directed by Otto Preminger
USA 1945
In 1945, a year after the
tremendous success of Laura, director Otto Preminger again uses Dana Andrews, this time as as a drifter, Eric Stanton , who is thrown off a San Francisco bus for limited funds to continue. A survivor, with use of his charm and well dressed
demeanor, falls almost immediately for a waitress named Stella (Linda Darnell), who
half the town appears to be nursing a huge crush on. Even though she only shows
her mean-spirited side. Unfortunately this plot gets rather silly and convoluted
with surprises being totally out of character for Mark Judd (Charles Bickford) and the absurdly prim and proper June Mills (Alice Faye). The ending results in a Hollywood storybook ... that shouldn't have been. Methinks there was some studio hacks in their adjusting the script, but alas, although I may never know, I was still rather
commiserate with this film. This may be below Preminger standard, but it will
keep you keen with the powerful atmosphere.
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Posters
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Theatrical Release: October 26th, 1945 - USA (Premiere)
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Comparison:
BFI - Region 2 - PAL vs. 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC
(BFI - Region 2 - PAL LEFT vs. 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC RIGHT)
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Distribution |
BFI - Region 2- PAL |
20th Century Fox Region 1- NTSC |
| Runtime | 1:33:06 | 1:37:05 |
| Video | 1.28:1
Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.44 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s |
1.33:1
Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 9.11 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
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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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| Bitrate:
BFI |
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| Bitrate:
FOX |
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| Audio | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby) | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby), English (mono) |
| Subtitles | English, None | English, Spanish, None |
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Features |
Release Information:
Edition Details: • Director
Biography (text screens) |
Release Information: . Edition Details:
• Audio Commentary with Film Noir Historian Eddie Muller and Susan Andrews |
| Comments: |
ADDITION: Fox - Region 1- February 06': The new Fox Noir release is far superior in every category. Much tighter detail and beside it the older BFI looks contrast boosted. Although it varies - the Fox frame tends to show a shade more - mostly on the top and the left edge. Audio-wise the Fox has included both a stereo and original mono track - they offer optional Spanish subtitles as well as English and the Muller commentary is once again excellent.... and the best news of all - its under $10.00. Fox is really treating us! ****
A softer
image than in "Where the
Sidewalk Ends", but showing more film grain. I see the image is
almost pillar-boxed at 1.28:1... and I don't know the reason. Similar
Extras to the other recent Preminger BFI releases (except Carmen Jones).
Again good subtitles. No real film blemishes or dirt, but a notch
hazier. Still, great to have this on DVD. |
out
of 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 |
Film Noir by Alain Silver |
Film Noir Guide: 745 Films of the Classic Era,
1940-1959 by Michael F. Keaney |
Detours and Lost Highways: A Map of Neo-Noir by Foster Hirsch |
More Than Night: Film Noir in Its Contexts by James Naremore |
DVD Menus
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Subtitle Sample
NOTE: Not exact frame
(BFI - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC BOTTOM)
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Screen Captures
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(BFI - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC BOTTOM)
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Report Card:
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Image: |
Fox |
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Sound: |
Fox |
| Extras: | Fox |
| Menu: | BFI |
| DVD Box Cover |
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Distribution |
BFI - Region 2- PAL |
20th Century Fox Region 1- NTSC |
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Gary Tooze
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