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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Vincent Sherman
USA 1950

 

From director Vincent Sherman (Affair in Trinidad) comes the classic drama Harriet Craig, starring Joan Crawford (Strait-Jacket) and Wendell Corey (Rear Window).

Manipulative and possessive Harriet (Crawford) controls every aspect of the lives of her husband Walter (Corey) and cousin Clare (K T Stevens, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice), and schemes to destroy their chances of happiness. However, when they become aware of her treachery, her world begins to fall apart...

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Craig’s Wife by George Kelly (The Show-Off), Harriet Craig boasts one of Joan Crawford’s most devastating performances.

***

Harriet Craig is the third film version of George Kelly's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Craig’s Wife. Joan Crawford stars as the title character, a thoroughly selfish woman who prizes her house and her possessions above all else. Harriet Craig is even willing to spoil the business opportunities of her husband Walter (Wendell Corey) to avoid losing her precious home. When her self-involvement causes turbulence in the romantic life of her cousin (K.T. Stevens), and when her husband's eyes are finally opened to his wife's true nature, Harriet Craig is at long last hoist on her own petard.

Posters

Theatrical Release: November 2nd, 1950

Reviews                            More Reviews                        DVD Reviews

 

Review: Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for DVD Screen Captures!

Box Cover

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Bonus Captures:

Distribution Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:34:07.266        
Video

1.33:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 24,573,575,422 bytes

Feature: 22,711,176,192 bytes

Video Bitrate: 28.79 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

LPCM Audio English 768 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 112 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 112 kbps / DN -30dBs

Subtitles English (SDH), None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Indicator

 

1.33:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 24,573,575,422 bytes

Feature: 22,711,176,192 bytes

Video Bitrate: 28.79 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

Audio commentary with critics and writers Glenn Kenny and Farran Smith Nehme (2025)
• A World of Control (2025, 18:26): academic and film historian Lies Lanckman discusses the making of the film and its place in Joan Crawford’s career
• The Campbell Playhouse: ‘Craig’s Wife’ (1940, 44:02): radio play adaptation of George Kelly’s 1925 play, starring Orson Welles and Ann Harding
• Lux Radio Theatre: ‘Craig’s Wife’ (1941, 51:01): subsequent radio adaptation of the play, starring Rosalind Russell, Herbert Marshall, and Beulah Bondi
• Original theatrical trailer (2:16)
• Image gallery: promotional and publicity material
Limited edition exclusive 32-page booklet with a new essay by Pamela Hutchinson, an account of the film’s making featuring archival interviews with Joan Crawford and others, an overview of critical responses, and film credits


Blu-ray Release Date: February 17th, 2025
Transparent Blu-ray Case

Chapters 10

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (February 2025): Indicator have transferred Vincent Sherman's Harriet Craig to Blu-ray. Gregory reviewed this on DVD back in 2012, HERE as part of TCM's Joan Crawford in the 1950s set. The new 1080P transfer is quite a welcome boost from the SD image quality. It shows a sliver more information in the frame, beautifully layered contrast and exquisite grain textures. Aside from a few rare speckles this is pristine - a very strong HD presentation. 

NOTE: We have added 58 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Indicator use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. Harriet Craig has few aggressive moments - ex. a smashed vase - and there is unremarkable depth. The haunting score was by George Duning (Houseboat, Queen Bee, Zombies of the Mora Tau. Two Rode Together, The Eddy Duchin Story, 3:10 to Yuma, Jeanne Eagels, The Shadow on the Window, My Sister Eileen, The Mob, Affair in Trinidad, Tight Spot, Johnny O'Clock, The Dark Past, Convicted, and Between Midnight and Dawn etc.) and it sounds very clean with consistent dialogue in the uncompressed transfer. Indicator offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

The Indicator Blu-ray offers a new commentary by critics and writers Glenn Kenny (Made Men: The Story of Goodfellas) and Farran Smith Nehme (Missing Reels.) They describe as a typical, if under seen, Joan Crawford melodrama. It's a wonderful discussion if the commentary sound quality is uncharacteristically weak. New is A World of Control spending 19-minutes with academic and film historian Lies Lanckman (Stars, Fan Magazines and Audiences: Desire by Design) who discusses the making of the film and its place in Joan Crawford’s career. Included by Indicator are two radio play adaptations; The Campbell Playhouse: ‘Craig’s Wife’ from 1940 running 3/4 of an hour. - radio play of George Kelly’s 1925 play, starring Orson Welles and Ann Harding plus a Lux Radio Theatre radio adaptation ‘Craig’s Wife’ subsequent of the play, starring Rosalind Russell, Herbert Marshall, and Beulah Bondi running 50-minutes broadcast in 1941. There is an original theatrical trailer and Indicator's usual image gallery of promotional and publicity material. This Blu-ray package includes a limited edition exclusive 32-page booklet with a new essay by Pamela Hutchinson (30-second Cinema: the 50 Most Important Ideas, Genres, and People in the History of Movie-making, Each Explained in Half a Minute,) an account of the film’s making featuring archival interviews with Joan Crawford and others, an overview of critical responses, and film credits. 

Vincent Sherman's Harriet Craig has Joan Crawford as... a real evil biznatch. She shines as the titular character; a bullying, self-centered, materialistic, and icy housewife that many compare to her true off-screen personality. Perhaps she just gave an exceptionally convincing performance. She did. Harriet is a selfish liar - a psychopath consumed by her mistrust of men - punishing her decent, acquiescing, husband (Wendell Corey) and any within her toxic orbit. Another significant role in Crawford's fascinating legacy. Harriet Craig and Queen Bee are fantastic titles and I'm so pleased it is a company like Indicator putting them to Blu-ray with new commentary extras booklet. Strong recommendation.

Gary Tooze

 


Menus / Extras

 


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 


1) Sony / TCM (Joan Crawford in the 1950s) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Sony / TCM (Joan Crawford in the 1950s) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Sony / TCM (Joan Crawford in the 1950s) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Sony / TCM (Joan Crawford in the 1950s) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

2) Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


More Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray Captures
 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

  


 

More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE

 

 

 
Box Cover

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Bonus Captures:

Distribution Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray


 


 

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