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 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "The Big Noise")

 

Directed by Bernard Girard
USA 1966

 

Screen icon James Coburn (Our Man Flint, A Fistful of Dynamite) stars as Eli Kotch, a captivating rogue and full-time con man in this comical crime caper also featuring Aldo Ray (Kill a Dragon) and Camilla Sparv (Murderers’ Row). In prison, Kotch cleverly seduces an attractive psychologist to win parole. Once out, he immediately goes to work—planning a major bank robbery at the Los Angeles International Airport. The logistics of the heist call for “imaginative” thinking, so Kotch hires an electronics wizard, charms Inger Knudsen (Sparv) into marriage and recruits Eddie Hart (Ray) to work the airport as a disguised cop. Once everything is set, the determined Kotch is ready to blast into action. But will his scheme really land him the loot he’s looking for—or will his dreams wind up in a Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round? Featuring Nina Wayne (Luv), Robert Webber (The Dirty Dozen) and the film debut of Harrison Ford (Blade Runner).

***

Consistently entertaining, expertly plotted caper picture. Coburn plays a con man who secures early release from prison by seducing a female psychologist. Once out, he sets in motion a scheme to rob the bank at Los Angeles International Airport. The heist is to take place during the arrival of the Russian premier, when all the security forces will be concentrated on the visiting dignitary. Good performances keep this film moving to its surprise denouement. Harrison Ford, playing a bellhop, makes his film debut.

Excerpt from TVGuide located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: October 12th, 1966

Reviews                                                                       More Reviews                                                                DVD Reviews

 

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

Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

Coming to Blu-ray from Imprint in December 2023:

Bonus Captures:
Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:47:40.245        
Video

1.78:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 39,668,338,757 bytes

Feature: 33,684,499,776 bytes

Video Bitrate: 38.03 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 English 1594 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1594 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Kino

 

1.78:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 39,668,338,757 bytes

Feature: 33,684,499,776 bytes

Video Bitrate: 38.03 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• Theatrical Trailer (2:33)


 Blu-ray Release Date: July 25th, 2023
 Standard Blu-ray Case inside slipcase

Chapters 9

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (July 2023): Kino have transferred Bernard Girard's Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round to Blu-ray. It is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate and probably looks about as good as it can in the 1080P format. The image is clean, brighter and showcases some color vibrancy and depth. All good.

NOTE: We have added 34 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (24-bit) in the original English language. Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round has surprisingly few aggressive moments. There is a playful score by Stu Phillips (Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Hollywood Horror House, TV work like The Monkees and The Six Million Dollar Man) sounding consistent without any weaknesses via the lossless transfer. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers only a trailer for Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round and a few other films.

Bernard Girard's Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round has positives; Coburn's charming con-man and some attractive gals (Camilla Sparv, Nina Wayne, and Marian McCargo.) I guess it could be considered a neo-noir.  I was pleased, but probably not a keeper although I like Coburn. Still worthy of a spin. The bare-bones Kino Blu-ray is 28% OFF at Amazon at the writing of this review.

Gary Tooze

 

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Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

Coming to Blu-ray from Imprint in December 2023:

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


 


 

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