All the President's Men: Special Edition

Based on the popular exposé by Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman), Alan J. Pakula's Oscar-nominated 1976 docudrama traces the dogged investigative efforts of the principals in uncovering the story behind the 1972 Watergate break-in (which eventually resulted in President Nixon's resignation). Jason Robards picked up an Oscar for his role as Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee (the recreation of the WP newsroom also earned the set decorators a gold statuette), as did screenwriter William Goldman, whose tight, suspenseful script is surprisingly effective, given that viewers already know the outcome of the story. Presented with a fine transfer, this two-disc special edition boasts DVD extras including audio commentary by co-star Redford, the half-hour “making-of” documentary “Telling the Truth About Lies,” the vintage featurette “Pressure and the Press,” featurettes on “Woodward and Bernstein” (an excellent look at the impact of the Watergate story on journalism, which includes interviews with Linda Ellerbee and Walter Cronkite) and “The Man Who Was Deep Throat” (on Mark Felt), and a 1976 interview from Dinah! with Robards. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)[Blu-ray Review—Feb. 15, 2011—Warner, 138 min., PG, $34.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1976's All the President's Men features an excellent transfer and a DTS-HD soundtrack. Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by costar Robert Redford, a “Telling the Truth About Lies” making-of featurette (29 min.), background featurettes “Woodward and Bernstein: Lighting the Fire” (18 min.) and “Out of the Shadows: The Man Who Was Deep Throat” (17 min.) on the Watergate scandal, a vintage “Pressure and the Press” making-of segment (10 min.), an excerpt from a 1976 episode of Dinah Shore's show Dinah! with costar Jason Robards (7 min.), and trailers, packaged in a 36-page digi-book case. Bottom line: Alan J. Pakula's classic shines on Blu-ray.]