The Blu-ray release of the film—something that was supposed to occur last year to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the even but which was delayed—is presented in a full screen aspect ratio and with a mono DTS-HD MA track. The print is exceptionally clean, as is the audio. There is no real hiss to the track, nor are there fingerprints of whatever work was done to clean the video.
It is unfortunate, but there is also no featurette detailing whatever work went into bringing this release out. Instead, we are given two audio commentary tracks, one by film critic Richard Schickel and another by cinematographer Michael D. Lonzo, actors Dalton & Wagner, and historian Sylvia Stoddard. Two bits of newsreel are included as is a still gallery, trailer, and an "audio essay" by Stoddard. While this last item is interesting, Stoddard—on more than one occasion—has her thoughts run together or says something in an unclear fashion and corrects herself or makes some other alteration which breaks up her speaking. For this reason, it can be a frustrating essay to listen to, and one can't help but wish that she had been given a few more takes – or that they had edited the essay together from multiple ones.
With a 98 minute runtime, 1953's Titanic offers up less the tale of a doomed ocean liner than the tale of a couple whose relationship is just as doomed. For the most part, it eschews spectacle in an attempt to tell us about people. It is a well-crafted, enjoyable movie that won't satisfy cinematic thrill-seekers but will please fans of good old-fashioned storytelling.
.jpg?t=20130517094513)
Article comments