WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Charge Of The Light Brigade, The
Genre:Classic

Reviewed In Issue 26 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Trevor Howard, Vanessa Redgrave, John Gielgud, Harry Andrews, Jill Bennett & David Hemmings

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 2.5
Sound Rating: 1
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): MGM
(Catalog Number): ML103099
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $49.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 130
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1968
(LD Release Date): 3/9/97
(THX® Digitally Mastered):

Credits Information
(Director): Tony Richardson
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
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DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1

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:
Richard Williams clever opening credit animation starts off, and is featured throughout the magnificent drama The Charge Of The Light Brigade. From the beautiful bridal gown worn by Clarissa (Vanessa Redgrave) to each intricate military uniform, David Walker’s incredible costume design vividly re-creates the mid-Victorian era, depicting both the frivolity of the aristocracy and the squalor of the lower classes. But the power and ferocity of The Charge Of The Light Brigade lies in the casualties of war, the intense final charge and slaughter in the Crimean War between Turkey and Russia.

LaserDisc Picture:
The Panavision® Scope picture, framed precisely at 2.35:1, exhibits greenish color fidelity that is generally oversaturated and plugged-up throughout. Shadow detail and contrast is poor. Images are soft overall, wanting in sharpness and detail, and exhibit enhancement artifacts around whites. Overall, the picture looks dated and slightly dark.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack is undistinguished monaural that sounds dated, compressed and painfully bright and edgy.
(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: