WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Europeans, The
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 06 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Lee Remick, Robin Ellis, Wesley Addy, Tim Choate, Lisa Eichorn.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 2
Sound Rating: 1
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Lumivision
(Catalog Number): LVD9254
(MPAA Rating): Not Rated
(Retail Price): $34.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 90
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1979
(LD Release Date): 03/01/93
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): James Ivory
(Screenplay/Written By): Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
(Story): NA
(Music): Richard Robbins
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Jeremiah Rusconi
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Humphrey Dixon
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Ismail Merchant

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.66:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.66:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Mono Sound
(Theatrical Sound): Optical Mono
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
The Europeans is based on the novel by Henry James about the clash between European and American sensibilities. Fine acting, visual beauty and romance are set within the autumnal New England of 1850. It is the story of Baroness Eugenia (Lee Remick) and her brother Felix (Tim Woodward) who have come there to improve their sagging fortunes. Seeking out their rich American cousins, Eugenia sets her sights on Robert Acton (Robin Ellis), the most eligible gentleman in the neighborhood, but also encourages the affections of her young cousin, Clifford Wentworth (Tim Choate). Romance never quite blooms for Eugenia, whose European sophistication and guile are her undoing.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture quality is marred by a rather poor print element with distracting artifacts. The color balance is inconsistent throughout and reddish-hued fleshtones appear completely unnatural. The cinematography however is excellent, but the fall colors are over saturated on this 1.66:1 transfer. With the proper element and care this could have been stunning.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack is extremely hiss and pop contaminated, compressed and mono.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
(Aggressive System Surround): No
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): No
(Aggressive Split Surround): No
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: