6.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
As an African-American teen in small-town Kansas in the 1920s, Newt Winger largely shrugs off the racial prejudice of his time and place. His calm and self-controlled perspective is in direct opposition to that of his quick-tempered friend, Marcus Savage. But when Marcus' father, Booker, murders a man—and Newt witnesses the crime—Newt realizes that going to the police could jeopardize both his friendship and his life.
Starring: Kyle Johnson, Alex Clarke, Estelle Evans, Dana Elcar, Mira WatersDrama | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
English: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Some of the supplements included on this disc understandably get into the history of blacks in America in general and in show business in particular, and the salient point is made that Gordon Parks probably never could have made The Learning Tree much before its actual production year of circa 1969, even if Parks' original novel had appeared several years earlier. As is discussed in these bonus features, while black performers had started making headway in front of the camera, as evidenced by Sidney Poitier's 1967 trifecta of In the Heat of the Night, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, and To Sir, with Love, behind the scenes artisans often found themselves unable to proceed. Even some decidedly "black centric" films from this general era like another classic starring Poitier, A Raisin in the Sun, often opted for white directors, perhaps out of a perceived necessity. Gordon Parks had already "proven" himself (as if that would be deemed necessary, which it may well have been given the general tenor of the times) as a photographer for such notable publications as Life, but even so, it may have seemed positively risky at the time to put him in the director's chair for a somewhat sprawling story involving a black family and several associated characters, in the somewhat unusual location of 1920s Kansas (where Parks grew up).
The Learning Tree is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of The Criterion Collection with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.35:1. Criterion's insert booklet has the following information on the master:
The Learning Tree is presented in its original CinemaScope aspect ratio of 2.35:1. A 35 mm interpositive was scanned in 2K resolution on a Lasergraphics Director film scanner at Warner Bros. Motion Picture Imaging in Burbank, California. A 35 mm library print was used as color reference. The original monaural soundtrack was remastered from the two inch magnetic track.While there are some variances on display in terms of color temperature in particular, this is an often stunning looking presentation courtesy of Burnett Guffey's evocative cinematography. Things look just slightly faded to my eyes at times, with a somewhat drab brownish appearance, but that said, things can still pop vividly throughout the film, and some of the most brightly lit outdoor material, as in the late carnival sequence featuring the boxing match, really look fantastic. Damage is commendably minimal, though there is some "baked in" roughness during things like optical dissolves (see screenshot 19). Aside from understandable variances during things like dissolves, the grain field is organic looking and I noticed no problems whatsoever with compression anomalies. Fine detail is typically very good to excellent, though Parks isn't shy from employing then trendy techniques like sudden zooms, which can momentarily affect things. My score is 4.25.
The Learning Tree features a problem free LPCM Mono track. The multi-hyphenate Parks also contributed a rather nice score, including an interesting theme song sung by O.C. Smith, who then would have just been coming off his massive success with Little Green Apples. Some of the underscore is really good in my estimation, perhaps aided by orchestrator Tom McIntosh. Dialogue is always rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.
Additionally, an Introduction by Rhea L. Combs and Nelson George (HD; 8:35) speaking about the documentaries is available.- Diary of a Harlem Family (HD; 20:17) is based on one of Parks' legendary photo essays for Life magazine.
- The World of Piri Thomas (HD; 59:30) focuses on Puerto Rican - Cuban poet Piri Thomas in Spanish Harlem.
I've just always kind of loved the way Parks both subverts and employs expectations in this story, and I'd rank this up there with films like the aforementioned A Raisin in the Sun and Sounder for providing really beautifully nuanced and full bodied depictions of resilient, commendably emotionally intact, black families. The fact that this was rather incredibly (as the back cover of this release states) the first Hollywood studio film helmed by a black director makes this an important historical document, but more importantly perhaps it's a visceral emotional experience and a testament to Parks' strengths as a writer and director. Technical merits are solid, and the supplements very well done. Highly recommended.
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