( aka 'Date with Destiny')

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/direct-chair/welles.htm

USA 1946

 

The legendary story that hovers over Orson Welles's The Stranger is that he wanted Agnes Moorehead to star as the dogged Nazi hunter who trails a war criminal to a sleepy New England town. The part went to E.G. Robinson, who is marvelous, but it points out how many compromises Welles made on the film in an attempt to show Hollywood he could make a film on time, on budget, and on their own terms. He accomplished all three, turning out a stylish if unambitious film noir thriller, his only Hollywood film to turn a profit on its original release. Welles stars as unreformed fascist Franz Kindler, hiding as a schoolteacher in a New England prep school for boys and newly married to the headmaster's lovely if naive daughter (Loretta Young). Welles the director is in fine form for the opening sequences, casting a moody tension as agents shadow a twitchy low-level Nazi official skulking through South American ports and building up to dramatic crescendo as Kindler murders this little man, the lovely woods becoming a maelstrom of swirling leaves that expose the body he furiously tries to bury. The rest of film is a well-designed but conventional cat-and-mouse game featuring an eye-rolling performance by Welles and a thrilling conclusion played out in the dark clock tower that looms over the little village.

Excerpt from Sean Axmaker's review at Amazon located HERE

***

"Not considered by Welles to be one of his finer efforts, and made only as a studio concession, 'The Stranger' still has elements of film-noir greatness, both behind the camera and in front as a more svelte thespian than in his later years. Edward G. Robinson as the doggedly pursuing detective using his strong instincts to ferret out a hiding ex-Nazi war criminal in a sleepy US small-town. Loretta Young looks good even if the soft-focus on her close-ups seems a trifle too heavy. I enjoyed it immensely and the final clock-tower sequence is yet another element that sets it, and Welles, apart from his peers."

Gary W. Tooze


Posters and 1946 LIFE Magazine article

 

Release Date: May 25th, 1946 - USA

Reviews          More Reviews         DVD Reviews

Associated Reading (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)

This is Orson Welles
by Orson Welles, Peter Bogdanovich, Jonathan Rosenbaum
Orson Welles on Shakespeare: The W.P.A. and Mercury Theatre Playscripts
by Orson Welles, Simon Callow, Richard France
Orson Welles: Interviews (Conversations with Filmmakers (Paperbacks))
by Orson Welles, Mark W. Estrin
Orson Welles : The Stories of His Life
by Peter Conrad
Rosebud : The Story of Orson Welles
by David Thomson
Encyclopedia of Orson Welles (Great Filmmakers)
by Chuck Berg, Tom Erskine, John C. Tibbetts, James M. Welsh, Thomas L. Erskine
Chimes at Midnight: Orson Welles, Director (Rutgers Films in Print)
by Bridget Gellert Lyons

Comparison: 

MGM - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Focus-Films (single-disc) Region 0 - NTSC vs. MGM Region 2 / 4 - PAL vs. Roan Region 0 - NTSC vs. Parade Region 0 - NTSC vs. Focus-Films (2-disc) Region 0 - NTSC vs. Eureka Region 0 - PAL vs. HD Cinema Classics - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Big thanks to courtesy of Enrique B Chamorro for the Roan screen captures! and Pavel Borodin for Focus Films (double), Eureka and the MGM.

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT

2) Focus Films -single-disc- Region 0 NTSC 2nd

3) MGM - Region 2 / 4- PAL - 3rd

4) Roan Group - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT

 

DVD Box Covers

 

 

 

Distribution MGM - Region 1 - NTSC Focus Films (Single disc) - Region 0 - NTSC

MGM Home Entertainment

Region 2 - PAL

Roan - Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime 1:35:06 1:35:48 1:31:18 ( 4% PAL speed-up) 1:34:45
Video Aspect ratio: 1:33:1 
Average Bitrate: 6.12 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s
Aspect ratio: 1:37:1 
Average Bitrate: 6.90 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

