- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,428
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
When it comes to pulp literature one might go only as far as to quote dialogue from Star Trek IV, with Spock explaining profanity to Kirk as the work of Harold Robbins and Jacqueline Suzanne.
"Ah, the giants."
One of those giants of literature wrote the basis for Paramount's Joseph E. Levine production of The Carpetbaggers.
Contemporary reviews were generally poor to horrific, with The New York Times' Bosley Crowther, who actually did write a few good reviews, noting that the film is a "a sickly sour distillation of Harold Robbins's big-selling 1961 novel." In his final words on the subject, he tells us that "Mr. Dmytryk [the director] has gone at this film, which might have been trenchant in the manner of "Citizen Kane," with a baseball bat. He has beaten it down to a square, flat surface, without cinematic lift or style. And, somehow, color makes it look more synthetic than it might look in black-and-white."
Well, here we are sixty years later, and nothing much has changed except that the film can now be viewed as a product of the time, and considered as a bit of fun filmmaking for profit.
Paramount's new master, as released by Kino is helpful in that regard, as it literally glistens with Technicolor-like wonderfulness on the new Blu-ray. I believe Joseph MacDonald, a superb cinematographer, would approve.
Colors literally pop off the screen. Grain looks absolutely proper, and untainted. Resolution likewise. In some ways, this could pass for 4k.
A much-maligned, but "must-see" film from 1964 gets a wonderful Blu-ray send-off. Original prints were dye transfer with blow-ups to 70mm.
The pre-quel, Nevada Smith, directed by Henry Hathaway and starring Steve McQueen is also available from Kino.
Sadly, the slip need not be mentioned.
Image – 5
Audio – 5 (DTS-HD MA 5.1, from an original 3.0 mix)
Pass / Fail – Pass
Plays nicely with projectors - Yes
Worth your attention - 6
Slipcover rating - 1
Recommended
Thank you for supporting HTF when you preorder using the link below. As an Amazon Associate HTF earns from qualifying purchases. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.
"Ah, the giants."
One of those giants of literature wrote the basis for Paramount's Joseph E. Levine production of The Carpetbaggers.
Contemporary reviews were generally poor to horrific, with The New York Times' Bosley Crowther, who actually did write a few good reviews, noting that the film is a "a sickly sour distillation of Harold Robbins's big-selling 1961 novel." In his final words on the subject, he tells us that "Mr. Dmytryk [the director] has gone at this film, which might have been trenchant in the manner of "Citizen Kane," with a baseball bat. He has beaten it down to a square, flat surface, without cinematic lift or style. And, somehow, color makes it look more synthetic than it might look in black-and-white."
Well, here we are sixty years later, and nothing much has changed except that the film can now be viewed as a product of the time, and considered as a bit of fun filmmaking for profit.
Paramount's new master, as released by Kino is helpful in that regard, as it literally glistens with Technicolor-like wonderfulness on the new Blu-ray. I believe Joseph MacDonald, a superb cinematographer, would approve.
Colors literally pop off the screen. Grain looks absolutely proper, and untainted. Resolution likewise. In some ways, this could pass for 4k.
A much-maligned, but "must-see" film from 1964 gets a wonderful Blu-ray send-off. Original prints were dye transfer with blow-ups to 70mm.
The pre-quel, Nevada Smith, directed by Henry Hathaway and starring Steve McQueen is also available from Kino.
Sadly, the slip need not be mentioned.
Image – 5
Audio – 5 (DTS-HD MA 5.1, from an original 3.0 mix)
Pass / Fail – Pass
Plays nicely with projectors - Yes
Worth your attention - 6
Slipcover rating - 1
Recommended
Thank you for supporting HTF when you preorder using the link below. As an Amazon Associate HTF earns from qualifying purchases. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.
Last edited by a moderator:
