Khartoum/The Charge of the Light Brigade (1 Viewer)

[Anthony I]

MGM is releasing these two movies next week. Are they worth getting? If anyone has them already, how is the transfer?

 

[Maurice McCone]

Anthony, I haven't got mine yet but I have them both on order. They should be basic discs but I am particularly pleased to be getting Charge of the Light Brigade in w/s.....fingers crossed for the quality of the transfer.
They are cheap, so not sure what to read into that.

 

[Michael Warner]

I've reviewed "Khartoum" and it looks and sounds good on DVD. 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen (was likely originally 2.75:1 for Cinerama showings) and Dolby Digital 3.0 Surround. You won't mistake it for a new film as colors are a bit dull and the image is soft but there are very few blemishes on the print and on the whole it looks good. The audio is very lively with the surrounds fully engaged for the battle sequences and musical score. Not bad for $9.

"The Vikings" is also part of this latest wave of MGM releases and it looks even better and features a new 24-minute behind-the-scenes documentary/photo gallery hosted by director Richard Fleischer. And again, it can be had for $9.

I had forgotten about "The Charge of the Light Brigade." I'll have to grab that one as well.

 

[Thomas T]

Michael, is Khartoum the original roadshow presentation? The laser disc contains the Overture, Intermission, Entracte and Exit music. I'd like to upgrade to the DVD but not if it's not the complete roadshow version.

 

[RolandL]

Where do you buy these discs for $9?

 

[RolandL]

This is the roadshow presentation. Check out the review at -
http://www.dvdreview.com/fullreviews/khartoum.shtml

 

[Thomas T]

Thanks, Roland!

 

[Jay E]

Where do you buy these discs for $9?

At deepdiscountdvd, the best DVD e-tailer IMO. $9.36 including shipping.

 

[RolandL]

Thanks Jay. I have bought from Deepdiscount dvd before.

 

[Michael Warner]

I picked up my copies for $9.99 at BestBuy as they had them out a week early last weekend and I couldn't resist. The review Roland linked to is the one I wrote so let me know if you have any other questions and I'll try to answer them.

 

[Mark_Wilson]

Ronaldl, I didn't see any mention of it being the roadshow presentation in that review.

 

[RolandL]

In the review it says:

"all the frills of the original theatrical showing with the 4-minute overture, 2-minute intermission and entr’acte, and 2 minutes of exit music"

The general release of most of these films did not include the overture, intermission, entr'actre and exit music. Sometimes they also cut scenes in the general release.

The DVD version is the complete version - only missing the full 2.76:1 Ultra Panavision aspect ratio.

 

[Justin Doring]

Thanks for the link, Roland. I'm glad MGM is including the overture, intermission, entr'acte, and exit music, unlike their release of The Alamo. Unlike DVD Review, who mistakenly believes the events at Khartoum are "little known," I don't consider these "frills," as they are part of the film, just like the opening and closing credits are.
Also, I should clarify that The Charge of the Light Brigade is NOT the 1936 Curtiz, Flynn, Korngold version, but the 1968 Richardson directed version.