7.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Brilliantly capturing the opressive paranoia of Franz Kafka's classic novel, Orson Welles' THE TRIAL is the story of the young clerk, Josef K., who is arrested. All without ever knowing his crime. Welles filmed this baroque work of genius in a deserted belle epoque railway station in Paris. The strange setting perfectly captured the bizarre and nightmarish world of Kafka's mythical totalitarian state.
Starring: Anthony Perkins, Orson Welles, Jeanne Moreau, Romy Schneider, Akim TamiroffDrama | 100% |
Surreal | 22% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
German: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH, French, German
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region B (locked)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Orson Welles' "The Trial" (1962) arrives on 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray courtesy of StudioCanal. The supplemental features on the release include archival interview with director of photography Edmond Richard; archival interview with playwright Steven Berkoff; Julia and Clara Kuperberg's documentary "This is Orson Welles"; deleted scenes; restoration trailer; and more. In English, French, or German, with optional English SDH, French, and German subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
The Civilized Mob vs. The Guilty
StudioCanal's release of The Trial is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. The Blu-ray is Region-B "locked".
Please note that some of the screencaptures that appear with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and are downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc.
Screencaptures #1-22 are from The Trial Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #31-37 are from The Trial 4K Blu-ray.
The 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray are sourced from an exclusive new 4K master that was prepared after The Trial was fully restored in 4K at L'Immagine Ritrovata in 2022. The original 35mm camera negative was used during the restoration process. The 4K restoration was made possible with funding by Chanel.
A decade ago, we covered this Region-B release of The Trial, which was part of the then-recently launched StudioCanal Collection. It was one of the weakest entries in the collection. The new 4K makeover of The Trial is excellent and makes it possible to experience the film in an entirely new way, both in native 4K and 1080p. However, the two presentations are not equally satisfying. I viewed the native 4K presentation in its entirety with HDR. Later, I tested large sections of the 1080p presentation.
First, the entire film has a dramatically better organic appearance in native 4K and 1080p. Frankly, the upgrade in quality is so big that it is pointless to address specific areas from the new 4K/1080p presentations and the previous 1080p presentation. Simply put, on the old Blu-ray release, the film reveals massive limitations and has a pretty harsh look. It has some minor but easily noticeable stability issues that are eliminated on the new 4K makeover as well. So, the 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray offer all-around superior technical presentations.
There is a noticeable difference between the new 1080p and 4K presentations as well. In 1080p, the visuals boast very good delineation, clarity, and depth, but in a few areas the gamma levels appear slightly uneven. To be honest, I have come to expect this from black-and-white 4K projects that are finalized at L'Immagine Ritrovata. The good news here is that these fluctuations are very small and in native 4K with HDR essentially disappear. There are some inherited density fluctuations as well, but they are easy to recognize because the most obvious ones appear before or after transitions. In native 4K, the surface of the visuals -- which is where the major flaws of the previous 1080p presentation were most prominent -- looks outstanding. Even on a very large screen all visuals hold up very well and boast a tremendous organic appearance. I was very, very impressed. This isn't always the case in 1080p. Why? Because there is room for some important encoding optimizations. For example, you can see that in screencapture #22 the blacks are struggling to stay proper and begin to exhibit macroblocking (see bottom right corner of the image). While I was not specifically looking, I did not encounter any similar issues in native 4K. Generally speaking, the visuals are slightly darker in native 4K as well, so this is something that adds extra 'protection'. Fluidity is excellent. Minor stuttering, skips, weaving, and other similar obvious anomalies are eliminated on the new 4K makeover. The entire film looks exceptionally clean as well. To sum it all up, the new 4K makeover is excellent and it looks good in 1080p and outstanding in native 4K. While you will not be underwhelmed if you choose to experience it in 1080p, my recommendation would be, if possible, to experience it in native 4K.
*The main menus on the 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray discs can be set in English, French, or German. Therefore, the French and German 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray releases should offer identical presentations of The Trial.
There are three standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, and German DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH, French, and German subtitles are provided for the main feature.
The audio is clean and very easy to follow. I assume that it was fully restored because on the previous Blu-ray release occasionally it was easy to detect very light background hiss. Sharpness and dynamic balance can fluctuate a bit, but I have to assume that the unevenness is inherited. I did not encounter any encoding anomalies to report in our review.
4K BLU-RAY DISC
Even though the brilliance of Citizen Kane is undeniable, if I had to pick one of Orson Welles' films that perfectly visualizes his creative genius, The Trial would be it. This film tackles a grand masterpiece of literature with such remarkable imagination, style, and provocative wit that it will never age. I sat down to revisit it a few nights ago for the first time in probably a decade or so and was astonished at how well it describes a lot of what we are enduring at this moment. Franz Kafka's novel just as effectively frees the mind to see and understand what isn't always transparent, but Welles' film makes the entire illuminating experience truly special. StudioCanal's 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack is sourced from an exclusive new 4K master that was prepared after The Trial was fully restored in 4K at L'Immagine Ritrovata. I think that the makeover is excellent and the 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack delivers the best technical presentation of the film to date. Hopefully, a similar release will be made available for collectors in the United States as well. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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1962
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1965
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