Herostratus Blu-ray

Herostratus

 (1967)

Short



Disillusioned poet Max decides to commit suicide, but rather than making it a quiet affair, Max contacts the local media so that, he hopes, his name will live on. On the appointed day, however, Max suddenly has a change of heart, but with an eagerly expectant media in attendance, he finds that he is no longer in control of events.

For more details about Herostratus on Blu-ray, see the Herostratus Blu-ray Review

Herostratus Blu-ray, Video Quality

 


Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Don Levy's Herostratus arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of the British Film Institute BFI).

I would like to quote the following text offered in the booklet supplied with the Blu-ray release of Herostratus so that it is perfectly clear to our readers why Don Levy's film is framed in 1.78:1 and not in its original aspect ratio of 1.33:1:

"Herostratus has been transferred in High Definition from the original 35mm picture negative and corresponding sound elements. The feature was shot in full-frame ratio, or 1.33:1. However, Don Levy intended the film be shown in a widescreen format, masking the top and bottom of the frame. When 35mm distribution prints were made, they were created with the 1.33:1 full-frame aspect ratio, but the prints were subsequently labeled with instructions to be projected with a widescreen matte. Documentation from the time of the film's production, and subsequent correspondence, testifies to Don Levy's wish that the film be presented in a widescreen aspect ratio".

Despite what some early reviews have claimed, Herostratus looks fabulous. Contrast is fantastic, detail very strong and clarity pleasing. The color-scheme is also nothing short of impressive. Blues, reds, yellows, grays, blacks and whites are all very effective. Generally speaking, there are no stability issues to report. For the most part, Herostratus looks fresh and very convincing in high definition. Furthermore, aside from a few tiny flecks that I spotted, there are absolutely no debris, stains, or dirt to report. Also, I would like to specifically point out that I did not detect any signs of excessive noise reduction. All in all, to my eyes Herostratus looks exceptionally strong. For the record, on Disc 1 you would find the film's 1.78:1 version, preferred by director Don Levy. On Disc 2, the BFI have supplied the 1.33:1 raw version of the film. (Note: This is a Region-Free disc. Therefore, you would be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location).

Herostratus Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 


There is only one audio track on this Blu-ray disc: English LPCM 2.0 mono. For the record, the BFI have provided optional English subtitles for the main feature.

The English LPCM 2.0 track is solid. The dialog is crisp and easy to follow while the supporting music soundtrack is very effective. The sudden sound bursts, in particular, are excellent. Furthermore, the English LPCM 2.0 track has obviously undergone some serious restoration work - there are no pops, cracks, hissings, or dropouts to report. All in all, I feel very comfortable stating that Herostratus has never sounded this good before.

Herostratus Blu-ray, Forum Discussions

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