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A Place in the Sun Blu-ray delivers great video and solid audio in this overall recommended Blu-ray release
George Eastman is a poor young man determined to win a place in respectable society and the heart of a beautiful socialite. But a factory girl with a dark secret threatens Eastman's professional and romantic prospects. Consumed with fear and desire, Eastman is ultimately driven to a desperate act of passion that unravels his world forever.
For more about A Place in the Sun and the A Place in the Sun Blu-ray release, see A Place in the Sun Blu-ray Review published by Martin Liebman on August 20, 2021 where this Blu-ray release scored 3.5 out of 5.
Paramount has released Director George Stevens' 1951 film 'A Place in the Sun' to Blu-ray as part of its prestigious 'Paramount Presents'
collection. This Blu-ray sports a newly remastered transfer and a 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The film was previously released in Australia under the Imprint label. This disc carries over
the core
extras from that disc while also adding a new retrospective with Leonard Maltin. I cannot make definitive comparisons between the two releases; this
is simply a new review of the Paramount disc.
For a full film review, please read Jeffrey Kauffman's writing here.
Paramount brings A Place in the Sun to Blu-ray with a 1080p transfer, the product of a remaster "from a 4K film transfer in celebration of its
70th anniversary." This is a very well rounded image that appears to hold to similar patterns from the above-referenced Australian Imprint release. In
that review, Jeffrey Kauffman cites the Imprint disc being "a 4K restoration by Paramount Pictures." Indeed, this 2021 U.S. release and the 2020
Australian release may very well be one and the same. Certainly many of Jeffrey's observations hold for this release, including the "minor crush" and
some fluctuating detail. The black crush on this presentation does indeed render shadow details difficult to view, though it must be noted that the film
was often shot very dark and absorbingly so for dramatic and aesthetic purposes; as Jeffrey noted some lakeside shots
can be problematic, and the issue is in evidence around the 67-minute mark where crushed shadows play in stark contrast to the bright surrounding
sun drenched elements (also see around the 75-minute mark at night). Likewise, black suit jackets and other dark elements tend to get absorbed into
surrounding shadow and low light corners.
However, the grayscale is otherwise in fine shape. It's well balanced and elements are differentiated with precision throughout the range. Details are
pleasing with only small drop offs in quality. Most close-ups are expressively detailed and razor sharp, offering complex hairs and pores and fabric
materials with exceptional clarity and rigorous attention to detail. The print is largely free of either source flaws or encode artifacts. Fans are going to be
very happy to see A Place in the Sun so finely presented on Blu-ray.
Paramount brings A Place in the Sun to Blu-ray with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack, which may again be very similar, if not
identical, to the Australian Imprint release. This track is decidedly front-center dominant, a quality Jeffrey noted in his review. The presentation is also
lacking authoritative clarity, evident from the beginning. The opening title sequence lacks both pure detail and wide spacing; the musical elements are
clustered to the center and lack the sort of spread, the kind of front-end width, one would expect to find in a more modernly constructed soundtrack
and within the 5.1 configuration. The original audio recordings are not of the highest fidelity, whether considering music, dialogue, or support effects.
The track is well capable of delivering basics within its natural confines. The presentation is more than adequate but rarely offers much beyond its
basics. Audiences expecting a multichannel push based on the encode will be disappointed, but anyone seeking a basic front-heavy workflow will find
this a satisfying listen.
Paramount releases A Place in the Sun to Blu-ray as the 22nd entry in the prestigious "Paramount Presents" line, which includes the slipcover
with fold-open poster artwork. A digital copy code is included with purchase. The Blu-ray is home to several extras, including an audio commentary
track and three featurettes, including a new featurette with Critic Leonard Maltin. The legacy extras were included on the Imprint release and reviews
can be found here.
Audio Commentary: George Stevens and Ivan Moffat.
NEW! Filmmaker Focus: Leonard Maltin on A Place in the Sun (1080p, 7:35): Maltin explores George Stevens' direction, the
film's
pace, technical details, the noir stylings, characters and their roles in the film, the Clift-Taylor chemistry, the film's legacy, and more.
George Stevens and His Place in the Sun (480i, 22:22).
George Stevens: The Filmmakers Who Knew Him (480i, 45:28 total runtime): Included are interviews with Warren Beatty, Frank Capra,
Rouben Mamoulian, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Alan J. Pakula, Antonio Vellani, Robert Wise, and Fred Zinnemann.
Theatrical Trailers: Included are trailers for A Place in the Sun (480i, 2:39), Shane (1080p, 2:03), and Sunset Boulevard (1080p, 3:15).
A Place in the Sun remains compelling cinema and a giant within the medium. Paramount has done the movie proud with a new Blu-ray that
presents the film, visually and aurally, at a high level of excellence. The supplemental package is likewise very good. Highly recommended.
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Paramount Home Media Distribution will add three new titles to the Paramount Presents line. They are: A Place in the Sun (1951), Nashville (1975), and Bugsy Malone (1976). The three releases will be available for purchase later this summer.
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