Aspect ratio: 1:37:1 
Average Bitrate: 6.19 mb/s

PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

Aspect ratio: 1:37:1 
Average Bitrate: 6.10 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

 

 

1) (Parade Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Focus-Films Region 0 -NTSC SECOND

3) Eureka Region 0 -PAL - THIRD

4) HD Cinema Classics - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT

 

DVD Box Cover 

 

 

 

 

 

Click to order from:

 

 

 

Distribution Parade/ Master Movies/ Region 0 - NTSC Focus Films - Region 0 - NTSC

Eureka Films

Region 0 - PAL

HD Cinema Classics - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:34:00 1:35:48 1:31:18 (4% PAL speed-up) 1:34:58.150
Video Aspect ratio: 1:37:1 
Average Bitrate: 5.11 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s
Aspect ratio: 1:37:1 
Average Bitrate: 6.90 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s
Aspect ratio: 1:37:1 
Average Bitrate: 5.60 mb/s 
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

Disc Size: 17,247,871,853 bytes

Feature Size: 16,634,990,592 bytes

Average Bitrate: 21.56 Mbps

Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P

 

Bitrate:

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

 

MGM

 

 

Focus Films (new)

 

 

MGM (R2)

 

 

Roan Film Group

 

 

Parade

 

 

Focus Films

 

 

 

Eureka

 

 

 

Blu-ray

 

 

(Focus Films -single-disc- Region 0 NTSC LEFT vs. MGM - Region 2 / 4- PAL - SECOND vs. Roan Group - Region 0 - NTSC - THIRD vs. Parade Region 0 - NTSC - FOURTH, Focus-Films Region 0 -NTSC FIFTH, Eureka Region 0 -PAL - RIGHT )

 

Dist. MGM - Region 1 - NTSC Focus Films (Single disc) - Region 0 - NTSC

MGM Home Entertainment

Region 2 - PAL

Roan - Region 0 - NTSC Parade/ Master Movies/ Region 0 - NTSC Focus Films (2 disc) - Region 0 - NTSC

Eureka Films

Region 0 - PAL

HD Cinema Classics - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Audio English (Dolby Digital 1.0) English (Dolby Digital 5.1) English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) DUBS: German, French, Italian, Spanish English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) English (Dolby Digital 1.0) English (Dolby Digital 5.1) English (Dolby Digital 1.0) Dolby Digital Audio English 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB
Subtitles English, Spanish and none None English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Danish, Greek, Rumanian and none None Japanese and none None None Spanish, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: MGM (US)

Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• none

DVD Release Date: July 10th, 2007

Keep Case

20 Chapters

 

Release Information:
Studio: Focus Films Entertainment

Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen (Standard) - 1.37:1

Discographic Information:
DVD Encoding: Region 0

Layers: Dual

Edition Details:
• Commentary by film critic Jeffrey Lyons
• Orson Welles's first film, 1934's Hearts of Age
• Theatrical trailers
• Still photo gallery
• Number of discs: 1

DVD Release Date:  February 7th, 2006 

Keep Case

10 Chapters

1 Disc

 

Release Information:
Studio: MGM (UK)

Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Trailer

DVD Release Date: Feb 2nd, 2004 

Keep Case

16 Chapters

 
Release Information:
Studio: Roan Group

Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• All Regions
• Black & White, Dolby
• Two Complete Features: THE STRANGER stars Orson Welles (also directed), Loretta Young and Edward G Robinson about a Nazi criminal hiding out in a small Connecticut town. (1946/86m/B&W) and CAUSE FOR ALARM with Loretta Young married to psychotic Barry Sullivan.(1951/73m/B&W) on the flip side.

