Don't Bother to Knock Blu-ray

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

directed by Roy Ward Baker
USA 1952

I loved this film. Marilyn Monroe plays a emotionally scarred babysitter working in a hotel. She is propositioned by Richard Widmark who gives a wonderful performance as a good looking pilot on the same floor. He spies her from his room around the corridor. Well, its Marilyn Monroe folks so he skips over to 'break the ice'. A parallel story line has already evolved in which Widmark is drifting out of his current relationship with bar-singer girlfriend Anne Bancroft (her 1st film!).

A lot of critics kept trying to pin this film (good or bad) on Marilyn's acting ability. Being her 12th film its hard to say the studio was giving her a chance. As in Niagara she plays the 'bad girl' very well. Her trouble, that would dog her career, is that she was too damn photogenic, and you find yourself following her every move instead of simply enjoying, what turns out to be, a wonderful performance. This has film noir all over it and is honestly my 2nd or 3rd favorite Marilyn film. It's a shame it never gets much mention. Widmark and Bancroft are perfect (watch for elevator operator, cum uncle, Elisha Cook Jr. and Jim Backus as the young daughter's father). If the film suffers at all it's the ending where suspense never truly evolves. Still a hidden gem of character development. I strongly recommend it! out of

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Theatrical Release: July 18th, 1952

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Comparison:

Fox Home Entertainment - Region 1- NTSC vs. Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray

1) Fox - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT

2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT

Box Cover
Distribution	Fox Home Entertainment - Region 1- NTSC	Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:16:06	1:16:11.608
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 8.68 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	Disc Size: 27,355,334,715 bytes Feature Size: 20,443,041,792 bytes Average Bitrate: 29.99 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 2020 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2020 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Isolated Score: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1693 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1693 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles	English, Spanish, None	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Fox Home Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Trailers • Restoration Comparison • Still Gallery DVD Release Date: April 20th, 2004 Keep Case Chapters: 20	Release Information: Studio: Twilight Time Disc Size: 27,355,334,715 bytes Feature Size: 20,443,041,792 bytes Average Bitrate: 29.99 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Isolated Music Track • Marilyn Monroe: The Mortal Goddess (44:06) • Richard Widmark: Strength of Characters (44:23) • Original Theatrical Trailer (2:41) Blu-ray Release Date: March, 2018 Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters 24

Comments:

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

The Twilight Time 1080P was much anticipated for Noir fans. Frankly, I really liked the SD image - it is darker than the HD and shows some grain. The Blu-ray visuals also show grain but have some inconsistency - sometimes showing texture and other times looking fairly flat and soft - almost waxy. It certainly is more sharp and I don't doubt an adept transfer of the available source. I think I would prefer the HD to be darker and have more consistent texture - but it is what it is, I suppose.

The audio is in a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel - 2020 kbps (24-bit). The film doesn't have much in the way of aggressive effects. It sounds clean and the lossless nails the, uncredited, score by Lionel Newman (The Killer is Loose, A Kiss Before Dying, Compulsion, The Boston Strangler, The Proud Ones) that is also available in an isolated option - crisp all-around and there are optional English subtitles on the region FREE Blu-ray disc.

Kevin Burns, Jeff Scheftel's 1994 3/4 hour documentary; Marilyn Monroe: The Mortal Goddess. It is an account of the life and career of Marilyn Monroe, one of Hollywood's most famous and glamorous movie stars. Her sad and difficult childhood is recounted, including her mother's breakdown. Also included is Victoria Price's Richard Widmark: Strength of Characters (also found on the Blu-rays of Hell and High Water and Panic in the Streets) - it is also from 'A+E's Biography' - but aired in 2000. It has Karl Malden, Eddie Muller, Sidney Poitier, Robert Wagner and others discussing the actors strengths. There is also a theatrical trailer.

Such a, rich, cracker of a Noir - great performances and I loved see the HD presentation with a/v and the extras and isolated score. Absolutely recommended!

***

ON THE DVD: Like the other DVDs in the 2 Marilyn Collections - this image is excellent - good tight lines, shadow detail, pitch black contrast and even some film grain. I dislike the yellow subtitles, but the audio is clear as a bell. Extras are a bit of a wash, but the restoration feature is pretty interesting. Overall I was very happy and you can't beat the price... out of