WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Guns Of Navarone, The
Genre:Action Adventure

Reviewed In Issue 10 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Gregory Peck, David Nivin, Anthony Quinn, Stanley Baker, Anthony Quayle, James Darren, Irene Papas, Gia Scala, Richard Harris.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 2.5
Sound Rating: 3
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Columbia/TriStar Home Video
(Catalog Number): 79596
(MPAA Rating): Not Rated
(Retail Price): $49.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 157
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1961
(LD Release Date): 06/01/94
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): J. Lee Thompson
(Screenplay/Written By): Carl Foreman
(Story): NA
(Music): Dimitri Tiomkin
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Geoffrey Drake
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Alan Osbiston
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Carl Foreman

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.20:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Mag Stereo
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Nominated for seven Academy Awards® and winner of one (special effects editing), “The Guns Of Navarone” is based on the novel by Alistair Maclean and stars Gregory Peck, David Niven and Anthony Quinn as Allied saboteurs on a dangerous mission to infiltrate a Nazi-occupied island. Their mission: Infiltrate a Nazi-occupied island and destroy two treacherous long-range field guns that are preventing the rescue of 2,000 trapped British Soldiers.

LaserDisc Picture:
While the claim on this release is “digitally remastered from newly restored film elements,” the picture does not accurately duplicate the original CinemaScope® 2.35:1 composition, but has been recomposed at 2.20:1. The source element appears to be a worn and damaged print by the indication of elliptical shaped reel changeover marks whose color is washed out (however, the color was always very drab and muted on 35mm prints). But the credits identify that the source element was from the 35mm Eastman Color original picture negative provided by the UCLA Film and Television Archive. In any event, color saturation is wanting and fleshtones are exaggerated. Grain is apparent throughout as well as some transfer artifacts.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The original stereo magnetic soundtrack on the release prints had an extremely wide soundstage and EVERYTHING was directionalized. According to the credits, the soundtrack on this disc was made from the four-channel stereo magnetic master. The sound here, except for Dimitri Tiomkin’s magnificent score, is inconsistent with the master, with parts of low fidelity and substantially compressed dynamics, mismatched levels, and a narrow soundstage. The soundtrack is essentially mono except with virtually no directional effects.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: