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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(aka 'Before the Fact')
USA 1941
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Johnnie Aysgarth (Cary Grant) is a seemingly rich, care-free playboy. He conveniently meets and marries Lina McLaidlaw Aysgarth, a soon-to-be heiress. Charmed by Johnnie's initially, her suspicions about him grow and grow. Firstly his lack of income is revealed. And why does he have such a keen interest in poisons?
Despite its flawed finale (destroyed by financially apprehensive studio executives) 'Suspicion' is a wonderfully entertaining film. Its weakness doesn't deteriorate from its charm and appeal as a top-notch thriller. Half-speed Hitchcock beats out the best of many other directors. |
Posters
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Theatrical Release: November 14th, 1941 - USA
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
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Kinowelt - Region 2 - PAL vs. Universal - Region 2 - PAL vs. Warner Home Video - Region 1- NTSC vs. IVC - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Comparison:
Big thanks to Ole Kofoed and Pavel Borodin for the Region 2 DVD screen captures!
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1) Kinowelt - Region 2 - PAL LEFT 2) Universal - Region 2 - PAL SECOND 3) Warner - Region 1- NTSC - FOURTH4) IVC - Region FREE - Blu-ray - FIFTH5) Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT
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Also comes in The Alfred Hitchcock Signature Collection
which includes -
Strangers on a Train Two-Disc Edition /
North by
Northwest /
Dial M for Murder /
Foreign Correspondent /
Suspicion /
The
Wrong Man /
Stage Fright /
I Confess /
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
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| Distribution |
Kinowelt Region 2- PAL |
Universal Region 2 - PAL |
Warner Home Video Region 1- NTSC |
IVC Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Warner Region FREE - Blu-ray |
| Runtime | 1:35:01 (4% PAL speedup) | Color = 1:39:44 (PAL: NTSC sourced) - B/W = 1:35:21 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:39:24 | 1:39:53.654 | 1:39:33.759 |
| Video |
1.33:1
Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.10 PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s |
1.33:1
Original Aspect Ratio |
1.33:1
Original Aspect Ratio |
1.33:1 Disc Size: 22,254,742,578 bytes Feature Size: 22,141,999,104 bytes Average Bitrate: 26.41 MbpsSingle -layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P |
1.33:1 Disc Size: 31,035,692,453 bytes Feature Size: 29,389,443,072 bytes Average Bitrate: 34.92 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Warner
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IVC
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| Bitrate:
Warner
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| Audio | English (Dolby Digital 2.0), DUB: German (Dolby Digital 2.0) | English (Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono) |
English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby) |
LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit |
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1785 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1785 kbps / 24-bit
(DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) DUBs: Dolby Digital Audio French 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB |
| Subtitles | German, none | None | English, French, Spanish, None | Japanese, None | English, French, Spanish, Czech, Polish, None |
| Features |
Release Information: Studio: Kinowelt - Region 2 - PAL
Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: •
Trailer Chapters 21 |
Release Information: Studio: Universal - Region 2 - PAL
Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Chapters 12 |
Release Information: Edition Details: • Featurette
"Before the Fact: Suspicious Hitchcock" (21:33) |
Release Information: Video: IVC (Japan) 1.33:1 Disc Size: 22,254,742,578 bytes Feature Size: 22,141,999,104 bytes Average Bitrate: 26.41 MbpsSingle -layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080PExtras: • 11X18 folded poster (cover) with Japanese text on the reverse Chapters: 11 |
Release Information: Video: Warner Home Video 1.33:1 Disc Size: 31,035,692,453 bytes Feature Size: 29,389,443,072 bytes Average Bitrate: 34.92 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P
Chapters: 31 |
| Comments: |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION: Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray (April 2016): As anticipated the Warner, with its superior original elements and a dual-layered transfer, advances upon the Japanese 1080P looking brighter, tighter - the max'ed out bitrate supports the film's textures much better than the IVC. The Japanese BD has the visible rounded corners and shows more information in the frame (notable on all 4 edges.) The audio - a DTS-HD Master (24-bit) exports the varied Franz Waxman (Run Silent, Run Deep, Rebecca, Bride of Frankenstein, Rear Window, Sunset Boulevard) score sounding richer and crisper. The region FREE Warner Blu-ray offers optional subtitles - see sample - (and 2 foreign language DUBs.) Extras duplicate the 2004 DVD with the 20-minute featurette "Before the Fact: Suspicious Hitchcock" and an unrestored theatrical trailer. The Warner Blu-ray is the best presentation and the one for fans to own. The price is also very reasonable for the value of the film.* **ADDITION: IVC - Region FREE - Blu-ray (February 2016): Firstly, Serge Bromberg of Lobster Films says that they bought the rights on the RKO catalogue for the countries outside France (thanks Julien!). It means that all the RKO films released by IVC have been mastered by Lobster Films and won't be sold in France. They do indeed start with the Lobster Films logo.
