Kino’s new Blu-ray of Anthony Mann’s 1952, 3-strip Technicolor, Bend of the River, takes on a bit of a beauty and the beast affair, when compared to Becky Sharp.
Presumably produced from a master delivered by Universal that may have been made for the DVD market, the film almost appears to have been shot in 3-D.
Universal has been doing such brilliant work the past few years, that it pains me to see an old master making its way to Blu-ray.
Registration errors abound, and the entire film has the appearance of having be recombined by some fly-by-night outfit.
On a large screen, it borders on being unwatchable.
The pity is that this is a good film. Not a great one, mind you, but a good one, deserving of better treatment.
Image – 2
Audio – 5
Pass / Fail – Fail
Upgrade from DVD – Absolutely not
RAH
Robert has been known in the film industry for his unmatched skill and passion in film preservation. Growing up around photography, his first home theater experience began at age ten with 16mm. Years later he was running 35 and 70mm at home.
His restoration projects have breathed new life into classic films like Lawrence of Arabia, Vertigo, My Fair Lady, Spartacus, and The Godfather series. Beyond his restoration work, he has also shared his expertise through publications, contributing to the academic discourse on film restoration. The Academy Film Archive houses the Robert A. Harris Collection, a testament to his significant contributions to film preservation.
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