(aka "L.A. Investigator, The" )
directed by Alfred L. Werker and
USA 1948
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This film is one of the greatest examples of film noir, expertly acted and finely directed. Richard Basehart was probably at his very best playing the psychopathic antisocial killer. The supporting players are just as good, all veterans of radio and TV shows of the '20's-'60's. Jack Webb did a great job of directing, making good use of shadows and dramatic lighting effects which would come to define the film noir genre. (Webb also appears briefly as a lab tech). Webb was probably best known at the time for his Dragnet radio show, which he brought to tv a few years after HWBN. And who could forget the finale, set in the LA sewer system (re-used for the 1956 sci-fi classic THEM!)? All in all, a four-star film. |
Posters
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Theatrical Release: November 24th, 1948
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Comparison:
MGM - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Alpha - Region 0 - NTSC
Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for all the screen captures.
(MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Alpha - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)
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| Distribution |
MGM Region 1 - NTSC |
Alpha Region 0 - NTSC |
| Runtime | 1:19:00 | 1:18:36 |
| Video |
1.33:1
Original Aspect Ratio |
1.33:1
Original Aspect Ratio |
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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:
MGM. |
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Bitrate:
Alpha
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| Audio | Dolby Digital 2.0 |
Dolby Digital 2.0 |
| Subtitles | English, French, Spanish, None | None |
| Features |
Release Information: Studio: MGM Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Chapters 16 |
Release Information: Studio: Alpha Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
DVD
Release Date: June 24, 2003 Chapters 6 |
| Comments |
It is painfully obvious by
looking at the screen captures what has happened here. This film escaped into
the public domain and a "Madacy" type production company - like Alpha Video -
found the cheapest print they could and transferred it to DVD with little regard
for the film or the patrons who might purchase it. Alpha Video is another
company that has no regard or pride in what they do - they are out to make some
quick bucks - essentially out of your pocket. Their only saving grace is that
the disc's are usually super cheap. I suggest avoiding them at all costs in the
future. They competitively skim profit from distribution companies that might
use the extra cash to put a more complete effort into there DVDs.
Unfortunately the MGM is also interlaced. |
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 |
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 |
DVD Menus
(MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs.
Alpha - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)
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Screen Captures
(MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Alpha - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Alpha - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Alpha - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Alpha - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Alpha - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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Report Card:
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Image: |
MGM |
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Sound: |
MGM |
| Extras: | |
| Menu: | MGM |
| DVD Box Covers |
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| Distribution |
MGM Region 1 - NTSC |
Alpha Region 0 - NTSC |
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Gary Tooze
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Many Thanks...
