Sydney Pollack Double-Feature: Castle Keep (1969) / Bobby Deerfield (1977)

[MifuneFan]

Mill Creek will be releasing a "Director's Spotlight" Blu-ray featuring two films from Sydney Pollack, Castle Keep (1969), and Bobby Deerfield (1977) on May 7th.. Two films that have absolutely no business being paired together, but Mill Creek gonna Mill Creek, I guess. For those just looking for the former, it has been released by Indicator in the UK, and is region free. Bobby Deerfield also got a release from Twilight Time previously, which includes a commentary track with Pollack, and it's still available to purchase from Screen Archives Entertainment.

https://www.amazon.com/Director-Spot...s%2C116&sr=8-1

A double-feature of films directed by Sydney Pollack. Includes Castle Keep (1969) and Bobby Deerfield (1977). Castle Keep: During World War II, a European count shelters American soldiers inside his pristine 10th century castle hoping that they will defend it against the advancing German army. Bobby Deerfield: Calculated racecar driver Bobby Deerfield's carefully controlled world is turned upside down when he meets Lillian Morelli, an impulsive and free-spirited woman.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Mill Creek will be releasing a "Director's Spotlight" Blu-ray featuring two films from Sydney Pollack, Castle Keep (1969), and Bobby Deerfield (1977) on May 7th.. Two films that have absolutely no business being paired together, but Mill Creek gonna Mill Creek, I guess. For those just looking for the former, it has been released by Indicator in the UK, and is region free. Bobby Deerfield also got a release from Twilight Time previously, which includes a commentary track with Pollack, and it's still available to purchase from Screen Archives Entertainment.

[Show spoiler]

https://www.amazon.com/Director-Spot...%2C84&sr=1-501



Yes, I too realize how hilarious, and ridiculous it is to see these posters side-by-side.

It's two films by the same director, I see no problem with that.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

It's two films by the same director, I see no problem with that.

Yeah, but it's such a forced pairing. I can't imagine many people looking for one of these films, are also looking for the other too. And if there are Pollack completionists doing so, then the Indicator and TT releases are the better options anyway. MC are likely just putting both films on the same disc with no extras, and likely mediocre encoding. Given that the TT release of Bobby Deerfield has yet to even sell out, Mill Creek would likely get better sales if they just sold a standalone of Castle Keep.

[themp3000]

Mill Creek with the 5head physical media plays. Bravo.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Yeah, but it's such a forced pairing. I can't imagine many people looking for one of these films, are also looking for the other too. And if there are Pollack completionists doing so, then the Indicator and TT releases are the better options anyway. MC are likely just putting both films on the same disc with no extras, and likely mediocre encoding. Given that the TT release of Bobby Deerfield has yet to even sell out, Mill Creek would likely get better sales if they just sold a standalone of Castle Keep.

It's two mediocre films anyway and the double-feature will probably cost the same as that one release of Bobby Deerfield alone. It's a decent budget release for someone who may want to just check out the two films.

If you want a head-scratcher of a pairing, see Cactus Flower/Age of Consent.

[MagellanvsHimself]

Frustrating - I had hoped that someone would afford Castle Keep a 4K, if not a restoration of some sort. The Indicator is Region Free for interested parties and does look quite good. Castle Keep is a personal favorite and imo one of Pollack's best.

[sultanofcinema]

Originally Posted by MagellanvsHimself

Frustrating - I had hoped that someone would afford Castle Keep a 4K, if not a restoration of some sort. The Indicator is Region Free for interested parties and does look quite good. Castle Keep is a personal favorite and imo one of Pollack's best.

Castle Keep remains the BEST film Director Pollock every filmed of a novel it was said to be unfilmable. I saw it when it opened in 1969 in a theater that had a Cinerama screen. As for Bobby Deerfield,, as boring as it is, I remember the screening at the RKO Stanley Warner in Wayne , NJ was one of the first films to have a commercial in front of it for Timex Watches and the audience booed.

[DukeTogo84]

I want Castle Keep. Hope the compression isn't a mess.

[dwk]

Originally Posted by MagellanvsHimself

Frustrating - I had hoped that someone would afford Castle Keep a 4K, if not a restoration of some sort. The Indicator is Region Free for interested parties and does look quite good. Castle Keep is a personal favorite and imo one of Pollack's best.

That would have to be done by Sony, as they do not let boutiques do their own transfers. Still, a 4K could possibly happen, as the Ranown Westerns were released on Blu-ray by Mill Creek and UHD by Criterion.

[Shanghai Express]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

If you want a head-scratcher of a pairing, see Cactus Flower/Age of Consent.

oof. Quite possibly my least favorite Blu-ray in my collection. It being the only way to get Cactus Flower on Blu-ray really bothers me.

[MifuneFan]

Artwork is up. No extras according to the back cover.



Back cover

[Show spoiler]

[Starman22]

Both never seen it but probably will blind buy this.

[Rayjg]

When I see that Mill Creek sprocket on the packaging I die a little inside.

[MifuneFan]

This is $12.19 at Target

https://www.target.com/p/director-sp...23#lnk=sametab

[DukeTogo84]

Not getting this until I hear a little bit about the compression and encode. Looks like it's in stock, so hope some reviews happen soon.

[stevenpaulalejandro]

Picking this up tomorrow, I work in retail so I can get it wholesale for 9.49 so not too big a financial risk. I'll report back tomorrow night best as I can

[stevenpaulalejandro]

I'm gonna call it comparable to the Cactus Flower/Age of Consent two fer in terms of encode and filmic quality. probably not worth much more than 10 bux, but certainly watchable on my 92" screen through a epson 3800.
bitrates seemed to hover around 20 MBPS

[Shane Rollins]

This one’s pretty bad. About the only thing I got wrong about my prediction was I predicted a BD-25, and it wound up being a BD-50. Ironically though, these are such weak transfers, and they’re so compressed, that you could likely put the content on a BD-25 and there wouldn’t be one shred of difference.

This one’s bad, but Age Of Consent/Cactus Flower is way worse. I’m shocked I only heard of that disc recently. It’s right up there with Side Out, Like Father Like Son, The Freshman, and Crossroads for the worst they’ve put out.

The real shame is that the other two Blu-rays are OOP (limited to 3,000 each) and very expensive. The only cheaper options are the DVDs and this Blu-ray, and they’re so close together in terms of PQ that it’s not worth splitting hairs.