Search - The Killing Fields on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations Movie Release: 1984 DVD Release: 03/27/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Dual Layered Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 21 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 12 Genres: Drama, Political Drama

The Killing Fields is a romanticized adaptation of an eyewitness magazine story by New York Times correspondent Sidney Schanberg. Covering the U.S. pullout from Vietnam in 1975, Schanberg (Sam Waterston) relies on his Cambodian friend and translator Dith Pran (Haing S. Ngor) for inside information. Schanberg has an opportunity to rescue Dith Pran when the U.S. army evacuates all Cambodian citizens; instead, the reporter coerces his friend to remain behind to continue sending him news flashes. Although his family is helicoptered out of Saigon (a recreation of the famous TV news clip), Dith Pran stays with Schanberg on the ground. Racked with guilt, Schanberg does his best to arrange for Dith Pran's escape, but the Cambodian is captured by the dreaded Khmer Rouge. Accepting his Pulitzer Prize on behalf of Dith Pran, Schanberg vows to do right by his friend and extricate him from Cambodia. The rest of the film details Dith Pran's harrowing experiences at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, and his attempt to escape on his own. The Killing Fields won Academy Awards for Hang S. Ngor (a Cambodian doctor who lived through many of the horrific events depicted herein), cinematographer Chris Menges, and editor Jim Clark; an Oscar nomination went to Roland Joffe, who made his directorial debut with this film. Spalding Gray, who played a small role in the film, later elaborated on this experiences in his one-man stage presentation Swimming to Cambodia. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Sam Waterston - Sydney Schanberg
Dr. Haing S. Ngor - Dith Pran
John Malkovich - Al Rockoff
Julian Sands - Jon Swain
Craig T. Nelson - Military Attache
Athol Fugard - Dr. Sundesval
Spalding Gray - United States consul
Bill Paterson - Dr. Macantire

Roland Joffé's award-winning exposé of the Khmer Rouge, The Killing Fields comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The closed-captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Stereo. English and French subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include an informative commentary track recorded by the director, production notes, and the theatrical trailer. The disc does a fine job of presenting the film, but one could have hoped for more historically focused extra features. This is a very good release from Warner Bros. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide