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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Prohibition

    Featured In Issue 162, December 2011

    Picture3.5
    SoundNR
    WSR Score5
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    PBS
    (Catalog Number):
    14582
    (MPAA Rating):
    Not Rated
    (Rating Reason):
    (Retail Price):
    $44.99
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    360
    (Color Type):
    Color With B/W Sequences
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    A
    (Theatrical Year):
    2011
    (Theatrical Release):
    No
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    Yes
    (Disc Release Date):
    10/02, 03 & 04/2011
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Ken Burns & Lynn Novick
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    Dolby TrueHD 5.1
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    Prohibition is the documentary created by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick about the rise and fall of the 18th Amendment, which debuted simultaneously on Blu-ray™ and PBS on October 2, 3, and 4, 2011. A fascinating story that goes beyond the oft-told tales of gangsters, rum runners, flappers, and speakeasies to raise profound questions about the proper role of government, individual rights, and responsibilities, Prohibition delves deep into how a society founded on individual freedom became a nation of scofflaws and hypocrites. Told through expert interviews, vintage footage, and compelling images, the film explores how the enshrining of a faith-driven moral code in the Constitution paradoxically caused millions of Americans to rethink their definition of morality. (Gary Reber)

    Special features on Disc One include "In The Studio With Forentine Films" (HD 03:79), eight bonus scenes, and 14 interview outtakes. There are no special features on Discs Two and Three.

    The 1.78:1 1080p AVC picture is a composite mixture of original interviews filmed in color and archival footage, primarily in black-and-white, in motion and still photography. The picture quality is thus variable but certainly the best that the sources will permit. The overall picture is softly focused throughout, to provide a general consistency in texture. The subject matter told through this visual medium is absolutely engaging and thoroughly educational and is certain to be a memorable experience. (Gary Reber)

    The Dolby® TrueHD 5.1-channel soundtrack is monaurally focused, with a terrific small-group jazz music score crafted by trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, with a subtle surround presence. The narrative by Peter Coyote, as well as the interviews, are consistently intelligible and nicely balanced against the backgrounds. This is an effective documentary soundtrack that is well produced. (Gary Reber)

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