‘Battleground’ (1949) Blu-Ray Review – A Harrowing And Unforgettable Look At War

December 1944. A civilian victim of the Battle of Bastogne scrounges through garbage to find a scrap of food. “I don’t even see those things,” a war-numbed GI says. “I want to remember them!” his buddy snaps. Bastogne veteran Robert Pirosh remembers with his Oscar(r)-winning* screenplay for Battleground, a gripping tale of 101st Airborne troops resisting Hitler’s fierce, final counter-offensive. Directed by William A. Wellman (The Story of GI Joe), the superb cast includes James Whitmore as a bantam rooster of a Sergeant, and Van Johnson as a wisecracking PFC (as in “Praying for Civilian”). Rugged and unsparing, Battleground – nominated for six Academy Awards(r) including Best Picture – makes sure we all remember.

For thoughts on Battleground, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required: 

Video Quality

Warner Archive presents Battleground with a terrific 1080p master transfer released in 2017 in its original 1.37:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 4K scan of the Fine Grain Safety Master. This transfer delivers a sterling level of quality for this carefully crafted production. The Oscar-winning black-and-white photography from Paul Vogel looks sumptuous with no serious signs of damage or debris, with only occasional shots exhibiting a brief bit of softness due to archival inserts and optical transitions. Black levels are strong with no murky moments while highlights likewise hold firm. There has been no digital manipulation applied that would upset the intended natural appearance. We did not spot any unwanted nuisances such as compression artifacts, banding, or any other such issues. The level of care put forth by the label never fails to impress. 

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio split mono track that allows the film to be presented as well as the source will allow. It has been preserved as well as can be with not much in the way of hollowness, sibilance, or any other odd intrusions. General age-related wear and tear is not an issue with no obvious drop-outs, hissing, or popping. The sounds of combat are a prominent aspect of the experience with the battle coming straight to your living room. Dialogue comes through with decent clarity. It works commendably with background noises and a nearly nonexistent score to never overshadow any focal elements. Warner Archive has done first-rate work with the audio track. Optional English SDH subtitles are included for the feature film. 

Special Features

• Little Rural Riding Hood: A six-minute animated Tex Avery short that can be found fully restored of Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume One. 

• Let’s Cogitate: An eight-minute Pete Smith Specialty live-action short that explores topics as varied as snoring and boomerangs. 

• Theatrical Trailer: A two-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

Battleground is an exceptional war picture that does not simply put America in a propaganda spotlight to lift morale. There are honest examinations of the cost of war without coming across like a takedown of the entire military operation. There are a few bigger names in the ensemble, but the experience is more impressive when it comes to writing and the quality of the performances. Even with it being nominated for Best Picture, it never fails to feel like a film that is unfairly overlooked. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a grand A/V presentation and a couple of decent archival supplements. If you love a good war picture, this is the one to watch. Recommended 

Battleground can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.