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 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "The Assassination Bureau" or "The Assassination Bureau Limited")

 

Directed by Basil Dearden
UK 1969

 

Anarchy reigns as Diana Rigg and Oliver Reed go head to head in a blackly comic caper that plays out against the colorful backdrop of Europe on the cusp of World War One.

London, 1908. When feisty journalist and women’s rights campaigner Sonia Winter (Diana Rigg) uncovers the headquarters of the Assassination Bureau Limited, a clandestine enterprise that has existed for decades by bumping off the rich and powerful – but only if there’s a good moral reason for it – she sets on a path of putting an end to its activities. Bankrolled by her press baron boss, Lord Bostwick (Telly Savalas), she commissions the organisation to undertake the assassination of its very own chairman, Ivan Dragomiloff (Oliver Reed). Being the gentleman that he is, Dragomiloff responds to the assignment with glee, challenging his fellow board members to complete the contract. Only they’ll have to catch him first...

The Assassination Bureau is based on an unfinished novel by Jack London published posthumously in 1963. Shot in glorious Technicolor by Geoffrey Unsworth (2001: A Space Odyssey), this penultimate work from the esteemed directing-producing team of Basil Dearden and Michael Relph (Sapphire, Victim) is a rip-roaring slice of Edwardian-set action-adventure fashioned with the same Swinging-Sixties blend of irony, stylishness and humor as The Avengers and the James Bond films.

***

The Assassination Bureau has existed for decades (perhaps centuries) until Diana Rigg begins to investigate it. The high moral standing of the Bureau (only killing those who deserve it) is called into question by her. She puts out a contract for the Bureau to assassinate its leader on the eve of World War I.

Posters

Theatrical Release: March 10th, 1969

Reviews                                                                      More Reviews                                                 DVD Reviews

 

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

Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

  

Also available on Blu-ray from Imprint:

  

Re-issued on Blu-ray by Indicator (US) in July 2025:

Bonus Captures:
Distribution Arrow - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:49:09.376        
Video

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 42,319,685,495 bytes

Feature: 34,087,797,504 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.81 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 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
Commentary:

LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles English (SDH), None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Arrow

 

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 42,319,685,495 bytes

Feature: 34,087,797,504 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.81 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• Brand new audio commentary with authors Sean Hogan and Kim Newman
• Right Film, Wrong Time, a 30-minute appreciation by critic, broadcaster and cultural historian Matthew Sweet (27:30)
• Original trailer (3:02)
• Image gallery (1:02)
Reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork choices

Booklet - Art cards


 Blu-ray Release Date: May 2nd, 2023
Transparent Blu-ray Case

Chapters 9

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Arrow Blu-ray (April 2023): Arrow have transferred Basil Dearden's The Assassination Bureau to Blu-ray. It is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. The 1080P image looks quite strong - colors (Technicolor) have a richness, well layer contrast and the image is blemish-free. There are some heavy textures, moments of depth and I imagine this a strong replication of the original production.

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

On their Blu-ray, Arrow use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English, with some French + Italian, language(s.) The Assassination Bureau has few aggressive moments - explosions mostly - but they don't carry a lot of depth and sound authentically flat. The score is by Ron Grainer (The Devil Within Her, Station Six Sahara, Night Must Fall, Doctor Who theme, The Prisoner theme, To Sir with Love, The Omega Man etc.) including Life Is a Precious Thing (sung by the Mike Sammes Singers), Students' Pledge Song and To Know My Love Loves Me - sounding clean while carrying the film's humor. It sounds consistent in the uncompressed transfer. Arrow offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Arrow Blu-ray offers a new commentary by authors Sean Hogan (England's Screaming) and Kim Newman (Something More than Night.) They talk about the unfinished Jack London novel (completed by Robert L. Fish) with plenty of tangentially similar films from the 60's - before and after that relate. Stars Oliver Reed, Diana Rigg, Telly Savalas, Curd Jürgens, Philippe Noiret etc. are discussed as well as director Basil Dearden histories are related. It meanders but is filled with information. Right Film, Wrong Time is a 1/2 hour appreciation by critic, broadcaster and cultural historian Matthew Sweet. His keenness helped advance my own appreciation. Lastly are an original trailer, image gallery and the package offers a reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork choices, a 20-page liner notes booklet and 6 art cards of the film.   

Basil Dearden's The Assassination Bureau with screenplay by Michael Relph - was their 25th film together. It has extensive production values, but despite the effective combination of stars, support, direction etc., it still underachieves. A dark-adventure-comedy is not to all tastes. The argument that it was of its 'wrong time' holds validity. There is still plenty to appreciate - the early 1900s Euro milieu, the cast, the art direction, the historical references of despots and tyrants and the Arrow Blu-ray offers their usual superb a/v, a revealing commentary and 1/2 hour with Matthew Sweet - cool packaging with booklet and art cards. Diana Rigg is hard to resist in this format. Recommended to Dearden fans.

Gary Tooze

 

Menus / Extras

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

  

Also available on Blu-ray from Imprint:

  

Re-issued on Blu-ray by Indicator (US) in July 2025:

Bonus Captures:
Distribution Arrow - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


 


 

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