- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
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- 18,417
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
The second volume of Elia Kazan productions from Fox Connect, has also now been released on Blu-ray. Four films -- Man on a Tightrope (1953), A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945), Viva Zapata (1952), and Wild River (1960), are included, and round out Mr. Kazan's work at Fox.
Wild River was Mr. Kazan's second film in color and CinemaScope. His first was East of Eden. I was concerned placing a 1960-based color production in my player, as almost all color films of that era are extremely problematic in one way or another.
I was extremely pleasantly surprised by this one, as the color appears beautiful. What the asset protection team at Fox had to work with, I'm not certain, but the final result is stunning. While I have direct information, part of this may go to the the need for a new 35mm print for the 2009 Kazan retrospective at the Film Forum in NYC.
This TVA centric film, about land to be flooded by dam construction in the 1930s is interesting on a number of levels. I mentioned that the majority of Mr. Kazan's productions were black & white. It appears that Wild River may be one of the earliest color productions set in 1930s rural America.
Wonderful, and generally unseen film. Great performances -- Montgomery Clift, Lee Remick, Jo Van Fleet (who he had earlier directed in East of Eden).
Viva Zapata gives us Marlon Brando as Emiliano Zapata. The time period is the 1910 Mexican revolution. I'm unaware whether this was shot on nitrate or safety, but like the earlier black & white productions, once we get past the dupes, this one shines, and shines at a far higher level than the earlier films.
Gorgeous black & white reproduction, with stunning gray levels.
Wild River
Image - 4.5
Audio - 5
Viva Zapata
Image - 4.5
Audio - 4
Once again, as with the other Kazan set, these fllms are...
Extremely Highly Recommended.
I can think of no better way to align oneself with the extraordinary works of Mr. Kazan.
RAH
Wild River was Mr. Kazan's second film in color and CinemaScope. His first was East of Eden. I was concerned placing a 1960-based color production in my player, as almost all color films of that era are extremely problematic in one way or another.
I was extremely pleasantly surprised by this one, as the color appears beautiful. What the asset protection team at Fox had to work with, I'm not certain, but the final result is stunning. While I have direct information, part of this may go to the the need for a new 35mm print for the 2009 Kazan retrospective at the Film Forum in NYC.
This TVA centric film, about land to be flooded by dam construction in the 1930s is interesting on a number of levels. I mentioned that the majority of Mr. Kazan's productions were black & white. It appears that Wild River may be one of the earliest color productions set in 1930s rural America.
Wonderful, and generally unseen film. Great performances -- Montgomery Clift, Lee Remick, Jo Van Fleet (who he had earlier directed in East of Eden).
Viva Zapata gives us Marlon Brando as Emiliano Zapata. The time period is the 1910 Mexican revolution. I'm unaware whether this was shot on nitrate or safety, but like the earlier black & white productions, once we get past the dupes, this one shines, and shines at a far higher level than the earlier films.
Gorgeous black & white reproduction, with stunning gray levels.
Wild River
Image - 4.5
Audio - 5
Viva Zapata
Image - 4.5
Audio - 4
Once again, as with the other Kazan set, these fllms are...
Extremely Highly Recommended.
I can think of no better way to align oneself with the extraordinary works of Mr. Kazan.
RAH