7.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
The desperate life of a chronic alcoholic is followed through a four-day drinking bout.
Starring: Ray Milland, Jane Wyman, Phillip Terry, Howard Da Silva, Doris DowlingDrama | 100% |
Film-Noir | 43% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 16-bit)
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region B (locked)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Billy Wilder's "The Lost Weekend" (1945) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Eureka Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include a short introduction by director Alex Cox; original theatrical trailer; fascinating three-part program made for BBC's Arena, directed by Gisela Grischow and Volker Schlondorff; and 1946 radio adaptation of the film featuring Ray Milland, Jane Wyman, and Frankie Faylen. The disc also arrives with a 36-page illustrated booklet featuring rare archival imagery, and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".
Just give me a bottle of rye
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Billy Wilder's The Lost Weekend arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Eureka Entertainment.
In certain areas the presentation is even stronger than that of Billy Wilder's Double Indemnity. Close-ups convey terrific depth (see screencaptures #1 and 9), and when there is sufficient light clarity is excellent. Color grading does not disappoint either - the blacks are exceptionally rich and stable while the grays and whites look notably healthy. There are no traces of problematic lab corrections. Grain is prominent and well resolved (see screencaptures #9 and 13), and noise never affects its integrity. A few light scratches and flecks and some extremely light edge shimmer occasionally pop up, but there are no serious damage marks or frame transition issues to report in this review. Lastly, when projected the film has a pleasing fluid look. To sum it all up, this is yet another competent presentation of an important film from Eureka Entertainment that should make its fans very happy. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).
There is only one audio track on this Blu-ray disc: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. For the record, Eureka Entertainment have provided optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature.
There are no serious technical issues with the lossless track to report in this review. The dialog is crisp, clean, and easy to follow, while Miklós Rózsa's excellent score (with a prominent role in the film) gets a strong boost. Also, there is actually a decent range of nuanced dynamics that further enhance the unusual atmosphere. For the record, there are no audio distortions of problematic dropouts to re port in this review.
Eureka Entertainment's release of director Billy Wilder's The Lost Weekend is even more impressive than their release of the classic Double Indemnity. Not only does this multiple Oscar winner look great in high-definition, but as a bonus the distributors have also included a truly fascinating three-hour long program in which Volker Schlondorff interviews the legendary director. This is truly a must-see material. If you could play Region-B "locked" discs, consider adding The Lost Weekend to your library. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
The Big Carnival / Masters of Cinema
1951
Arrow Academy
1948
Arrow Academy
1948
Arrow Academy
1957
1947
2007
1946
1984
Vintage Classics
1963
Arrow Academy
1944
Indicator Series
1950
Indicator Series
1949
Standard Edition
1957
Indicator Series | Standard Edition
1957
1937
Premium Collection
1947
Indicator Series
1943
1970
2018
1947