The Young Savages Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

The Young Savages Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 12, 2014

In his second feature film, director John Frankenheimer attacks the social problem movie with 1961’s “The Young Savages,” a potent but overlong look at the woes of racism, poverty, and the complex nature of crime. Although it’s based on a book by author Evan Hunter, the picture is pure Frankenheimer, taking a stylish, challenging look at the erosion of society and the politics of justice. Strikingly crafted, “The Young Savages” manages to overcome its fatiguing length to isolate raw emotions, led by strong work from star Burt Lancaster.

Viewed today, “The Young Savages” is a fascinating time capsule that spotlights a more theatrical style of gang warfare, though the screenplay doesn’t treat the central conflict as a cartoon. This is a story of murder and hatred, using a procedural tone to inspect exploding prejudices in New York City, specifically Harlem, where the story ties all the characters together. The production doesn’t shy away from blunt language and fiery tempers, and suspense is surprisingly effective in the first half, with those voicing their opinion on the way of the world receiving a taste of real life violence. Frankenheimer captures it all with extreme angles, shadow play, and tight editorial communication, sustaining unease as witness accounts are tested for authenticity.

The Young Savages Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.75:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers a decent handle on fine detail with the aid of welcome sharpness, providing interesting skin textures on the actors, isolating pockmarks and wrinkles, and neighborhood atmosphere is easily surveyed, preserving distances. Blacks have their moments of solidification but mostly keep their textures. Grain is satisfactory. Periodic displays of debris are viewable, along with some speckling.

The Young Savages Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Controversy clouds the audio track on "The Young Savages," with reports that synch issues are immediately apparent once dialogue kicks in during the film's opener. I can't review every copy out there, only the one provided to me, and I personally did not experience such separation -- synch was secure during my viewing. Whether this is a player issue (I viewed the disc on a PS3 slim) or a disc defect, I can't be sure. What's here is actually very primitive, with shrill highs on performance extremes and tinny scoring. Hiss is present throughout, but it doesn't threaten adequate clarity. It's a straightforward track, heavy on ADR, and there's nothing unique or sonically powerful about it, and there's no overt damage.

The Young Savages Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on this disc.

The Young Savages Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Young Savages" loses tautness when it finally enters the courtroom in the final act, and while Lancaster growls with laudable legal fury, the details of the case and the secrets of the characters are worn out at this point. However, a dip in intensity doesn't erase any of the powerful moments of the picture, as "The Young Savages" retains a rich understanding of community pressures and juvenile misdeeds. Despite its age, many of its themes and fears are still relevant today.