The Enemy Below (1957) - 04/25/2014

[BarnDoor]

Can't find a thread about this, but Fox are releasing this classic war film imminently, in what looks like a very nice package:

The Enemy Below Blu-ray



Can't find any information about a release elsewhere, but given that it's Fox you'd imagine we might hear something soon.

[McCrutchy]

This has dropped down to 50% off (¥2969) from Amazon, but there is a wait for stock:

[McCrutchy]

Confirmation:

This disc is region-free.

BDInfo scan:

There is no main menu on this release, only a pop-up menu in Japanese to toggle the audio and subtitles. English subtitles are non-SDH, and all subtitling is in white font.

There are no extras on the disc, but Fox Japan have provided a thick slipcase to house the disc (itself in a UK-style amaray case), what looks like a Japanese flyer reproduction, and a 48-page full color book, with an abundance of information in Japanese, and production photos.

                                                                                                                Total   Video                                             
Title                                                           Codec   Length  Movie Size      Disc Size       Bitrate Bitrate Main Audio Track                          Secondary Audio Track
-----                                                           ------  ------- --------------  --------------  ------- ------- ------------------                        ---------------------
00800.MPLS                                                      AVC     1:37:34 30,408,923,136  31,426,534,357  41.55   35.09   DTS-HD Master 4.0 3078Kbps (48kHz/24-bit)

DISC INFO:

Disc Title:     The Enemy Below
Disc Size:      31,426,534,357 bytes
Protection:     BD+
BD-Java:        Yes
BDInfo:         0.5.8

PLAYLIST REPORT:

Name:                   00800.MPLS
Length:                 1:37:34.890 (h:m:s.ms)
Size:                   30,408,923,136 bytes
Total Bitrate:          41.55 Mbps

VIDEO:

Codec                   Bitrate             Description     
-----                   -------             -----------     
MPEG-4 AVC Video        35088 kbps          1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1

AUDIO:

Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     
-----                           --------        -------         -----------     
DTS-HD Master Audio             English         3078 kbps       4.0 / 48 kHz / 3078 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 4.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio             Japanese        1109 kbps       1.0 / 48 kHz / 1109 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)

SUBTITLES:

Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     
-----                           --------        -------         -----------     
Presentation Graphics           Japanese        16.481 kbps                     
Presentation Graphics           English         31.786 kbps                     
Presentation Graphics           Japanese        1.290 kbps                      

FILES:

Name            Time In         Length          Size            Total Bitrate   
----            -------         ------          ----            -------------   
00800.M2TS      0:00:00.000     1:37:34.890     30,408,923,136  41,550          

CHAPTERS:

Number          Time In         Length          Avg Video Rate  Max 1-Sec Rate  Max 1-Sec Time  Max 5-Sec Rate  Max 5-Sec Time  Max 10Sec Rate  Max 10Sec Time  Avg Frame Size  Max Frame Size  Max Frame Time  
------          -------         ------          --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  
1               0:00:00.000     0:01:31.925     33,181 kbps     36,941 kbps     00:00:09.592    36,006 kbps     00:00:05.588    35,857 kbps     00:01:04.731    172,912 bytes   301,832 bytes   00:01:14.532    
2               0:01:31.925     0:05:36.669     35,626 kbps     37,117 kbps     00:03:55.068    36,141 kbps     00:03:50.939    35,892 kbps     00:04:25.181    185,739 bytes   302,215 bytes   00:01:43.436    
3               0:07:08.594     0:04:33.314     35,087 kbps     36,694 kbps     00:08:01.856    36,010 kbps     00:09:00.957    35,857 kbps     00:09:27.358    182,928 bytes   292,000 bytes   00:08:04.108    
4               0:11:41.909     0:03:48.811     34,998 kbps     37,449 kbps     00:12:31.959    35,981 kbps     00:13:15.503    35,878 kbps     00:14:37.960    182,461 bytes   302,177 bytes   00:12:20.906    
5               0:15:30.721     0:06:28.262     35,535 kbps     37,585 kbps     00:17:21.665    36,087 kbps     00:18:38.534    35,911 kbps     00:18:33.529    185,265 bytes   326,250 bytes   00:20:23.138    
6               0:21:58.984     0:05:13.563     34,559 kbps     36,906 kbps     00:22:10.245    35,908 kbps     00:26:44.602    35,807 kbps     00:26:43.685    180,176 bytes   315,506 bytes   00:26:27.127    
7               0:27:12.547     0:02:29.482     35,751 kbps     37,024 kbps     00:28:06.518    36,080 kbps     00:28:02.806    35,911 kbps     00:27:57.884    186,391 bytes   289,967 bytes   00:28:07.477    
8               0:29:42.030     0:07:13.850     34,875 kbps     38,307 kbps     00:30:15.647    36,186 kbps     00:30:11.601    35,992 kbps     00:30:06.638    181,821 bytes   315,283 bytes   00:31:47.655    
9               0:36:55.880     0:01:53.363     35,497 kbps     37,145 kbps     00:37:21.989    36,015 kbps     00:38:09.829    35,884 kbps     00:38:13.416    185,067 bytes   312,349 bytes   00:37:36.921    
10              0:38:49.243     0:01:05.815     33,668 kbps     38,172 kbps     00:39:14.643    36,098 kbps     00:39:10.681    35,745 kbps     00:39:45.049    175,531 bytes   317,672 bytes   00:39:55.059    
11              0:39:55.059     0:04:11.709     35,256 kbps     39,669 kbps     00:43:51.003    36,112 kbps     00:43:46.999    35,928 kbps     00:43:41.994    183,807 bytes   333,604 bytes   00:43:08.210    
12              0:44:06.769     0:03:49.562     34,748 kbps     37,740 kbps     00:46:11.518    36,053 kbps     00:46:20.235    35,892 kbps     00:46:15.105    181,162 bytes   324,728 bytes   00:45:24.513    
13              0:47:56.331     0:04:17.632     35,534 kbps     37,245 kbps     00:51:16.072    36,078 kbps     00:48:07.175    35,922 kbps     00:48:02.170    185,256 bytes   334,521 bytes   00:51:09.524    
14              0:52:13.964     0:01:54.280     34,902 kbps     37,767 kbps     00:52:56.965    36,029 kbps     00:53:44.763    35,910 kbps     00:53:45.013    181,964 bytes   328,418 bytes   00:53:36.212    
15              0:54:08.245     0:02:48.668     33,893 kbps     38,740 kbps     00:55:38.001    36,316 kbps     00:55:33.997    35,832 kbps     00:56:32.097    176,703 bytes   294,611 bytes   00:55:08.346    
16              0:56:56.913     0:06:04.113     35,596 kbps     37,254 kbps     01:00:19.991    36,255 kbps     01:00:16.070    36,014 kbps     01:00:10.982    185,582 bytes   297,238 bytes   01:03:01.027    
17              1:03:01.027     0:02:21.599     35,216 kbps     37,348 kbps     01:03:54.705    35,982 kbps     01:04:59.812    35,862 kbps     01:04:15.768    183,600 bytes   293,640 bytes   01:05:20.791    
18              1:05:22.627     0:02:57.927     35,629 kbps     39,088 kbps     01:07:03.436    36,316 kbps     01:07:48.355    35,973 kbps     01:07:43.309    185,755 bytes   350,256 bytes   01:07:04.270    
19              1:08:20.554     0:02:20.223     34,280 kbps     37,379 kbps     01:08:54.630    35,922 kbps     01:09:00.636    35,859 kbps     01:08:54.421    178,718 bytes   298,916 bytes   01:09:33.127    
20              1:10:40.778     0:03:29.584     35,504 kbps     36,874 kbps     01:10:51.747    35,966 kbps     01:14:01.728    35,836 kbps     01:12:06.238    185,103 bytes   285,203 bytes   01:12:10.242    
21              1:14:10.362     0:01:21.456     33,940 kbps     36,791 kbps     01:15:17.846    35,986 kbps     01:15:13.926    35,861 kbps     01:15:08.962    176,947 bytes   280,334 bytes   01:14:43.437    
22              1:15:31.818     0:01:30.882     34,776 kbps     36,350 kbps     01:15:46.416    35,832 kbps     01:15:51.171    35,792 kbps     01:15:37.241    181,306 bytes   288,933 bytes   01:16:54.901    
23              1:17:02.701     0:03:00.889     35,240 kbps     38,105 kbps     01:18:12.604    36,242 kbps     01:18:08.642    35,989 kbps     01:18:03.637    183,723 bytes   299,461 bytes   01:18:58.692    
24              1:20:03.590     0:05:10.643     35,176 kbps     38,417 kbps     01:23:47.731    36,281 kbps     01:23:43.768    36,028 kbps     01:23:38.722    183,392 bytes   300,162 bytes   01:21:10.198    
25              1:25:14.234     0:01:41.476     34,836 kbps     38,626 kbps     01:26:37.734    36,264 kbps     01:26:33.730    35,846 kbps     01:25:15.193    181,618 bytes   288,640 bytes   01:25:56.943    
26              1:26:55.710     0:05:16.691     35,004 kbps     37,717 kbps     01:27:08.556    36,054 kbps     01:27:04.594    35,871 kbps     01:28:28.219    182,493 bytes   279,531 bytes   01:26:59.339    
27              1:32:12.401     0:02:11.297     35,116 kbps     37,296 kbps     01:33:47.204    36,053 kbps     01:33:43.200    35,872 kbps     01:33:38.195    183,079 bytes   285,062 bytes   01:32:59.448    
28              1:34:23.699     0:03:11.190     35,269 kbps     41,291 kbps     01:37:30.803    37,300 kbps     01:37:26.799    36,501 kbps     01:37:21.794    183,916 bytes   603,984 bytes   01:37:32.346    

