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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
directed by
Arthur Lubin
USA 1949
As far as 'modest' Film Noirs go, this is one of the best. A simple plot idea is twisted to the max for late 1940's audiences. Millionaire-industrialist, cool as a cucumber-bigshot, Walter Williams (Brian Donlevy) has an unscrupulous young wife (Helen Walker) who is out to see him dead. With the help of her nefarious lover/boyfriend, enlisted for the deed - the plan crumbles to pieces and not only does Williams survive a bash on the noggin, but the would-be culprit wrecks himself up in a fireball with the intended targets auto. Now everyone thinks Williams IS dead. After figuring what has transpired Walter has settled as an auto mechanic in a gentle quiet village leaving his mystery to a dogged, close-to-retirement detective, Lt. Tom Quincy (Charles Coburn). Walter succumbs to 'doing-the-right-thing' and returns with garage owner and boss/girlfriend Ella Raines (Marsha Peters), the sweet and sexy girl-next-door. Trouble is now HE has been charged with murder of the hidden lover, thanks to his wife's abilities to lie. He needs assistance from ex-housekeeper Su Lin (silent screen goddess Anna Mae Wong). Impact is one of those clandestine gems that you love to unravel. A true Noir masterpiece. out of |
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Theatrical Release: March 20th, 1949 - USA
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Recommended Reading in Film Noir (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
The Third Man by Graham Greene |
The Dark Side of the Screen: Film Noir by Foster Hirsch |
Somewhere in the Night: Film Noir and the American City by Nicholas Christopher |
Shades of Noir: A Reader by Joan Copjec |
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 Review: Image Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC
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Distribution | Image Entertainment - Region 1- NTSC | |
Runtime | 1:51:16 | |
Video | 1.33:1
Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.98 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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Audio | English (Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono) | |
Subtitles | None | |
Features |
Release Information: Edition Details: • none
DVD Release Date: March 7th, 2000 |
Comments: |
I certainly have seen worse from Image Entertainment. This has a bit of haziness, but good film grain and solid grays. Very minor boosting and the image can be quite tight at times. It is quite an old release before Image started to do proper menus. Some extras would have been appropriate, but its the kind of film that was so hidden there isn't a lot to add. Just a great, simple noir. I love owning this DVD. out of |
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