The Killer Elite (1975)

[HotRats]

The Peckinpah film, not the Statham one. http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B00A4I6ZQQ Lists "long version approved by Peckinpah" Only a minute longer than the standard running time of 122m, but sounds very interesting as the film was cut to get it a PG rating in America. Only thing stopping me ordering it is the possibility of forced subs. Its a film that could do with another adaptation as the Syd Hopkins/Robert Rostand book Monkey In The Middle was set in Britain

The Killer Elite Blu-ray REVIEW

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by HotRats

The Peckinpah film, not the Statham one. http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B00A4I6ZQQ Lists "long version approved by Peckinpah" Only a minute longer than the standard running time of 122m, but sounds very interesting as the film was cut to get it a PG rating in America. Only thing stopping me ordering it is the possibility of forced subs. Its a film that could do with another adaptation as the Syd Hopkins/Robert Rostand book Monkey In The Middle was set in Britain

This is a Wild Side release, so forced subs are very likely.

EDIT: Also, given the timeframe of the film, it sounds like this is possibly the full American cut that has never been shown in France (see also: Papillon), which would mean it's still the PG cut.

Hopefully, someone will be able to compare the US DVD with this Blu-ray to find out.

EDIT #2: The back of the original French MGM DVD (visible here) lists only French and English audio and states a 114 minute run time, which at film speed is approximately 119 minutes, so it appears that France originally had a cut version.

EDIT #3: The back of the original UK MGM DVD (visible here) has the usual multiple languages and subs (no French options) and runs 118 minutes, which is 123 minutes at film speed. This is probably the longer cut Wild Side are referencing.

EDIT: #4: The back of the US MGM DVD (visible at DVD Empire) states a 123 minute run time, so it looks like 122 minutes is an error, and the PG cut is actually 123 minutes.

So, my suspicion is that the French BD contains the PG cut, seen in France for the first time.

[pro-bassoonist]

The French subs on this release will be imposed.

Pro-B

[Dickieduvet]

That's the beauty of the Panasonic BDT120 (and all current Panasonic players), You can actually adjust the placement of subtitles so they vanish off screen. Recently did it with the German 'Mothman Prophecies' German import. Had no idea this function was available. Should be available on all players

[HotRats]

Originally Posted by Dickieduvet

That's the beauty of the Panasonic BDT120 (and all current Panasonic players), You can actually adjust the placement of subtitles so they vanish off screen. Recently did it with the German 'Mothman Prophecies' German import. Had no idea this function was available. Should be available on all players

I'd completely forgotten that my Oppo does this as well. Forced subs are almost as annoying as region coding in my opinion. I have no idea what they're for, if its some sort of linguistic imperialism its doomed to failure, the preservation of a language isn't going to be helped much by forcing subtitles on films.

[Jerome]

the 122 minutes cut is the US cut, never seen before in France.

[Andrew Woo]

Got it this morning. Two versions on the disc. One runs 116 min. and the "Version longue" (to be found in the supplements menu) runs 123 min.
Picture quality looks pretty ok to me but the English audio is a bit numb.
And for the good news: The French subtitles are not forced. I can shut them off for both versions.

[Dickieduvet]

Fantastic news, Appreciate the posting

[HotRats]

Originally Posted by Andrew Woo

Got it this morning. Two versions on the disc. One runs 116 min. and the "Version longue" (to be found in the supplements menu) runs 123 min.
Picture quality looks pretty ok to me but the English audio is a bit numb.
And for the good news: The French subtitles are not forced. I can shut them off for both versions.

Thanks for that, I'll order a copy

[DJANGO]

This appears to be Region B if the Amazon listing is correct - is this the case?

[Andrew Woo]

Originally Posted by DJANGO

This appears to be Region B if the Amazon listing is correct - is this the case?

Yes, region B only. I switched my Oppo to region A and it didn't play.

[DJANGO]

Originally Posted by Andrew Woo

Yes, region B only. I switched my Oppo to region A and it didn't play.

Thanks for the quick response.

[Andrew Woo]

You're welcome.

[tenia]

Just to say : I watched it yesterday and the french subs are removable via the remote. I did it on my PS3, so I guess it should be feasible on most of the BD players.

Also, the 2 cuts are not steamless branched (what a waste of bitrate...), but the overall PQ is quite good. The AQ though is far from flawless.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by tenia

The AQ though is far from flawless.

I don't have this disc yet so obviously I cannot comment on the audio quality, but you should know, Tenia, that the audio for this film has been traditionally 'problematic'. I think that the actual mix isn't terribly impressive (though there are different issues, the original theatrical mix for King of New York also has some native problems...).

I am almost certain that Wild Side are not to be blamed. I will comment again soon

Pro-B

[Dickieduvet]

Just ordered it, Expensive from Amazon.fr but I had to have it. If there was a better era for Cinema I'd like to hear about it

[tenia]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

I don't have this disc yet so obviously I cannot comment on the audio quality, but you should know, Tenia, that the audio for this film has been traditionally 'problematic'. I think that the actual mix isn't terribly impressive (though there are different issues, the original theatrical mix for King of New York also has some native problems...).

I am almost certain that Wild Side are not to be blamed. I will comment again soon

Pro-B

I can imagine that part of the issues I heard come from the source itself, but there are also a quite noticeable hiss, but also some plops during spoken parts.

[L'armée des ombres]

How about adding some info on this release guys
Anyone of you that owns this is welcome to add some info.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-K...Blu-ray/59815/

[Andrew Woo]

[saltysam]

main version of the movie is the cut french cinema release,thankfully the full length usa version is bizarrely on the disc as an extra. subs are removable via the remote. not watched the other extras yet. quality of the transfer is solid,not mind blowing.