NOTE: No DVD menu for The Stranger- launches directly into the film

DVD Release Date: Feb 4th, 2003 

Single Keep Case

20 Chapters

 

Release Information:
Studio: Parade

Aspect Ratio):
Full Screen (Standard) - 1.37:1

Discographic Information:
DVD Encoding: All Regions
Layers: Single
 

Edition Details:
• All Regions
• Black & White

DVD Release Date:  May 12, 1998
Polygram Case

11 Chapters


 

Release Information:
Studio: Focus Films Entertainment

Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen (Standard) - 1.37:1

Discographic Information:
DVD Encoding: Region 0

Layers: Dual

Edition Details:
• Commentary by film critic Jeffrey Lyons
• Features fully restored and Dolby Digital 5.1 remixed versions of two Orson Welles classics, The Stranger and The Trial
• 18-minute documentary, narrated by noted Welles historian Richard France and featuring a rare behind-the-scenes look at the restoration process of these two classic films
• Orson Welles's first film, 1934's Hearts of Age
• Theatrical trailers
• Still photo gallery
• Number of discs: 2

DVD Release Date:  April 2, 2002 

Double Keep Case

10 Chapters

2 Discs in Box Set

NOTE: The Stranger is part of a Box-set that contains The Trail and Orson Welles's first film, 1934's Hearts of Age

Release Information:
Studio: Eureka Video
 

Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen (Standard) - 1.37:1

Edition Details:
• Black & White, PAL

• Special Feature: Full-length commentary

Layers: Single

DVD Release Date: 18 Mar, 2002
Keep Case
12 Chapters

 

Release Information:
Studio:
HD Cinema Classics
 

Disc Size: 17,247,871,853 bytes

Feature Size: 16,634,990,592 bytes

Average Bitrate: 21.56 Mbps

Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P

 

Edition Details:
• 
Restoration Demonstration (split screen - 1:14 in 1080P)
• Trailer (1:06 in 1080P)
• Postcard with the poster
• DVD of the film included

Blu-ray Release Date: February 15th, 2011
Standard
Blu-ray Case
12 Chapters

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Kino - Region FREE - Blu-ray September 2013: ADDED HERE. 

***

ADDITION: HD Cinema Classics - Region FREE - Blu-ray February 2011: We've made our comments in a separate review located HERE

***

ADDITION: MGM - Region 1- NTSC July 07':  The NTSC MGM disc is progressive and may be on a par with its Region 2 MGM counterpart in terms of image although if I was forced to choose I'd give the nod to the US edition. I think it shows slightly less artifacts and possibly superior contrast - but it's not a deal-breaker in my mind - detail is the same. Both have optional subtitles but the PAL release has a trailer where the MGM (US) has nothing in the way of supplements. I still love the film and I don't think I'm alone. The new DVD is by no means perfect but it's the best we know of (take into account the inferiority of PAL speedup).

***

ADDITION: Focus Films (Single Disc) - Sept 06': Just a brief warning that the newer single disc Focus Films edition is the exact same interlaced transfer of the double-disc (it's actually the same disc) - same commentary and same horrendous Hearts of Age supplement. As it is single disc'ed it leaves out The Trial and 18 minute documentary. Stick with the slightly black-boosted MGM PAL or the Roan as a close second (it does include Cause For Alarm). This might be worth picking up for the commentary - very reasonably priced. It certainly has the best cover of all of them.

NOTE: On Roan's Cause For Alarm - The real cause for alarm on the Roan DVD of CAUSE FOR ALARM! is that it is almost 2 minutes short: Chapter 3 ends with a fade-out on Loretta Young going back to the house (0:18:08); then chapter 4 starts abruptly in the middle of the next scene with a closeup of Ms. Young finishing a sentence, going "...thought has been for ourselves". The fade-out (a video fade, not a film fade) is the giveaway: Unlike this DVD, the film fades to Barry Sullivan, followed by Ms. Young entering the room and an argument ensuing. By the time she gets to say "(Every moment, every) thought has been for ourselves", 1 Minute and 59 seconds have passed which are missing on the Roan DVD. What's even more frustrating is that when the first release AED-2011 was replaced by AED-2011RM, the re-mastering affected only THE STRANGER. (Thanks Cristoph!)

