The Big Country Kino Lorber Blu Ray Review

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MGM - Region 1 - NTSC vs. MGM - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

one) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT

2) MGM - Region Complimentary - Blu-ray MIDDLE

three) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray Right

Box Cover

Also now available via Amazon.com (same transfer):

Distribution MGM Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC MGM Habitation Video - Region Costless - Blu-ray Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray Runtime 2:46:28 2:46:54.045 2:46:55.338 Video two.32:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.43 mb/due south
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/due south

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 48,333,063,955 bytes

Feature: 46,949,351,424 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 31.99 Mbps

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 46,170,003,074 bytes

Feature: 34,111,279,104 bytes

Codec: MPEG-four AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 23.97 Mbps

Notation: The Vertical centrality represents the bits transferred per 2nd. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

Bitrate: MGM Blu-ray

Bitrate: KINO Blu-ray

Audio English language (Dolby Digital ii.0), DUB: French (Dolby Digital 2.0) DTS-Hd Principal Sound English 1981 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1981 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit / DN -4dB)
DTS Audio French 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps / 24-bit / DN -4dB
DTS Audio German 256 kbps ii.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps / 24-chip / DN -4dB
DTS Audio Italian 256 kbps two.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps / 24-bit / DN -4dB
DTS Audio Spanish 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps / 24-flake / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps / DN -4dB

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1559 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1559 kbps / sixteen-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-flake)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Sound English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

Subtitles French, Spanish, None English language, Danish, Dutch, French, German language, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish or none English, None Features

Release Data:
Studio: MGM Home Video

Aspect Ratio:

2.32:1

Edition Details:

• Theatrical Trailer (two:50 - widescreen - non -anamorphic)

DVD Release Appointment: March 20th, 2001
Keep Example
Capacity: sixteen

Release Information:
Studio: MGM Home Video

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 48,333,063,955 bytes

Characteristic: 46,949,351,424 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 31.99 Mbps

Edition Details:

• Fun in the State (5:12 in 480i)

• Television receiver Spot (:53 in 480i)

• Theatrical Trailer (2:53 - iv:3 in 1080P)

Blu-ray Release Date: June tenth, 2011
Standard Blu-ray Case
Chapters: 16

Release Information:
Studio: Kino

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 46,170,003,074 bytes

Feature: 34,111,279,104 bytes

Codec: MPEG-iv AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 23.97 Mbps

Edition Details:

• Audio Commentary by Noted Cultural Historian Sir Christopher Frayling
• Directed by William Wyler - 60 Minute Documentary (58:09)
vWyler Doc Outtakes with Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston and Billy Wilder (22:46)
• Interviews with Cecilia Peck, Carey Peck and Tony Peck (12:26)
• Interview with Fraser Heston (11:05)
• Interview with Catherine Wyler (12:44)
• Fun in the Land - Featurette (5:13)
• Larry Cohen on Chuck Connors (ii:46)
• Original Theatrical Trailer (2:56)
• Goggle box Spot (0:59)
• Two Blithe Prototype Galleries
• Reversible Blu-ray Art)

Blu-ray Release Date: June 5th, 2018
Standard Blu-ray Instance
Capacity: 8

Comments:

NOTE: The beneath Blu-ray captures were taken direct from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - June xviii': the biggest difference is the horizontals stretching of the image - as seen on the MGM Blu-ray - has been corrected. This is a relief to many fans who were adamant that this was not a reflection of ' Cinemascope Mumps' simply rather a flaw in the 2011 transfer . Despite the Kino having a lower bitrate, on the dual-layered disc, information technology looks brilliant in their new '60th Anniversary Special Edition' 1080P. Item sharpens, contrast - blackness levels improve, skin tones warm and the visuals looks impressive specially in the film's many Vista sequences.

