The Accused Blu-ray - Loretta Young

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

(aka 'Strange Deception')

Directed by William Dieterle
USA 1949

Loretta Young (The Stranger, The Farmer’s Daughter) and Robert Cummings (The Bride Wore Boots, Dial M for Murder) star in the film noir classic The Accused, a story about one woman’s successful self-defense during a struggle which leads to the death of her attacker. Psychology professor Wilma Tuttle (Young) allows a male student of hers to drive her home. While en route, he attempts to rape her but is killed when his teacher fights back. After fleeing the scene, Wilma is overcome with feelings of guilt while following the murder investigation by Homicide Lt. Dorgan (Wendell Corey, I Walk Alone, Rear Window) and comforting her love interest Warren Ford (Cummings), who also happens to be her attacker’s guardian. Directed by William Dieterle (I’ll Be Seeing You, Portrait of Jennie) and shot by Milton R. Krasner (All About Eve, Love with the Proper Stranger), this brilliantly acted drama dives into the psyche of a woman torn apart by emotional violence.

***

When college student Bill (Douglas Dick) grows inappropriately fond of psychology professor Wilma (Loretta Young) and tries to rape her, she fights back. But as she defends herself, she accidentally kills her attacker. Wilma then moves Bill's corpse to a nearby beach and makes his death look like the result of a cliff diving accident. But her guilt over the incident builds, and police Lt. Dorgan (Wendell Corey) begins to suspect that Wilma knows more about the death than she's letting on

Posters

Theatrical Release: January 14th, 1949

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Comparison:

Universal 'Vault Series' - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover		Bonus Captures:
Distribution	Universal - Region 0 - NTSC	Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:36:48	1:40:57.885
Video	1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.99 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.37:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 23,979,057,129 bytes Feature: 21,738,012,672 bytes Video Bitrate: 24.94 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate DVD:
Bitrate Blu-ray:
Audio	English (Dolby Digital mono)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1974 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1974 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
Subtitles	None	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Universal Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • None DVD Release Date: September 28th, 2015 Keep Case Chapters: 9	Release Information: Studio: Kino 1.37:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 23,979,057,129 bytes Feature: 21,738,012,672 bytes Video Bitrate: 24.94 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Eddy Von Mueller • Theatrical Trailer (2:26) Blu-ray Release Date: November 16th, 2021 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 9

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (October 2021): Kino have transferred William Dieterle's The Accused to Blu-ray. It is on a single-layered disc with a supportive bitrate. The 2015 Universal MoD DVD had no menus, or extras, and the transfer was interlaced (see combing example below.) So the 1080P seems from the same source - duplicate marks - still speckles but good, if occasionally clunky grain textures. There is more information in the frame on the Blu-ray. I was pleased with the HD presentation - as I adore the film so much.

NOTE: We have added 44 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 English language. Night Has a Thousand Eyes has very few aggressive moments (one gunshot) and a suspense, and tension-building score by Victor Young (Strategic Air Command, The Ghost Breakers, The Sun Shines Bright, Johnny Guitar, China Gate etc.) that adds to the film experience. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary by Film Historian Eddy Von Mueller (not to be confused with the "Czar of Noir' Eddie Muller). Eddy is the co-author of Columbia-Sony (The Routledge Hollywood Centenary Series. He does a great job commenting on The Accused. I was impressed with his attention to details, descriptions and analysis. Excellent insights. There is also a beat-up trailer for The Accused and other similar films.

William Dieterle's The Accused is essential Film Noir. It is 'dark cinema' expertly realized by the director's pacing and brilliantly acted by Loretta Young as the confused, guilt-ridden schoolmarm - who both faints from the stress of her situation but plays it calm and cool in front of the authorities - and eventually the court as she accepts her innocence. I love The Accused. It reminds me of the suburban noir Cause For Alarm - also with a panic-stricken Loretta Young. The Kino Blu-ray has high-level a/v and a new, revealing commentary. Strongly recommended to Noiristas.