The second release from The Weinstein Company's Miriam Collection, Anthony Mann's The Fall of the Roman Empire, is far superior in image quality to their initial offering.
While not what it might have been had a new transfer been possible, the overall look of the film is quite satisfactory, especially at a street price of less than $20.
Occasional processing problems are noted. Black levels are not what they might be, interestingly allowing more shadow detail. Whites occasionally look washed out, and contrast is lacking overall.
Color, especially in facial tones seems restrained, but there is nothing here that should hold anyone back from adding this huge quality production to their DVD library.
Note should also be made that the aspect ratio, which I'm certain will be a topic of on line discussion, has been adapted, but few home theaters have the overall size that would allow a 2.76:1 image to co-exist along with the necessary loss of vertical resolution necessary to achieve it.
For home theater use, a nominal 2.55 or thereabouts is probably as wide as one would want to go, unless the production actually makes use of the entire frame area -- and some do.
With the caveats noted above, most of which will in no way affect the casual viewer, The Fall of the Roman Empire is recommended.
RAH
While not what it might have been had a new transfer been possible, the overall look of the film is quite satisfactory, especially at a street price of less than $20.
Occasional processing problems are noted. Black levels are not what they might be, interestingly allowing more shadow detail. Whites occasionally look washed out, and contrast is lacking overall.
Color, especially in facial tones seems restrained, but there is nothing here that should hold anyone back from adding this huge quality production to their DVD library.
Note should also be made that the aspect ratio, which I'm certain will be a topic of on line discussion, has been adapted, but few home theaters have the overall size that would allow a 2.76:1 image to co-exist along with the necessary loss of vertical resolution necessary to achieve it.
For home theater use, a nominal 2.55 or thereabouts is probably as wide as one would want to go, unless the production actually makes use of the entire frame area -- and some do.
With the caveats noted above, most of which will in no way affect the casual viewer, The Fall of the Roman Empire is recommended.
RAH
