The Railroad Man: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1956
Director: Pietro Germi
Writers: Pietro Germi, Alfredo Giannetti, Luciano Vincenzoni
Cast: Pietro Germi, Luisa Della Noce, Sylva Koscina, Saro Urzì, Carlo Giuffrè, Renato Speziali, Edoardo Nevola, Antonio Acqua

Release Date: May 26th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 115 Minutes 44 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 12 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Italian
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK)

"Living modestly with his wife Sara (Luisa Della Noce), Andrea Marcocci’s life is thrown into turmoil when he witnesses a suicide on the tracks ahead of him. Tenderly narrated from the perspective of his young son Sandro (Edoardo Nevola), the incident has repercussions on Andrea and his extended family - including his unemployed son Marcello (Renato Speziali) and pregnant daughter Giulia (Sylva Koscina) - who he is expected to support." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "The Railroad Man was scanned in 4K and restored at Cineteca di Bologna in Italy. The film was supplied to Radiance Films in a 4K file and is presented in the original aspect ratio."

The Railroad Man comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.4 GB

Feature: 33.8 GB

The source used for this transfer is in excellent shape. Image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image always looks organic.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Italian with removable English subtitles. The audio is in great shape; there are no issues with hiss or distortion. Dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, ambient sounds and the score are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an interview with actor Edoardo Nevola (23 minutes 2 seconds, LPCM stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with Pietro Germi expert Mario Sesti (29 minutes 7 seconds, LPCM stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 28-page booklet (limited to 3000 copies) cast & crew information, an essay titled Pater Familias written by John Bleasdale, archival writing on Alfredo Giannetti by Simone Starace, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Pietro Germi directed The Railroad Man. He’s known for Man of Straw, The Facts of Murder, Divorce Italian Style, and Seduced and Abandoned. Besides directing, he also acts and co-authors many of his films' screenplays.

A man’s life is turned upside down after witnessing a man throw himself in front of his train. Although it is not his fault, he feels responsible for not being able to stop the train in time. At home, his family faces several crises: his irresponsible son has accrued a significant debt to some men, and he is pressuring his daughter to marry the man who got her pregnant. Knowing nothing but the railroad and desperately wanting to regain his old job, he crosses the line when his former co-workers go on strike. His friends turn their backs on him for working as a scab, and this shame only drives him deeper into an alcoholic abyss.

The Railroad Man is a melodrama that has a lot of moving parts. Although the father character, Andrea Marcocci, serves as the focal point of much of the story, the true protagonist is his young son Sandro. Sandro provides voice-over narration that adds depth to the visuals on screen. Andrea is a family man who wants what's best for his family, and he works hard to provide for them. Besides the aforementioned traumatic event at work, most of the conflict in Andrea’s life comes from his two oldest children, Marcello and Giulia. Even in the midst of the turmoil, Andrea’s youngest son, Sandro, never wavers in his admiration for his father.

An underlying theme is fate and how life can change in just a moment, such as when Andrea stays too long at a bar drinking on Christmas. The next day, when he is sober, he blames himself for his daughter's miscarriage. The screenplay is so well written, and each character is given equal time. Marcello Marcocci is the lazy son who never works and who owes some shady people on the side some money. Marcello is an excellent character whose real demon is not his unwillingness to work but his fear of becoming his father. Sara is the faithful wife who never wavers in her love for Andrea. Giulia is the daughter who is in a loveless marriage and is having an affair with another man. The least developed character is the youngest son, Sandro, who in many ways is the person telling the story since most of the film is seen through his eyes or told through his narration.

All around, the cast are outstanding, especially Pietro Germi’s portrayal of Andrea. He delivers a subtle performance that is never overdramatic, further helping make the character sympathetic despite his plight. Other performances of note are Luisa Della Noce (Juliet of the Spirits), who portrays Andrea’s wife Sara; you can feel her pain as she tries to keep her family together, and Edoardo Nevola (The Teacher and the Miracle), who delivers a phenomenal performance beyond his years in the role of Sandro. Notable cast members include Sylva Koscina (Hercules) in the role of Giulia and Saro Urzì, a frequent collaborator of Pietro Germi who portrays Gigi, Andrea’s co-worker and best friend.

The Railroad Man is a beautifully photographed film that cleverly balances tragedy and social commentary. Its well-executed narrative does a superb job holding your attention and building momentum to a bittersweet finale that accentuates the events that preceded it. Another area where The Railroad Man excels is Carlo Rustichelli’s score, which does an exceptional job reinforcing the mood. Ultimately, The Railroad Man is an extraordinary melodrama in which everything perfectly falls into place, making it Pietro Germi’s masterpiece.

The Railroad Man gets an excellent release from Radiance Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer