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The Killers (Double-Disc Special...
Stars
For The 1946 Version: Burt Lancaster, Ava Gardner, Edmond O’Brien, Albert
Dekker, Jack Lambert, and Jeff Corey
Stars
For The 1964 Version: Lee Marvin, Angie Dickinson, John Cassavetes, Clu Gulager,
Claude Akins, Norman Fell, Ronald Reagan, and Seymour Cassel
Writer
For The 1946 Version: Anthony Veiller
Writer
For The 1964 Version: Gene L. Coon
Director
For The 1946 Version: Robert Siodmak
Director
For The 1964 Version: Donald Siegle
Extras:
Interviews, Trailers, Short Films, and Featurettes
Languages:
English Monaural Sound
Subtitles:
English Captions
Packaging:
Double Alpha Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 21/19
Sound:
Monaural Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1946/1964/DVD Release: 2003
Theatrical
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Home
Video Distributor: Home Vision Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: Not Rated
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
This
new DVD release from Home Vision Entertainment is without a doubt the definitive
home video edition of the dramatizations of “Ernest Hemingway’s The
Killers.” Both feature film versions as well as the radio drama and the Andrei
Tartovsky 1958 student film adaptation are included in this two-disc set packed
with extras. One even gets the original story read to them by Stacy Keach as
well as an excellent interview with Edgar Winning Writer Stuart M. Kaminsky
comparing and contrasting both versions of this film.
Multiple
essays, still galleries and more including inserts containing liner notes by
Author Jonathan Lethem and Author Geoffrey O’Brien respectively. There is even
a separate audio and effects track for the 1946 version and the extra features
are spread evenly across both discs making the whole truly greater than the
parts that make up the sum. The main menu on both discs is animated while
subsequent menus are standard interactive still frames that are easy to
navigate.
The
1946 version is presented in its original theatrical aspect ratio of (1.33:1).
This new digital transfer was created from a 35mm nitrate fine-grain positive on
a high-definition Spirit Datacine. The soundtrack was mastered from a 35mm
3-track magnetic audio master. To further enhance the image, the MTI Digital
Restoration System was used to remove thousands of instances of dirt, debris,
and scratches. The soundtrack was mastered at 24-bit; audio restoration tools
were used to reduce clicks, pops, hiss, and crackle.
The
1956 student film version of “The Killers” is also presented in a frayed
(1.33:1) aspect ratio with Russian Monaural Sound and optional English Language
Subtitles and is presented with the permission of the All-Russian State
Institute Of Cinematography (VGIK).
The
1964 version was originally intended to be an original television film, but was
given a theatrical release. Hence the film has a very mid 1960s television feel
to it and much the behind-the-scenes crew were indeed television veterans such
as future “Star Trek: The Original Series” Producer and Writer Gene L. Coon.
This version is presented in the color (1.33:1) aspect ratio, but somewhat
fragments if not grainy presentation with English Monaural Sound. English
Captions for the hearing impaired are provided for both feature versions. It is
very interesting to compare and contrast how both feature adaptations
effectively dramatize the Ernest Hemingway’s short story through two very
different styles and then notice how much of the contemporary crime drama and
caper films from the 1990s have without a doubt been directly or indirectly
inspired by these films.
“Ernest
Hemingway’s The Killers: Double-Disc -
Special
Edition: The Criterion
Collection # 176” is available on DVD-Video now from Home Vision
Entertainment.
©
Copyright 2003 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
Buy This DVD Now By Clicking On The Text Link Below!
The Killers (Double-Disc Special...