The Sound Barrier Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Sound Barrier Blu-ray Movie Review

A stunning exploration of madness by the great David Lean (Lawrence of Arabia)

The Sound Barrier is an intense drama filled with suspense and intrigue in every turn of the story. The film features a knock-out lead performance by Ralph Richardson (Time Bandits, Doctor Zhivago). A production by acclaimed director David Lean (Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago), The Sound Barrier is highlighted by great production merits and an array of impressive aviation footage.

John Ridgefield (Ralph Richardson), otherwise known as J.R., is a aviation designer who has decided to cook up a jet which is capable of flying faster than the speed of sound. Becoming obsessed in his project, Ridgefield enlists the help of air pilot Tony (Nigel Patrick) to test out his creation. As the turbulent trials are underway, the plan leads to danger at every turn. The tests even create family friction between John and his daughter, Susan (Ann Todd). Battling death and defying the odds, Ridgefield will stop at nothing to surpass the speed of sound in flight.

At the forefront of The Sound Barrier are the impressive performances by the cast. The film is all the more powerful due to the impressive lead performance by Ralph Richardson. The actor had to walk a fine line between showcasing the brilliance of his eccentric character and the madness of Ridgefield attempting to pursue his ambitious dream (which the character was determined to realize at any cost). The part required enormous dedication from the great actor and he was up to the challenge. The quest is one that tested the character of Ridgefield at every turn. The supporting performances by both Nigel Patrick and Ann Todd were also commendable. The performers worked well together and the film excels as a result.

The production features a number of impressive elements throughout. The art direction by Joseph Bato (The Heart of the Matter, The Diplomatic Corpse) and John Hawkesworth (The Man Who Never Was, The Detective) is effective at showcasing the aviation elements highlighted during the story. There are some visually impressive sights to behold because of the high-quality production merits at hand. The production team clearly aimed for authenticity and the end result is a more convincing film.

Tick. Tock. Tick Tock.

One of the most interesting elements of The Sound Barrier is the manner in which the footage was edited. Edited by Geoffrey Foot (Sudden Terror, Take My Life), the film manages to showcase the remarkable aviation footage of the time-period in all of its beauty. There are some great cuts that highlight the aviation elements with ease. One can't help but become transported by the evocative visuals.

The original music score composed by Malcolm Arnold (The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, The Night My Number Came Up) manages to blend in to the production with perfect harmony. The score has impressive timing and finds the right moments to bring suspense or drama to the table. Arnold is a gifted composer and the music was one of the most impressive elements of the production.

The cinematography by Jack Hildyard (The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Message) is at the heart of the production. The film would not have been nearly as successful without the spectacular visuals on display throughout the story. Hildyard brought stunning imagery to the table. The air footage is well photographed and makes the greatest impression of all.

David Lean is one of the most accomplished filmmakers in cinema history. The filmmaker is such an impressive auteur with a complete understanding of his craft. Working with the script by Terence Rattigan (The Prince and the Showgirl, The Browning Version), Lean makes The Sound Barrier a worthwhile cinematic experience that no fan of the director should go without seeing. Fans of the accomplished filmmaker should absolutely consider checking it out. Take a look.

The Sound Barrier Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, The Sound Barrier is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.37:1 full frame. This is quite the impressive presentation. The print is nice and clean (and doesn't have too much in the way of print scratches or other detriments). Detail is excellent and the depth of the image is quite satisfactory. The aerial shots are particularly breathtaking and the encode manages to showcase the footage with ample breathing room. The black levels are also relatively robust given the age of the film. It is hard to imagine fans of the film being disappointing by the high quality scan included on the release. A satisfying presentation.

The Sound Barrier Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Blu-ray release for The Sound Barrier includes a DTS HD Master Audio mono soundtrack. The lossless audio track is quite impressive. Indeed, there is no such "sound barrier" (pun intended) on this release. Dialogue remains crisp, clear, and easy to understand throughout the entire presentation. Given the age of the source elements, I was quite pleased with the quality of the soundstage. There weren't any moments that sounded overly harsh or muffled. The audio track is free from egregious pops, clicks, hiss, crackle and other audio- related detriments. Optional English subtitles are provided.

The Sound Barrier Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by Film Historian and Critic Peter Tonguette

BFI Archival Interview with Director David Lean (HD, 10:46)

The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: The Paradine Case (SD, 1:44), The Captive Heart (SD, 00:47), The Night My Number Came Up (HD, 2:41), and The Lavender Hill Mob (HD, 2:30).

The Sound Barrier Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Few filmmakers are as accomplished as the great David Lean. The auteur filmmaker is such a unique talent in cinema that each effort by the filmmaker is worth a watch. The Sound Barrier is a compelling film which is highlighted by a great performance by Ralph Richardson. The Blu-ray release features a impressive video-audio presentation. Kino has done a commendable job wit the release. Highly recommended.