Kino scrimp a shade on the audio with a DTS0-Hard disk drive Primary 2.0 aqueduct (16-bit) but the western effects - horses, guns, accept support as does the excellent score by Jerome Moross ( The Valley of Gwangi, notable for wholesome western tracks for The Jayhawkers, Accept Gun - Will Travel (Television receiver) and large productions like The War Lord and The Cardinal). There are optional English subtitles on the Region 'A' Blu-ray disc.

Kino add significantly more than extras including a revealing audio commentary by noted cultural historian Sir Christopher Frayling who has written a number of western books including Once Upon a Time in the Due west: Shooting a Masterpiece and Once Upon a Time in Italy: The Westerns of Sergio Leone). His knowledge is extensive and he is a pleasure to listen to. There is also the 60 minutes-long documentary 'Directed by William Wyler' past Aviva Slesin from 1986. Information technology is a tribute to director William Wyler consisting of interviews with Bette Davis, Greer Garson, Audrey Hepburn, Charlton Heston and others and excerpts from his many classic films. Some will bask the Outtakes from that documentary, also included - running 23-minutes. There are more interviews with Gregory Peck's children Cecilia Peck, Carey Peck and Tony Peck, plus Charlton'due south son Fraser Heston and an interview with Catherine Wyler. Plus there is a short featurette Fun in the Country, Larry Cohen talks about Chuck Connors and there is an original theatrical trailer, TV Spot and two animated Epitome galleries and the bundle has a reversible cover (run across beneath.)

Finally, this masterpiece western gets an upgraded Blu-ray release... and information technology'south a neat one. Brilliant storytelling from a master - virtually honor, pride, masculinity, revenge and self-respect. In my consideration an absolute must-own. Buy with extreme confidence.

* **

ADDITION: MGM - Region Free - Blu-ray - Baronial 11': I know this is available through i of the brick-and-mortar stores in the US every bit an exclusive - but I had a dickens of a time trying to get it. I'll wager this German offered Blu-ray is EXACTLY the same equally the one now available from Amazon.com. The reason I suspect that is that the region FREE disc has only a English language pop-up bill of fare, enough of foreign linguistic communication options (subs and DUBs) and the extras are in 480i NTSC (not 576 PAL.)

The appearance is a revelation as compared to the 2001 MGM DVD which looks decided weak beside the dual-layered 1080P. You can see from the captures that there is some significantly varying amount of information in the frame (all 4 sides). For the most part the Blu-ray has much more - merely it varies and this is probably because the 2:32:1 DVD was zoomed-in without consistency. The Blu-ray also looks brighter, much more detail and some depth creeps in. The 'scope ratio was far more evident and I recollect this is a tremendous advancement over the SD. Unfortunately, it is horizontally stretched and its does not announced to be caused by Cinemascope Mumps ("The CinemaScope lenses were optically flawed, however, by the fixed anamorphic element, which acquired the anamorphic event to gradually drib off as objects approached closer to the lens. The effect was that close-ups would slightly overstretch an player's confront, a problem that was soon referred to as "the mumps" ").

Audio is in the form of a DTS-Hd Master two.0 channel at 1981 kbps. Jerome Moross, who orchestrated more than than composed for film has a score that adds a dainty crisp edge and sounds quite wonderful. There are a bunch of DUBs and optional subtitles on the region Free disc.

Supplements fifty-fifty advance upon the DVD with an original featurette entitled Fun in the Country with behind-the-scenes shots running but over 5-minutes and a cursory Goggle box Spot (:53 seconds) also due south the trailer found on the DVD simply now in 1080P.

Essential release in my stance. I LOVE this flick and it looks and sounds fabulous -especially compared to the old DVD. Don't hesitate this is a archetype looking and sounding far better than ever earlier!

***

ON THE DVD : DVD prototype is acceptable for MGM, if not Warner standard. Sharp through most, it has moments of dullness in both detail and colors lean to a greenish haze. No boosting and blackness levels are convincingly expert. No English subtitles, original sound and only a trailer as an extra. I am biased, but the film surely deserves improve, but as far as MGM goes - this is a 1 of their superior titles - HD film sourced and dual layered. Simply 'proficient enough', not magnificent. I'll live. out of