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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Le meurtrier" or "Enough Rope")

 

Directed by Claude Autant-Lara
French-Italian-West-German 1963

 

From the pen of acclaimed American novelist Patricia Highsmith (Strangers on a Train, The Talented Mr. Ripley) comes this rare gem of French neo-noir, Enough Rope (Le meurtrier), directed by Claude Autant-Lara (Devil in the Flesh). In a world inhabited by killers and cheats, architect Walter Saccard (Maurice Ronet, Purple Noon) is unhappily married to Clara (Yvonne Furneaux, The Champagne Murders). His idle interest in the spousal murder case of bookseller Melchior Kimmel (Gert Fröbe, Goldfinger) becomes something more intense when the accused is acquitted, and Walter, who believes him guilty, strikes up his acquaintance. When Clara is found dead, Kimmel in turn believes Walter responsible, while a detective (Robert Hossein, The Road to Shame) suspects the two deaths to be connected in this twisting, suspense-drenched masterpiece of mainstream French cinema made at the height of the Nouvelle Vague. Co-starring Marina Vlady (Two or Three Things I Know About Her) and based on Highsmith’s third novel, The Blunderer.

***

Based on Patricia Highsmith's novel The Blunderer. In this drama, two total strangers suspect each other of murdering their own wives.

Posters

Theatrical Release: January 11th, 1963

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Review: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:57:05.583        
Video

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 41,107,709,183 bytes

Feature: 37,710,735,360 bytes

Video Bitrate: 39.02 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio French 1559 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1559 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -31dB

Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Kino

 

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 41,107,709,183 bytes

Feature: 37,710,735,360 bytes

Video Bitrate: 39.02 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians David Del Valle and Dana M. Reems
• Theatrical Trailer (3:40)


Blu-ray Release Date: October 29th, 2024

Standard  Blu-ray Case

Chapters 8

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (October 2024): Kino have transferred Claude Autant-Lara's Enough Rope to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "4K Restoration by TF1". There is an inherent softness but generally this looks quite pleasing in 1080P with smatterings of depth. There is not a ton of grain but enough to dismiss digitization. Overall the HD presentation looked solid on my system. No dirt, speckles or damage. Thumbs up.

NOTE: We have added 48 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original French language. Enough Rope has aggressive that are mostly not shot in an exploitive fashion. There is a sharp score by René Cloërec (The Suspects, The Affair of the Poisons, Stain in the Snow.) He also wrote songs for Edith Piaf. It sounds buoyant with consistent dialogue in the lossless transfer. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary by film historians David Del Valle (Six Reels Under) and Dana M. Reemes (Directed by Jack Arnold.) They talk about Jacques Natteau's excellent, expressionist, camerawork, Patricia Highsmith's novel and the streamlined adaptation ('Agatha Christie with perversity') - omissions, the violence of the opening scene, actors Maurice Ronet (Elevator to the Gallows, The Swimming Pool, Spirits of the Dead,) Gert Fröbe, Marina Vlady, Robert Hossein, director Claude Autant-Lara, the creative credit sequence, the black and white 'scope', and much more. It's enthusiastic and excellent. There is also a trailer for Enough Rope with burned-in English subtitles.

Claude Autant-Lara's Enough Rope is a wonderful suspense thriller in the vein of Strangers on a Train with suspected murders, planning murderers and fatalistic connections. We get Gert Fröbe playing a bookseller with creepy facial expressions - the actor who, a year later, would be in his most famous role of Auric Goldfinger in the beloved James Bond film. He was very successfully DUB'ed by Michael Collins (Quatermass II) in Goldfinger. "No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die." Enough Rope  has a clever cat-and-mouse plot progression, creative cinematography, and a delicious French Noir atmosphere - all on the Côte d'azur. The Kino Blu-ray, with commentary, is strongly recommended!

Gary Tooze

 


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Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


 


 

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