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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
directed by Patrick Jenkins and Sam Newfield
UK 1952
| The Gambler and the Lady starred Dane Clark as Jim Forster, a gullible American gambler who comes unstuck when his desire for social climbing leads him to dumps his dancer mistress Pat (Kathleen Byron), in favour of high society Lady Willens (Naomi Chance). Racketeers infesting London's gambling belt wreck Jim’s casinos, and his partner Dave is killed by the Colonna Brothers, who want in. During a gun battle Jim deals with the Colonna’s, as he struggles away wounded, a jealous Pat runs him down in her car. |
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Theatrical Release: 26 December 1952 (USA)
DVD Review: VCI Entertainment (Hammer Film Noir Vol. 3) - Region 0 - NTSC
Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Review!
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CLICK to order from:
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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.
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| Distribution |
VCI Entertainment Region 0 - NTSC |
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| Runtime | 1:11:36 | |
| Video |
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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| Audio | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) | |
| Subtitles | None | |
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Release Information: Studio: VCI Entertainment Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Chapters 12 |
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| Comments | An impressive print quality with very little damage. The largest drawback is that it is interlaced. Some minor, but unnecessary, contrast boosting. Tube worthy this Noir effort is quite enjoyable for fans of the style - as is the whole 1-3 disc boxset - bordering on essential for a Noir library. The supplements are slim pickings but at least a viable effort by VCI. Optional subtitles would have been appreciated but certainly one can't argue with the price. |
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(aka "The House Across the Lake" )
directed by Ken Hughes
UK 1954
The DVD of Heat Wave (The House Across the Lake) is reviewed to the Blu-ray HERE
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Slick and effective thriller that employs the writing and directing talents of Ken Hughes. An American pulp novelist, Kendrick (Alex Nicol), meets his rich neighbours across the lake and is soon seduced by Carl (Hillary Brooke), the wife of Forrest (Sidney James), whom Kendrick likes. Forrest is badly injured when his launch has an accident in the fog, and Carol throws him overboard. When Kendrick discovers Carol has gone back to her ex-lover Vince (Paul Carpenter), he goes to the police. |
Posters
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Theatrical Release: 16 April 1954 (USA)
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Review: VCI Entertainment (Hammer Film Noir Vol. 3) - Region 0 - NTSC
Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Review!
| DVD Box Cover |
|
CLICK to order from:
|
|
|
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.
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| Distribution |
VCI Entertainment Region 0 - NTSC |
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| Runtime | 1:08:12 | |
| Video |
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 |
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| Audio | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) | |
| Subtitles | None | |
| Features |
Release Information: Studio: VCI Entertainment Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Chapters 12 |
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| Comments |
The DVD of Heat Wave (The House Across the Lake) is
reviewed to the Blu-ray
HERE Interlaced yet again (and analog sourced), but we'll take what we can get. The image has reasonable sharpness and acceptable contrast, although there are moments of imbalance. The imperfections tend to add to the atmosphere - especially for CRT (tube) viewing)... as opposed to being a cumbersome distraction. This is a package that Noir fans can't really ignore. |
DVD Menus
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The DVD of Heat Wave (The House Across the Lake) is reviewed to the Blu-ray HERE
Recommended Reading in Film Noir (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
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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 |
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Gary Tooze
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Thank You!
