Stolen Face

(aka 'A Stolen Face')

Directed by Terence Fisher
USA 1952

Lizbeth Scott is glowing in this intriguing Noir that appears to be the bridge between Anthony Mann's Strange Impersonation and Hitchcock's Vertigo. Paul Henreid plays Dr. Philip Ritter, a plastic surgeon, who, on his brief vacation, flirts and romantically succumbs to the enchanting Alice Brent (Lizbeth Scott), a concert pianist. The enjoyable affair isn't enough to drag her away from her intended lover and Ritter is heartbroken, bordering on obsession... to such an extent that he surgically duplicates her face onto one of his patients - a sociopathic ex-con whom he promptly weds! Trouble brews as Alice re-enters the scene now ready to commit to the good Doctor, but his criminal-minded new wife stands stalwartly in the way.

Good clean 'Classic Noir' with the insertion of the ex-con as a plot device and hints of an imposing (and once-disfigured) femme fatale as a pivotal stylistic convention. Early Hammer B-films like this are addictive as hell. It never strays too far into the melodramatic and only suggests a foreboding evil of its love-bound protagonists - but just enough to keep you on your toes.

P.S. I am pretty sure that Lizbeth's voice was dubbed over for the cockney accent when she played Lilly - but regardless she steals the show with her eyes and smile.

Gary W. Tooze

Posters

Theatrical Release: June 16th, 1952

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DVD Comparison:

Dd Home Entertainment - Region 2 - PAL vs. VCI - Region 0 - NTSC

Thanks to Gregory for the VCI screen captures

(Dd Home Entertainment - Region 2 - PAL LEFT vs. VCI - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Cover
	Also available in VCI's Hammer Film Noir Collector's Set, Vol. 1-3 which includes Bad Blonde (1953) Man Bait (1952) A Stolen Face (1952) - Blackout (1954) Gambler and the Lady (1952) - Heat Wave (1954) but BEWARE the packaging is circumspect - a large case with three discs stacked immediately on top of one another. It is advisable, even paying a slight amount more to buy the three Double Features individually.
Distribution	Dd Home Entertainment - Region 2 - PAL	VCI Entertainment Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime	1:09:39 (4% PAL speedup)	1:11:30
Video	1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.9 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.42 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Dd Home Entertainment
Bitrate: VCI
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
Subtitles	None	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Dd Home Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Short: Danger List (21:44) • 24-page liner notes booklet on Stolen Face DVD Release Date: April 4th, 2005 Transparent Keep Case Chapters: 12	Release Information: Studio: VCI Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Bios for Terence Fisher and Lizabeth Scott • Trailers for Portland Expose, Unholy Four, Bury Me Dead • Short Commentaries about Hammer Noir and the film by Richard M. Roberts DVD Release Date: August 28, 2006 Keepcase Chapters 12

Comments:

ADDITION: VCI - Region 0 - NTSC - Sept 06': Wow, we can now verify that the Dd Entertainment PAL DVD has been zoomed in and horizontally stretched to gain a 4:3 ratio. It looks terrible beside the interlaced VCI. Although the PAL is progressive - both appear to be analog sourced and the ratio manipulation is easily enough to go for the VCI package which includes Blackout.

The PAL issue has extras - a short thriller, Danger List with Honor Blackman, and an extensive booklet with photos and an essay by Marcus Hearn and Jonathan Rigby. While the VCI has Blackout - and trailers for Portland Expose, Unholy Four, Bury Me Dead and a short commentary about Hammer Noir and the film by Richard M. Roberts.

Short: Go for the VCI's individually and get the superior packaging.

Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

(Dd Home Entertainment - Region 2 - PAL LEFT vs. VCI - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)

Screen Captures