The Unknown Man of Shandigor Blu-ray Movie

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The Unknown Man of Shandigor Blu-ray Movie United States

L'inconnu de Shandigor
Deaf Crocodile Films | 1967 | 96 min | Not rated | Feb 22, 2022

The Unknown Man of Shandigor (Blu-ray Movie)

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List price: $29.98
Third party: $29.99
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Movie rating

7.5
 / 10

Blu-ray rating

Users0.0 of 50.0
Reviewer4.0 of 54.0
Overall4.0 of 54.0

Overview

The Unknown Man of Shandigor (1967)

Herbert Von Krantz does whatever it takes to keep the wrong people from finding out about his groundbreaking invention that can incapacitate nuclear bombs.

Director: Jean-Louis Roy

Foreign100%
Drama22%
CrimeInsignificant

Specifications

  • Video

    Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
    Video resolution: 1080p
    Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
    Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1

  • Audio

    French: LPCM Mono

  • Subtitles

    English SDH

  • Discs

    Blu-ray Disc
    Single disc (1 BD)

  • Playback

    Region A (B, C untested)

Review

Rating summary

Movie3.5 of 53.5
Video5.0 of 55.0
Audio4.0 of 54.0
Extras3.5 of 53.5
Overall4.0 of 54.0

The Unknown Man of Shandigor Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 19, 2022

1967’s “The Unknown Man of Shandigor” is an incredibly strange take on the spy genre, with director Jean-Louis Roy harnessing the avant-garde power of the 1960s to examine the ways of the Cold War world. He merges elements of James Bond, “Dr. Strangelove,” and New Wave efforts to generate an impressive study of danger involving an unhinged character who’s discovered a “Canceler” formula, capable of disrupting atomic weapons. Naturally, world powers want to possess this information, inspiring various enemies to hunt for the prize, and Roy is ready to provide a wild ride of filmmaking imagination.


Storytelling isn’t nearly as impressive as design and cinematographic efforts in “The Unknown Man of Shandigor,” as the mess of spies and motivations gets quite muddy during the run time, with Roy often playing fast and loose with characterizations. The endeavor isn’t a dramatic achievement, it’s a visual one, with striking imagery throughout, offering a bleak, B&W world of living spaces and locations, identifying unusual threats as environments are explored in full. There’s some wonderful technical achievements here, often in search of a narrative that can match the excitement of Roy’s vision.


The Unknown Man of Shandigor Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality  5.0 of 5

The AVC encoded image (1.66:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers a "4K restoration from the original 35mm" picture elements. Also credited on the packaging is "Blu-ray encoding and authoring by David Mackenzie/Fidelity in Motion," giving the release something special for fans of the format and the movie. Detail is striking throughout, with the visual might of "The Unknown Man of Shandigor" preserved in full, likely surpassing original theatrical engagements. Facial surfaces are exact, examining age and dramatic extremity, and locations are open to examination, providing wonderful dimension. B&W cinematography is secured, with deep blacks throughout, preserving shadow play. Grain is heavy but film-like. Source is in excellent condition.


The Unknown Man of Shandigor Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality  4.0 of 5

The 1.0 LPCM mix delivers consistent dialogue exchanges, with some mild sibilance issues. Scoring cues support with authority, delivering decent instrumentation, and musical performances are clean, with distinct vocals. Sound effects are appreciable.


The Unknown Man of Shandigor Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras  3.5 of 5

  • Commentary features film historian Samm Deighan.
  • "Cinema VIF" (29:15, HD) is an archive Swiss T.V. program, featuring interviews with cast and crew of "The Unknown Man of Shandigor." Brief BTS footage is also included.
  • Interview (15:59, HD) is a conversation with Francois Roy and Michel Schopfer.
  • And a Trailer (4:31, HD) is included.


The Unknown Man of Shandigor Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation  4.0 of 5

"The Unknown Man of Shandigor" is a big puzzle that's not necessarily asking to be solved. It's more of an experience in filmmaking skill and visual might, with gorgeous imagery carrying the endeavor, immersing viewers in a bizarre quest for power. Roy certainly impresses with his commitment to the enigmatic ways of the material, emerging with a decidedly cinematic event.


Other editions

The Unknown Man of Shandigor: Other Editions



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