In the Salinas Valley in and around World War I, Cal Trask feels he must compete against overwhelming odds with his brother Aron for the love of their father Adam. Carl is frustrated at every turn, from his reaction to the war, to how to get ahead in business and in life, to how to relate to his estranged mother.
The 1955 period drama is directed by Elia Kazan from a screenplay by Paul Osborn and based on the 1952 John Steinbeck novel of the same name. The film stars James Dean, Julie Harris, Raymond Massey, Burl Ives, Richard Davalos, and Jo Van Fleet.
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Video Quality
East Of Eden makes its long-awaited 4K UHD Blu-Ray debut with a comely 2160p HDR10 transfer which brings this feature to new visual heights on disc. While Warner has not released specific details about the source, more than likely it is derived from the 4K restoration used for the Blu-Ray from a decade ago with perhaps some additional touches and implementation of HDR. Whatever the company brought to the table, the new 4K UHD disc offers notable improvements over that strong previous Blu-Ray in areas such as color saturation, clarity and image stability. Those who have not updated to 4K yet should note that there is not a Blu-Ray included in this package.
The UHD disc maintains the authentic WarnerColor timing with very distinct colors throughout that perfectly represent Ted D. McCord’s unique cinematography. The HDR allows the colors to achieve a greater level of depth and nuance than the previous release. Black levels are pleasantly deep which allows the picture to capture an excellent amount of depth and detail in darker and shadowy environments. Highlights are a touch brighter and offer a more robust stability without veering into blooming. The improvements in contrast and overall clarity are undeniable. Skin tones look natural and the clarity of the transfer gives you a fetching amount of facial detail.
The movie has an amazing amount of natural film grain which resolves very tight and specific. This is one of the more obvious upgrades from the Blu-Ray, which featured more moments where grain would get a bit blocky rather than detailed. The only times when you still see some deficiencies is during any optical transitions when the picture has to accommodate the source. The fine grain allows this movie to present more appreciable texture and detail within the environments. The ridges of certain outfits appear more pronounced and tactile here. The image does not suffer when it comes to depth. This transfer is a standout effort for longtime fans of the feature and serves as an enjoyable upgrade.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a new Dolby Atmos track as well as the Original Theatrical DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mono audio track which has been absent for a while. The audio is free of overt damage and juggles all of the competing sounds appropriately so that dialogue does not get overwhelmed. The environmental sounds are rendered well alongside everything else to give the locations a sense of space. The expansion that accompanies the Atmos track does not always feel necessary, but it is an engaging enough option that makes the world feel more three dimensional. The track does not aim to bring the house down, but it comes alive when it makes sense. The score from Leonard Rosenman brings such soul to this movie with excellent fidelity on a technical level. These tracks nail every sonic element that is thrown at it, but we would opt for the original mono if we have choose.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Critic Richard Schickel provide a steady but informative commentary track which sustains fairly well over the runtime in which he delves into the source material, the performances in the film, the troubles faced during the production, the shooting locations, the film’s reception and awards run, the legacy of the features and more.
Final Thoughts
East Of Eden is a blistering classic from the ever-reliable Elia Kazan, who tackles the John Steinbeck novel with such confidence that you never feel off course along the journey. James Dean makes a memorable debut as he balances his hardened charisma with a heartbreaking sensitivity. The technical accomplishments behind the scenes are numerous, and they all aid in making this movie even better. It is hard to pick a favorite from James Dean, but this is certainly in major contention. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray sporting a grand A/V presentation and a commentary track. This release oddly drops most of the previously-available special features, so be sure to hold onto your old discs if you indulge in this upgrade Highly Recommended
East Of Eden is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment 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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.