***

Finally we have a decent version of this film on DVD. Having it slip into the public domain caused a multitude or DVD producers to come out with their own versions- most of them awful. The Roan Group edition is almost as clean/sharp as the MGM, but is substantially cropped. The MGM disc has no Extras but a trailer, but is the winner on image quality. Decent contrast, a little film grain but I do notice a speckle of contrast boosting. Still better than we have seen on DVD yet. 

   Gary W. Tooze

 

DVD Menus

 

MGM - Region 1- NTSC LEFT vs. Focus Films -single-disc- Region 0 NTSC MIDDLE vs. MGM - Region 2 / 4- PAL - RIGHT


 
   


 Parade Region 0 - NTSC -
LEFT vs. Focus-Films Region 0 -NTSC MIDDLE, Eureka Region 0 -PAL - RIGHT

 

NOTE: No DVD menu in the Roan Group DVD- launches directly into the film.


 

HD Cinema Classics - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 


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

 

Screen Captures

 

Subtitle sample of the MGM (USA) TOP vs. HD Cinema Classics - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) MGM - Region 1- NTSC TOP

2) Focus Films -single-disc - Region 0 NTSC 2nd

3) MGM - Region 2 / 4- PAL - 3rd

4) Roan Group - Region 0 - NTSC - 4th

5) Parade Region 0 - NTSC - 5th

6) Focus-Films Region 0 -NTSC 6th

7) Eureka Region 0 -PAL  7th

8) HD Cinema Classics - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM



1) MGM - Region 1- NTSC TOP

2) Focus Films -single-disc - Region 0 NTSC 2nd

3) MGM - Region 2 / 4- PAL - 3rd

4) Roan Group - Region 0 - NTSC - 4th

5) Parade Region 0 - NTSC - 5th

6) Focus-Films Region 0 -NTSC 6th

7) Eureka Region 0 -PAL  7th

8) HD Cinema Classics - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


 

1) MGM - Region 1- NTSC TOP

2) Focus Films -single-disc - Region 0 NTSC 2nd

3) MGM - Region 2 / 4- PAL - 3rd

4) Roan Group - Region 0 - NTSC - 4th

5) Parade Region 0 - NTSC - 5th

6) Focus-Films Region 0 -NTSC 6th

7) Eureka Region 0 -PAL  7th

8) HD Cinema Classics - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) MGM - Region 1- NTSC TOP

2) Focus Films -single-disc - Region 0 NTSC 2nd

3) MGM - Region 2 / 4- PAL - 3rd

4) Roan Group - Region 0 - NTSC - 4th

5) Parade Region 0 - NTSC - 5th

6) Focus-Films Region 0 -NTSC 6th

7) Eureka Region 0 -PAL  7th

8) HD Cinema Classics - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) MGM - Region 1- NTSC TOP

2) Focus Films -single-disc - Region 0 NTSC 2nd

3) MGM - Region 2 / 4- PAL - 3rd

4) Roan Group - Region 0 - NTSC - 4th

5) Parade Region 0 - NTSC - 5th

6) Focus-Films Region 0 -NTSC 6th

7) Eureka Region 0 -PAL  7th

8) HD Cinema Classics - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


Recommended Reading in Film Noir (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)

Hit Counter


Report Card:

 

Image:

MGM (Region 1 + 2) or Roan

Sound:

-

Extras: Focus Films
Menu: Eureka
DVD Box Covers

 

 

 

Distribution MGM - Region 1 - NTSC Focus Films (Single disc) - Region 0 - NTSC

MGM Home Entertainment

Region 2 - PAL

Roan - Region 0 - NTSC
DVD Box Cover 

 

 

 

 

 

Click to order from:

 

 

 

Distribution Parade/ Master Movies/ Region 0 - NTSC Focus Films - Region 0 - NTSC

Eureka Films

Region 0 - PAL

HD Cinema Classics - Region FREE - Blu-ray





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Gary Tooze

Mississauga, Ontario,

   CANADA