After the lavish Technicolor spectacle of
The Red Shoes, British filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
retreated into the inward, shadowy recesses of this moody, crackling character
study. Based on the acclaimed novel by Nigel Balchin, The Small Back Room
details the professional and personal travails of troubled, alcoholic research
scientist and military bomb-disposal expert Sammy Rice (David Farrar), who,
while struggling with a complex relationship with secretary girlfriend Susan
(Kathleen Byron), is hired by the government to advise on a dangerous new German
weapon. Deftly mixing suspense and romance, The Small Back Room is an
atmospheric, post–World War II gem. *** Adapted from Nigel Balchin's famous novel about a military bomb disposal wizard, Tha Small Back Room traces the struggles of Sammy Rice (David Farrar), a crippled, neurotic scientist. Sammy, plagued by feelings of inferiority because of his lameness, labours to solve the problem of a new type of enemy bomb that is causing many casualties. When a close friend and colleague is killed attempting to dismantle one of the bombs, Sammy is force to face his demons, take his life in his hands and prove his worth - to the military and himself. (Description from the back of the Warner DVD case.) |
Book Cover
Theatrical Release: Feb. 21, 1949
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DVD Comparison:
Warner - Region 2 - PAL vs. Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC
Big thanks to Donald Brown for the Review!
(Warner - Region 2 - PAL LEFT vs. Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC RIGHT)
DVD Box Cover |
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Distribution |
Warner Region 2 - PAL |
Criterion Collection Spine # 441 Region 1 - NTSC |
Runtime | 1:42:24 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:47:36 |
Video |
1.33:1
Original Aspect Ratio |
1.33:1
Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.38 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. |
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Bitrate: Warner |
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Bitrate: Criterion |
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Audio | English - Dolby Digital 2.0 | English - Dolby Digital 1.0 |
Subtitles | none | English, none |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Warner Aspect Ratio: Edition Details: none Chapters 20 |
Release Information: Studio: Criterion
Aspect Ratio: Edition Details: • Audio
commentary featuring film scholar Charles Barr Chapters 15 |
Comments |
ADDITION: Criterion - August 2008 -
Comparatively this new Criterion edition has far fewer instances of damage
(speckles, light vertical scratches, dirt etc.) but many remain and the
boosting of the black levels has raised detail up a solid notch or two.
Technically the disc is dual-layered (where the Warner is single) and the
Criterion is again pictureboxed
transferred
(see our full description of 'pictureboxing' in
our
Kind Hearts and Coronets review) with a black border circumventing
the framed image. The Criterion is coded
for Region 1 in the NTSC standard and both appear progressive. There are
optional English subtitles with mono dialogue on the Criterion which starts
with the Studio Canal logo - which we can assume is the master source. Contrast is probably the most dramatic improvement over the older PAL disc with blacks and whites far more pure - where they could appear muddy on the Warner. The dual-layering has produced less artifacts and it's a pleasure to identify true grain (as opposed to digital noise) on the Criterion. I toggled back and forth a few times on my system, from one edition to the other - synched for the same scenes, and the Criterion's superiority was quite evident. Also the Criterion shows more information in the frame - notably at the top of many shots. Extras easily go in Criterion's favor with a rather dry commentary by film scholar Charles Barr. He does his share of narrating but still imparts some extraneous, if unnecessary, details. His stayed monotone script reading really is more akin to producing sleep than enthusiasm. Not his problem I suppose and I wasn't totally uninterested and he did seem very prepared. There is also a 21-minute video interview with cinematographer Christopher Challis that I thought was worth watching. He reminisces about Michael Powell and that is always keen for fans of the director. There are some audio excerpts (48 minutes, 7 chapters) from Michael Powell’s dictations of his autobiography - a continuation, or adjunct, of what was found on the Thief of Bagdad. Discussions of Korda and the like are marvelous to hear from the director himself. Finally, we have a 16-page liner notes booklet with photos and a new essay by film critic Nick James. Not premium Powell and Pressburger but I enjoyed seeing Farrar and Byron reunited after Black Narcissus - made two years earlier. This story can get uncomfortably tense at times and it's the master film creators at their most resourceful - squeezing keen nuances out of the original, topical, wartime, story. I think its very much worth seeing, but perhaps more so for fans of the P+P team than for those uninitiated into their cinema magic. Not surprisingly the Criterion is the definitive edition to own despite the occasional blemishes. Gary Tooze
ON THE WARNER: Darkness and lack of shadow detail are the only minor faults with this DVD, but few lights seems to have been used for the interior shots, so I suspect much of the film was originally dark anyway. It's sharp and clean, with only a rare appearance by a dust speck, and the pleasing film-like texture is preserved. Recommended. |
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Associated Reading (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
A Life in Movies: An Autobiography by Michael Powell |
Michael Powell: Interviews (Conversations With
Filmmakers Series) by David Lazar |
Arrows of Desire: The Films of Michael Powell and
Emeric Pressburger by Ian Christie |
The Films of Michael Powell and the Archers by Scott Salwolke |
The Red Shoes: The Classic Story by Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger |
Black Narcissus by Rumer Godden |
Powell and Pressburger: A Cinema of Magic Spaces
(Cinema & Society S.) Andrew Moor |
Gone to Earth (Virago Modern Classics)
Mary Webb, Erika Duncan |
I Know Where I'm Going! (BFI Film Classics S.)
Pam Cook |
Check out more in "The Library"
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Extras: | Criterion |
Menu: | Criterion |