The Young Savages Blu-ray Review

The AVC encoded image presentation of "The Young Savages" in its 1.75:1 aspect ratio demonstrates commendable sharpness and fine detail, delivering striking skin textures and a compelling neighborhood atmosphere. Blacks generally maintain their texture, while grain presence is satisfactory, preserving the authentic filmic quality. Although there are visible specks and occasional debris, these are minor and do not significantly detract from the overall visual experience.

The 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer impresses with its crisp clarity, well-modulated contrast, and excellent grayscale variance, ensuring vibrant imagery even in harsh lighting conditions. Noteworthy are moments of slight instability and a missed frame that appear briefly but do not detract from the overall viewing experience. Fine shadow detail effectively prevents crush, and close-ups are especially well-rendered, accentuating facial details without any apparent digital enhancement. Despite a few brief visual imperfections, Kino's presentation of "The Young Savages" stands out for its stellar visual quality, particularly for a 50-year-old film with limited restoration effort.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 track on "The Young Savages" Blu-ray presents a primarily robust audio experience with a few caveats. Early in the film, some viewers reported synchronization issues between dialogue and visuals, though this did not affect all copies tested. The sound is straightforward, leveraging significant ADR and maintaining a consistent fidelity that ensures dialogue is intelligible. The track handles highs and lows effectively, though there can be occasional shrill highs at performance extremes. Although some inherent hiss is present throughout, it does not impede overall clarity.

The music score by David Amram, noted for its room-filling presence in Frankenheimer's "The Manchurian Candidate," adds pleasing depth and fidelity here, enriching the viewing experience. Dialogue remains clear and understandable even when ethnic accents are employed, except in a few whispered exchanges. The dynamic scale of the audio is commendable, avoiding distortion. Despite minor early synchronization problems typical of Kino releases, these issues generally resolve quickly, allowing the remainder of the film to proceed without incident. Overall, the audio presentation is serviceable, if not remarkable, with adequate clarity and tonal depth befitting a film of its era.

The Blu-ray release of "The Young Savages" is barebones in terms of supplementary material, offering no additional features to enhance the viewers' understanding or enjoyment of the film. Unlike many Blu-ray releases that include trailers, behind-the-scenes footage, commentary tracks, or interviews, this disc is devoid of any extras. Those looking for in-depth insights or historical context will be disappointed as the disc offers no supplementary content.

Extras included in this disc:

None.

John Frankenheimer's 1961 feature "The Young Savages" stands out as a challenging portrayal of racial tensions and crime in New York City's Harlem. Adapted from Evan Hunter's novel, the narrative plumbs the depths of prejudice, poverty, and the complexities of justice through its gritty lens. Burt Lancaster delivers a compelling performance as assistant district attorney Hank Bell, whose personal and professional lives intertwine disastrously when a gang murder draws him into the violent world of ethnic conflict. The film's use of striking visual techniques, such as extreme angles and tight editorial work, sustains tension and raw emotional power.

"The Young Savages" explores the harsh realities of gang life, focusing on the violent showdown between the Italian-American Thunderbirds and the Puerto Rican Horsemen. As Bell seeks not only to solve the crime but also to understand its deeper psychological roots, audiences are taken on a procedural journey marked by authentic human complexity. The murder of a blind Puerto Rican teen sets off a chain of events that expose the prejudices within all involved, reflected poignantly in the character portrayals and their evolving dynamics. While some aspects of the film feel dated, its blunt exposure of societal ills remains pertinent.

Frankenheimer’s direction elevates the film to impactful heights. His use of fluid camera movements, off-kilter angles, and claustrophobic framing creates an immediacy that aligns with the film's urgent themes. Notably, moments like the murder reflected in shattered glasses evoke Hitchcockian suspense, heightening the film's effectiveness. Even though "The Young Savages" doesn’t achieve the grandeur or romance of contemporaneous works like "West Side Story," its introspective approach provides significant value. It combines social realism with a compelling narrative that highlights the cyclical nature of violence and societal neglect, making it a potent, if not entirely groundbreaking, piece of cinema.

"The Young Savages" channels the social message-driven cinema of the late 1950s and early 1960s, yet stands distinguished through John Frankenheimer's striking direction. Frankenheimer adeptly uses his cameras to amplify the film's grit, urgency, and overall impact, providing an insightful exploration into gang warfare and the enduring repercussions on both perpetrators and victims. The narrative delves deep into the issues of racial prejudice and negative cultural influences that pervade urban societies, shaping delinquent behavior. Strong performances from Burt Lancaster, Dina Merrill, and Shelley Winters further anchor the film, their believable portrayals intensifying the underlying message.

Kino Lorber’s Blu-ray presents "The Young Savages" with commendable video and audio transfers that heighten viewer immersion. The visual quality allows viewers to appreciate the film’s innovative cinematography, while the audio quality ensures that the powerful dialogue comes through clearly. Although the release lacks supplementary material, which could have offered additional context or behind-the-scenes insight, it does nothing to detract from the film’s overall effectiveness in delivering its poignant themes.

The Young Savages loses tautness when it finally enters the courtroom in the final act, and while Lancaster growls with laudable legal fury, the details of the case and the secrets of the characters are worn out at this point. However, a dip in intensity doesn't erase any of the powerful moments of the picture, as The Young Savages retains a rich understanding of community pressures and juvenile misdeeds. Despite its age, many of its themes and fears are still relevant today.