STREAM DIAGNOSTICS:

File            PID             Type            Codec           Language                Seconds                 Bitrate                 Bytes           Packets         
----            ---             ----            -----           --------                --------------          --------------          -------------   -----           
00800.M2TS      4113 (0x1011)   0x1B            AVC                                     5854.724                35,089                  25,679,672,551  139,645,251     
00800.M2TS      4352 (0x1100)   0x86            DTS-HD MA       eng (English)           5854.724                3,078                   2,252,852,604   13,159,784      
00800.M2TS      4353 (0x1101)   0x86            DTS-HD MA       jpn (Japanese)          5854.724                1,109                   811,434,592     4,939,557       
00800.M2TS      4608 (0x1200)   0x90            PGS             jpn (Japanese)          5854.724                16                      12,062,006      70,739          
00800.M2TS      4609 (0x1201)   0x90            PGS             eng (English)           5854.724                32                      23,263,294      132,581         
00800.M2TS      4610 (0x1202)   0x90            PGS             jpn (Japanese)          5854.724                1                       943,941         5,544

[GxyExpress999]

[Show spoiler]

[f451]

The Japanese release is an official Fox release. Looks like the single disc version is up to Y4632 at this writing. It was issued initially in a deluxe box with extras before going to a single disc release.

The Google translation of the Amazon Japan reviews are hard to make out but the consensus indicates high-quality video blowing the Kino release out of the water.

Why is it the US release release looks so bad and the Japanese release looks so good?

This is a classic film and deserves a decent domestic release.

[f451]

I tracked down a Japanese, single disc, release of this film and posted this review on --
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-E...lu-ray/222079/

---

Movie -- I have a Mitchum bias. He and Jurgens are the heart of the film and they are both creditable in their roles. The film is humanistic and philosophical. It's quite good, bordering on exemplary. Cast and crew are to be commended. The story unwinds at a good pace and held my attention throughout. The main action is a drama between the captains of a US destroyer and a German U-boat during WW2. Really well done. This is more character driven than action oriented with both in play.

Image -- CinemaScope framing retained. Color by DeLuxe. Steady, clean, clear. Organic--no discernible grain manipulation. Color accuracy looks good to me. Ocean and sky looked great, flesh tones looked right. There are a couple day-for-night scenes that could be dimmed--one in particular where a person hold up a flashlight in broad daylight to read something. That aside, the film looks pretty darn good.

Sound -- The disc lists Dolby Digital, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS Digital Surround--4 and mono options. Regrettably, I lack a surround setup and cannot fairly comment. But what I did hear was very good. Dialog is clear. Your speakers should get a good workout during depth charges and explosions.

Japanese and English subtitles are available. The options are in Japanese but it doesn't take long to figure out. Makes me wish I had kept up with what I learned in class a few decades back.

Extras -- Zip. Nada. Zero.

Menu -- None. Well, you can access the language/subtitle thing but that's it.

Fox -- sigh -- is now owned by Disney which is not big on physical media. Maybe that will change. Currently, for Region A, this is as good as it gets. The reviews I've read of the KL release led my to find this title on eBay.

Final thoughts -- Really, an excellent film. The movie could benefit from a fresh scan of the OCN but what's here is really good. Highly recommended.