David Lean's epic "Doctor Zhivago" is presented on a beautiful two-disc DVD release that will prove highly tempting to serious film collectors.

TECHNICAL FEATURES

Picture The transfer of this 1965 production to DVD is breathtaking. At times the picture is so razor-sharp in clarity, it's as if the film had been made recently.

Sound Maurice Jarre's haunting music score adapts beautifully to a 5.1 mix which includes many effects enhancements.

DISC ONE SPECIAL FEATURES

Audio Commentary Many big stars have provided audio commentaries for DVDs. But there's something especially impressive about being allowed to share the thoughts of Omar Sharif, Rod Steiger, and Sandra Lean, former wife of David Lean.

Omar and Sandra have been recorded together, and they talk honestly about what David was like.

Sharif was close to a breakdown, for he worried about Lean's lack of compliments or direction of any sort during his scenes, while other actors would receive far more input. Sandra isn't surprised to hear this, and reveals that Lean was the same with her, and rarely offered any type of compliments or encouragement.

Rod Steiger's contributions were recorded separately, but he's not short on anecdotes, and is a fascinating speaker.

While Sharif worried over Lean's lack of input into his performance, Steiger fretted about being able to speak as well as Alec Guinness and Tom Courtenay.

Omar Sharif Introduction Omar provides a short introduction to the film, describing it as, "one of the last great epics produced by MGM". Heaven knows how he'd describe the MGM output these days.

Isolated Score You can enjoy Maurice Jarre's music score alone, without effects, and in 5.1 sound.

DISC TWO SPECIAL FEATURES

Apart from 'The Making of a Russian Epic', all the featurettes on disc two are from the original cinema release promotion of the movie.

The Making of a Russian Epic A handsome one-hour documentary on the making of "Doctor Zhivago" is the centrepiece of disc two. Omar Sharif hosts, and watching him in action is like getting a lesson in timeless style.

There's an enormous amount of behind-the-scenes footage on offer including screen tests, location footage and production sketches by John Box.

Behind the Camera with David Lean In this ten-minute featurette from 1965, Lean is interviewed and talks about the casting of the film, including that of Geraldine Chaplin. While he initially felt she was too young for the part, he thought that she had a dignity about her, which you can judge for yourself in the screen test footage.

David Lean's film of Doctor Zhivago The story of how Boris Pasternak's book came to screen is briefly covered in this seven-minute featurette, which includes footage of the Nobel ceremony that Pasternak couldn't attend as his novel was banned in Russia.

Moscow in Madrid This four-minute featurette contains more behind-the-scenes footage of the set construction in Spain.

Pasternak An eight-minute background of the writer.

New York Press Interview: Julie Christie It's hard to recall anyone looking so bored or frustrated in interview as Julie Christie, who sits through a succession of lousy film hacks asking banal questions on a promotional junket in New York. Gasp in wonderment and fall about laughing as she's asked, "Do you do holidays?" and "You are an individual aren't you?"

New York Press Interview: Omar Sharif Omar is put through the same selection of dolts that tried to fry Christie's brain. Sharif's considerable skills in charm and diplomacy are put to the test. He fields such corkers as, "What happens when somebody is a film star in Egypt?" and "Say, I've never been to Cairo before, but this must be Cairo, because you're an Egyptian, right?"

Geraldine Chaplin Screen Test Chaplin's three-minute screen test is shown here in full.

This is There are three one-minute featurettes introducing Julie Christie, Geraldine Chaplin, and Omar Sharif to screen audiences of the time. The focus soon shifts to behind-the-scenes footage of the production of "Doctor Zhivago".

Geraldine Chaplin in New York This strange two-minute interview with Geraldine offers a little background to the actress, who reckons that she wouldn't have got a screen test if she didn't come with the Chaplin surname.

Additional Disc Two Extra Features Also on the disc is an original general release trailer, and an awards list

The "Doctor Zhivago" DVD is available to purchase on its own, or as part of a handsome 'Deluxe Series' boxset from CDA. This contains eight original limited edition lobby card prints, a collectible senitype® (limited edition image from movie with 35mm film frame), the original theatrical US one sheet cinema poster, and six original black and white photograph stills.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
Region: 2
Chapters: 61
Ratio: 2.35:1 (anamorphic)
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Audio Tracks: English and French
Subtitles: English and multiple languages
Captions: English
Menus: Static
Special Features Subtitles: All the special features come with subtitles apart from the audio commentary and trailer.

This DVD was reviewed on a JVC XV-S57 DVD player.