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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Back Beat
    Genre:Drama

    Reviewed In Issue 12 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Sheryl Lee, Stephen Dorff, Ian Hart.

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 5
    Sound Rating: 3
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): PolyGram Video
    (Catalog Number): 800-631 777-1
    (MPAA Rating): R
    (Retail Price): $$34.95
    (Running Time In Minutes): 100
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Theatrical Release): 1993
    (LD Release Date): 10/1/94
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Ian Softley
    (Screenplay/Written By): Iain Softley, Michael Thomas & Stephen Ward
    (Story): NA
    (Music): Don Was
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Joseph Bennett
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Martin Walsh
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Nik Powell
    (Co-Producers): NA
    (Producers): Stephen Woolley & Finola Dwyer

    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.66:1

    DVD Sound Information
    (DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
    (Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo SR
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (Remastered Dolby Digital):
    (Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
    (Additional Languages):

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Backbeat is the story of the Beatles’ pre-fame days when John, Paul, George, Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best played in Hamburg’s wild and seedy red-light district. The film takes a rare and interesting look into the early days of the band’s formation. It focuses particularly on the freindship between Stuart Sutcliffe (Stephen Dorff), the one-time fifth beetle, and John Lennon (Ian Hart). Sutcliffe was an art school classmate and best friend of Lennon’s who joined the band as a bass player. When the band traveled to Hamburg in 1960, Sutcliffe didn’t keep up; he was more interested in painting and his Bohemian romance with a beautiful German photographer named Astrid Kirchher. Eventually, Sutcliffe quit the band, and a couple of years later he died; his emotionally charged story changes history and shapes a different future for the Beatles.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The 1.66:1 picture is sharp and detailed with excellent color fidelity and natural fleshtones. Dark scenes are solid with no glaring grain or noise, and no artifacts.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The soundtrack has great early Beatles music but the sound is harsh.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
    (Aggressive System Surround):
    (Intense 25Hz Bass):
    (Deep Bass Challenging):
    (Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
    (Holosonic Soundfield):
    (Aggressive Split Surround):
    (Center Back Surround Imaging):
    (Directionalized Dialogue):
    Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
    Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
    Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    Superb Cinematography:
    Reference LaserDisc:
    Collector Edition: