WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Tin Drum, The
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 28 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
David Bennent, Mario Adorf, Angela Winkler, Daniel Olbrychski

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 2.5
Sound Rating: 2
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Kino On Video
(Catalog Number): K 963
(MPAA Rating): Not Rated
(Retail Price): $69.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 142
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1979
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Volker Schlondorff
(Screenplay/Written By): Jean-Claude Carriere, Volker Schlöndorff, Franz Seitz
(Story): NA
(Music): Maurice Jarre
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Nicos Perakis
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): Inge Heer, Dagmar Niefind
(Editor): Suzanne Baron
(Supervising Sound Editors): NA
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Franz Seitz & Anatole Dauma

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:
Based on the novel by Günter Grass, The Tin Drum is a mesmerizing drama that won the Academy Award® for Best Foreign Language film in 1979, as well as the Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. It is narrated by Oskar Matzerath (superbly played by then 12 year-old David Bennent), who ceases to grow physically after his third birthday, but is mentally brilliant. Oskar becomes a witness to the rise of Nazism, as well as an expert observer of infantile adults—and beats out his emotions on his drum.

LaserDisc Picture:
The 1.66:1 picture exhibits generally good color fidelity throughout with natural fleshtones, rich and warm colors and deep blacks. Images are generally sharp and detailed with mediocre contrast and shadow detail. The slightest noise and minor artifacts are apparent throughout. Subtitles can be read, but are slightly cut off at the bottom of widescreen monitors.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack is undistinguished and compressed monaural.
(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: