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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka 'The Human Beast')


http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/direct-chair/lang.htm
USA 1954

A startlingly dark, late film noir masterwork by director Fritz Lang, Human Desire reunites Lang with his hero Glenn Ford and femme fatale Gloria Grahame from the previous year's The Big Heat and the screenwriter of Lang's 1952 noir Clash by Night, Alfred Hayes. Like those two classics, Human Desire finds Lang casting a pitiless eye on all of the human weaknesses that define film noir: deception, infidelity, passion, and murder.

Adapted from the same Émile Zola novel previously filmed by Jean Renoir in La Bête humaine (1938), Lang's gripping thriller has Ford as train engineer Jeff, just home from the Korean War. He's instantly attracted to passenger Vicki (Grahame), not yet realizing that she's the abused wife of Jeff's alcoholic railroad yard superior Carl (Broderick Crawford) -- or that Vicki was just entangled in a jealousy-fuelled murder committed by Carl. As Jeff and Vicki embark on a steamy affair, she tells him about the crime, and Carl's blackmail hold on her. If only Carl could be taken out of the picture...

The only thing that's not pitch black in this noir are the ethical shades of grey inhabited by all its characters. Yet its placid small-town setting also offers a unique perspective on the genre, with Lang uncovering sinister secrets on these quiet streets that could rival any big city immorality.

***

Fritz Lang's 1954 American version of the Zola novel (and Renoir film) La bete humaine. Gloria Grahame, at her brassiest, pleads with Glenn Ford to do away with her slob of a husband, Broderick Crawford. Lang mines the railroad setting for a remarkably rich series of visual correlatives to his oppressively Catholic conception of guilt and retribution. A gripping melodrama, marred only by Ford's inability to register an appropriate sense of doom.

Excerpt of Dave Kehr's review at the Chicago Reader located HERE.

***

Ford and Grahame had worked so well under Lang's direction in the previous year's The Big Heat that Columbia's bosses rushed to capitalize, hiring the trio to work together again in this remake of Jean Renoir's 1938 classic, La Bête Humaine. Ford plays a railroad engineer, back from the Korean War, who gets mixed up with Crawford's wife Grahame.

Excerpt from Channel 4 located HERE.

Posters

Theatrical Release: August 5th, 1954

Reviews                                                                          More Reviews                                                                           DVD Reviews

 

 Comparison:

Columbia Tri-Star  (Columbia Tri-Star Film Noir Classics Vol. 2) - Region 2 - NTSC vs. Sony (Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics, Vol. 2) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray vs. Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

Box Covers
 

Available in the Japanese COLUMBIA TRISTAR FILM NOIR COLLECTION VOL.2

BONUS CAPTURES:

Japanese Packaging

The Japanese COLUMBIA TRI-STAR FILM NOIR COLLECTION VOL.2 (TOP) contains

The Big Heat 1953 Gilda 1946 Human Desire 1954 Lady From Shanghai 1947 Tight Spot 1955.

The Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics, Vol. 2 (BOTTOM) contains Human Desire / The Brothers Rico / Nightfall / City of Fear and Pushover

Distribution Columbia Tri-Star (Japan) - Region 2 - NTSC Sony - Region 1 - NTSC Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:30:42  1:30:42 1:30:49.527 1:31:03.040
Video 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.6 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
1.85:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 4.82 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 36,170,431,397 bytes

Feature: 26,930,535,360 bytes

Video Bitrate: 35.41 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 30,972,930,468 bytes

Feature: 29,139,787,776 bytes

Video Bitrate: 38.96 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate: Japanese

Bitrate: US

Bitrate (MoC): Blu-ray

Bitrate Kino: Blu-ray

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0)  English (Dolby Digital 2.0)  LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit DTS-HD Master Audio English 1592 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1592 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles English, Japanese, None English (SDH), None English (SDH), None English (SDH), None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Columbia Tri-Star Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.85:1

Edition Details:
• Trailers

DVD Release Date: February 25th, 2004

Keep Case (with 4 others in Boxset - see images above and below)
Chapters: 28

Release Information:
Studio: Sony

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.85:1

Edition Details:
• Terror and Desire with Emily Mortimer (9:37)

• Trailer

DVD Release Date: July 6th, 2010

Keep Case (with 4 others in Boxset - see images above)
Chapters: 12

Release Information:
Studio:
Masters of Cinema

 

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 36,170,431,397 bytes

Feature: 26,930,535,360 bytes

Video Bitrate: 35.41 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

Interview with Tony Rayns (29:18)
Trailer (1:55)


Blu-ray Release Date:
February 18th, 2019
Transparent Blu-ray Case

Chapters 7

Release Information:
Studio:
Kino

 

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 30,972,930,468 bytes

Feature: 29,139,787,776 bytes

Video Bitrate: 38.96 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• Terror and Desire: Actress Emily Mortimer on Human Desire (9:38)
• Theatrical Trailer (1:57)


Blu-ray Release Date:
July 11th, 2023
Transparent Blu-ray Case

Chapters 9

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (July 2023): Kino have also transferred Fritz Lang's Human Desire to Blu-ray. The image quality seems exactly the same as the 2019 Masters of Cinema 1080P. It's on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate showing appealing textures and efficient contrast. The HD presentation looks great. 

NOTE: We have added 60 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. The violence in Human Desire is fairly cloaked. The score was by Daniele Amfitheatrof (The Capture, An Act of Murder, The Last Hunt, I'll Be Seeing You, Edge of Eternity, The Lost Moment, The Desperate Hours, Undercover Girl, Letter From An Unknown Woman) adding effective layers of suspense, anticipation, lust and excitement running beside the film. It all sounds clean supporting the films very well. Kino offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.  

Extras include the same video piece of Emily Mortimer giving her viewpoint on the film for 10 minutes. The segment is entitled Terror and Desire and was on Sony's 2010 DVD. It is worth watching. There is also a trailer. Still no commentary for this fully deserved cycle gem. Arghhh.

In Fritz Lang's Human Desire - loose, audacious, Vicki Buckley (Gloria Grahame) has taken a few too many backhands from her husband - alcoholic, moral-less, Carl (Broderick Crawford.) His blackmail doesn't help the marriage. She's carefree with her abundant femininity using it to seduce the stable and handsome, returning Korean War veteran, Jeff Warren (Glenn Ford) encouraging him to 'do away' with her sluggard hubby. The prize? A wanton, grade-A, femme-fatale lover. Is it enough? Jeff intelligently rejects her with his sights re-set on wholesome gal-pal Ellen (Kathleen Case.) Loosely based on Émile Zola's 1890 novel La Bête humaine - Human Desire is filled with self-serving greed that permeates the character's motivations to varying degrees. Everybody wants something. Carl demands loyalty and booze, Vicki wants a new man to cater to her comforts, Jeff is overwhelmed by Vicki's enticing beauty and innocent Ellen is hopelessly smitten with Jeff. A couple of murders later - surrounded by a train yard milieu and we have Noir gold. Grahame and Ford near their peak desirable ardor, gruff Broderick always slovenly solid - all helmed by genre-master Fritz Lang's cynicism. A 'dark cinema' essential but unworthy of a Blu-ray double-dip.

***

Masters of Cinema bring the delightful Noir Human Desire to Blu-ray. This looks like the same source as the Sony DVD - a more dank, darker appearance. But the 1080P upgrade - on a dual-layered disc, with a max'ed out bitrate - looks very appealing in-motion. There is grain texture and a rise in detail. There may be a shade more information in the frame on all 4 edges - but it's negligible. I still like the brighter Japanese DVD but this darker look in HD seems to suit the film better.

Masters of Cinema transfer the audio via an authentic mono, linear PCM (24-bit) and it handles the film's effects (train-related) well - flat but with a small amount of depth. There is a Noir-ish and quasi-romantic, loungie and, at times, workman-like score by Daniele Amfitheatrof (I'll Be Seeing You, Edge of Eternity, The Lost Moment, The Desperate Hours, Letter From An Unknown Woman) and it sounds atmospheric and rich in the uncompressed. Masters of Cinema add optional English (SDH) subtitles on this Region 'B' - Blu-ray.

Included as an extras is a 1/2 interview with Tony Rayns who discusses some of the hurdles of the production and the wish to use Rita Hayworth - and that Gloria Grahame was, actually, a better fit - shooting in Canada because of the railways not wanting a murder-film on a train shown, and it being shot in winter. He discusses the French novel it was based, Renoir's film with Jean Gabin, and how well Human Desire went over in France. It's very informative. There is also a trailer.

I LOVE Human Desire -  Ford and Grahame punctuate Film Noir and work deliciously together. Great film in many respects and it's satisfying to have it on Blu-ray. Go for it, noir aficionados. 

***

ADDITION: Sony (Noir 2) June 2010: Firstly, neither edition is sold as an individual DVD - both come in packages. The new Sony Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics, Vol. 2 REVIEWED HERE contains Human Desire / The Brothers Rico / Nightfall / City of Fear and Pushover.

This is not the same transfer as the Japanese set. There are some small marks on the Japanese rendering that are not duplicated on the US so it appears to be a different source. The new Sony is darker, the single-layered transfer exports a hazier image with a lower bitrate and there is some green infiltration in the contrast. With the Japanese set being been out of print for such a long time (people are asking almost $400 USD for it) this was such an anticipated title for North America noir fans - as most do not own it, in any form, on DVD. The video transfer has to be considered underwhelming.

I noted no differences in the 2.0 channel audio which is clean, consistent and expectantly flat, for both but I much prefer the Japanese edition's white English subtitles as opposed to the Sony's in yellow with a solid background. This may seem like a small detail to most but it shows the level of commitment to the DVD production. Both discs are transferred in the NTSC standard.

The new Sony has a very good supplement we get Emily Mortimer giving her viewpoint on the film for 10 minutes. The segment is entitled Terror and Desire. It is worth watching.

We will have the entire Sony vol. 2 package reviewed very soon.

***

ON THE JAPANESE DVD: Image quality looks quite good - heavy dirt/grain but anamorphic and highly detailed. Contrast is, as usual with CTSHV, exceptionally strong. Progressive transfer, and again, on a single layered DVD. There is some flickering and speckles near the end. It has appeal as the film doesn't appear to be on DVD anywhere else. So if you want to see the film with Gloria Grahame in that famous sweater you are going to have to buy this Boxset (none of the discs are sold separately - it contains The Big Heat, Gilda, Lady From Shanghai and Tight Spot from 1955), but if you are like most you have the first 3 already in your collection from region 1. Human Desire is commercially available in a poor edition from Spain.

NOTE: Tight Spot is scheduled for releases in the UK - both in the Ginger Rogers Screen Goddess Collection and individually later in the year HERE.

As a nice touch this DVD contains English subtitles (along with a Japanese option). The menus are in Japanese but there are limited screens and it takes only moments to access your desired choice through trial and error. The English 2.0 channel is both clear and consistent with easily audible dialogue.

The film is a noir must although perhaps not at the standard of The Big Heat  (with repeat of stars Ford and Grahame and helmsman Lang). A bit hokey at times but Ford carries it and Grahame maintains her status as one of my favorite femme fatales. The music in the film is quite powerful. Being a noir  junkie, it (and Tight Spot if you don't own it) may be worth the indulgence. One can EBay the doubles although it is no crime to have 2 duplicates of the classics The Big Heat, Gilda and Lady From Shanghai on the shelf. 

Gary W. Tooze

 


DVD Menus


 

Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 

 

Kino Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Subtitle Sample

 

1) Columbia Tri-Star (Japanese Film Noir Classics Vol. 2) - Region 2 - NTSC TOP
2) Sony (Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics, Vol. 2) - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND

3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Columbia Tri-Star (Japanese Film Noir Classics Vol. 2) - Region 2 - NTSC TOP
2) Sony (Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics, Vol. 2) - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND

3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Columbia Tri-Star (Japanese Film Noir Classics Vol. 2) - Region 2 - NTSC TOP
2) Sony (Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics, Vol. 2) - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND

3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


More Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray Captures




 


 

More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE

 


Box Covers
 

Available in the Japanese COLUMBIA TRISTAR FILM NOIR COLLECTION VOL.2

  

BONUS CAPTURES:




 

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