I think this is the most encouraging of the RKO Collection IVC Blu-rays I've seen so far. It again, shows more information in the frame than the SDs, but the improvement is in the consistency. There is some contrast flickering but it is mostly isolated to the beginning of the film. The grain is wonderfully thick throughout and less speckles/marks than on Cat People or I Walked With a Zombie. It also has richer, deeper, black levels. Visuals look quite fetching in 1080P and I can say this is most I have appreciated this Hitchcock film... ever. Depending on the side of your system I don't know if it would best the Warner DVD but I can say on my 60" it was very appealing and film-like.A linear PCM 2.0 channel again (16-bit) adds some subtle, and more aggressive, atmospheric touches to the story. There is some definite depth via the uncompressed although somewhat wanting. The disc only offers optional Japanese subtitles and the Blu-ray is region FREE.Only a folded poster as an extra - but I really did enjoy and appreciate this HD presentation. Less patient Hitchcock fans may wish to indulge while waiting for Warner. Still imperfect but the best of the three (no, 4 including IVC's The Magnificent Ambersons Blu-ray) that I've reviewed so far. NOTE: The question of whether the degree of improvement is worth the cost for a bare-bones Blu-ray - is your own - for many the answer will be 'no'. Others may see value in the a/v advancement not finding the, converted currency, price prohibitive. To each his own. IMO, Don't feel obligated simply because you love and appreciate these RKO films. *** ADDITION - Kinowelt - September 2004 - perhaps slightly superior to the Universal - Region 2 DVD but no where near the image quality of the new Warner. It does have a long featurette on Cary Grant. Stick with the Warner, but pick up the Kinowelt if you are a Cary Grant fan as well. The Region 2, Universal DVD has both the original black and white version and a colorized print version option. Wow! - the Region 2 DVD is a mess! The colorized print is cropped (or more likely 'zoomed in') even more than the black and white PAL version on the same disc. The Universal was NTSC sourced and loses an immense amount of image on all sides compared to the stellar Region 1, which, as I have stated- is Criterion-like. Add to that the abominable Region 2 DVD - NO Extras - NO subs and an inconsistent soundtrack. Sharpness, contrast - everything... this choice is too easy - Warner's magnificent Region 1 DVD all the way! |
DVD Menus
(Kinowelt
- Region 2- PAL LEFT vs. Universal
- Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)
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Warner - Region 1- NTSC
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Subtitle Sample Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray
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Screen Captures
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1) Kinowelt - Region 2 - PAL TOP 2) Universal (Color) - Region 2 - PAL SECOND 3) Universal (black and white) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD4) Warner - Region 1- NTSC - FOURTH5) IVC - Region FREE - Blu-ray - FIFTH6) Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Kinowelt - Region 2 - PAL TOP 2) Universal (Color) - Region 2 - PAL SECOND 3) Universal (black and white) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD4) Warner - Region 1- NTSC - FOURTH5) IVC - Region FREE - Blu-ray - FIFTH6) Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Kinowelt - Region 2 - PAL TOP 2) Universal (Color) - Region 2 - PAL SECOND 3) Universal (black and white) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD4) Warner - Region 1- NTSC - FOURTH5) IVC - Region FREE - Blu-ray - FIFTH6) Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Kinowelt - Region 2 - PAL TOP 2) Universal (Color) - Region 2 - PAL SECOND 3) Universal (black and white) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD4) Warner - Region 1- NTSC - FOURTH5) IVC - Region FREE - Blu-ray - FIFTH6) Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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More Blu-ray Captures
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1) IVC - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP2) Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) IVC - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP2) Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) IVC - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP2) Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) IVC - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP2) Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) IVC - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP2) Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) IVC - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP2) Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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Recommended Reading in Film Noir (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
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Film Noir: An Encyclopedia Reference to the American
Style by Alain Silver, Elizabeth Ward |
The Dark Side of the Screen: Film Noir by Foster Hirsch |
Somewhere in the Night: Film Noir and the American City by Nicholas Christopher |
Film Noir Reader 4 : The Crucial Films and Themes
(Film Noir Reader) by Alain Silver |
The Art of Noir: The Posters and Graphics from the
Classic Era of Film Noir by Eddie Muller |
The Little Black and White Book of Film Noir:
Quotations from Films of the 40's and 50's by Peg Thompson, Saeko Usukawa |
Detours and Lost Highways: A Map of Neo-Noir by Foster Hirsch |
More Than Night: Film Noir in Its Contexts by James Naremore |
Report Card:
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Image: |
Warner Blu-ray |
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Sound: |
Warner Blu-ray |
| Extras: | Kinowelt |
| Box Covers |
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Also comes in The Alfred Hitchcock Signature Collection
which includes -
Strangers on a Train Two-Disc Edition /
North by
Northwest /
Dial M for Murder /
Foreign Correspondent /
Suspicion /
The
Wrong Man /
Stage Fright /
I Confess /
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
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||||
| Distribution |
Kinowelt Region 2- PAL |
Universal Region 2 - PAL |
Warner Home Video Region 1- NTSC |
IVC Region FREE - Blu-ray |
Warner Region FREE - Blu-ray |
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Gary Tooze
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Many Thanks...