on George Stevens'
career. George Stevens Press Conference (480p, 5:01) features the director answering
questions about the film. Millie Perkins Screen Test (480p, 2:20) shows the
then-model and yet-untested actress speaking on several subjects. Also available are six clips
from
Fox Movietonews -- Millie Perkins, 18, to be Anne
Frank in Film of Diary (480p, 1:01), Nobel Peace Prize to Belgian Priest (480p,
0:24), Anne Frank Diary Star Readies for Film's 1st Nights (480p, 1:01), Academy
Award Highlights (480p, 2:06), Millie Perkins Visits the Los Angeles County Museum of
Art (480p, 0:51), and Brilliant Turnout for L.A. Premiere Anne Frank Diary (480p,
1:17). Concluding this extensive
supplemental section is The Diary of Anne Frank theatrical trailer (480p, 3:11), the
international trailer (480p, 4:32), an interactive Press Book gallery, and a Behind-the-Scenes
gallery.
The Diary of Anne Frank is truly one of classic cinema's great treasures, not necessarily for any technical or acting achievement but instead for the power and unforgettable nature of the story it tells. A film that cannot be watched but only experienced, The Diary of Anne Frank stands apart from its peers as one of the most powerful and moving pictures in memory, its story one of the greats that reflect on the human condition and the unwavering power of the spirit to overcome all obstacles. 20th Century Fox has done it again, releasing a classic film from their impressive library of titles with fantastic results on Blu-ray. Sporting picture and sound qualities that may not immediately "wow" audiences but certainly impress in context, the film has received just treatment for this 50th anniversary release. Supported by a lengthy selection of fine bonus features, The Diary of Anne Frank is a Blu-ray disc that belongs in every collection. Highly recommended.
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