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

ADDITION: Network Blu-ray (June 2022): Network have transferred Ken Hughes' Hammer Studio British Noir The House Across the Lake to Blu-ray. It is on a dual;-layered disc but the 1-hour 8-minutes film only takes up a small amount of space and has a middling bitrate. It does have minor grain support and contrast is quite pleasing showing frequent depth. It looked excellent on my system - easily miles ahead of the VCI Entertainment interlaced DVD from 2005 - reviewed by Gregory HERE.

NOTE: We have added 64 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Network use a linear PCM dual-mono track (16-bit) in the original English language. The House Across the Lake has only a scant few aggressive moments - mostly in the form of a speedboat - and it comes with modest depth in the uncompressed transfer. There is an effective score by Ivor Slaney (Prey, Death Ship, Paid to Kill, Terror Street, Bad Blonde, Gambler and the Lady)  sounding subtle but supportive. Network offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

The Network Blu-ray offers some supplements. The House Across the Thames is a 21-minute interview with continuity supervisor Renée Glynne who has some recollections on the production not the location shot but the stars and that Anthony Hinds produced it. The Dame Wore Tweed has Barry Forshaw examining The House Across the Lake and its place in post-war Brit Noir crime films - also for 21-minutes. I agree that it is neglected and how it deserves a reexamination. Also included are Scotland Yard: The Drayton Case (in 1080P) also directed by Ken Hughes. It involves the early years of World War II, where a bomb from a German airplane uncovers the corpse of a strangled woman setting off as mystery. It runs 25-minutes. There is an image gallery, trailer, alternate title sequences and has a limited edition booklet written by Neil Sinyard. 

The Hammer Studio British Noir The House Across the Lake was made before their more notable horror cycle. It has frequent Hammer collaborator (writer and director) Jimmy Sangster as the assistant director and has two American imports as leads with Alex Nicol and Hillary Brooke as the femme fatale. It was directed by Ken Hughes from his own novel and screenplay and has 'Carry On' star Sidney James. There are strong similarities to Billy Wilder's Double Indemnity with the unhappily married woman with a rich husband encouraging a 'patsy' to murder him. It's also told as a flashback from the first scene.  I am very happy the Network Blu-ray. A strong keeper for me.

Gary Tooze