The Desperate Hours Blu-ray - Humphrey Bogart / Fredric March

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

USA 1955

Director William Wyler (Detective Story, Roman Holiday) pairs up two Hollywood legends – Humphrey Bogart (Casablanca) and Fredric March (The Best Years of Our Lives) – for their only appearance together. The result is an electrifying tour de force pitting two giants of the silver screen against each other.

Three escaped cons, led by the ruthless Glenn Griffin (Bogart), force their way into a suburban home, intending to hide out while they await the arrival of an all-important package. But what should have been an overnight stay extends into a protracted hostage situation, pitting Glenn against the embattled family patriarch, Daniel Hilliard (March) – a man with everything to lose.

Adapted by Joseph Hayes (The Third Day) from his own novel and stage play and inspired by actual events, The Desperate Hours is a classic tale of suspense from a master filmmaker at the height of his creative powers, now fully restored from the original VistaVision negative.

***

In one of the most notable films on the theme of home-invasion assault in American suburbia, three escaped convicts take a family hostage in their home. With Wyler at the helm you can count on adept direction with a straightforward and dynamic style. A strong cast includes Bogie, Frederic March, Arthur Kennedy and Martha Scott with mainstays like Ray Collins in the background. Creeping into the Film Noir, the real central dream is that of March's "Don't tred on me" with another majestic but subtle flag waving 'vestige of proud America' film. It was remade by Michael Cimino in 1990, but don't bother with that one - this is the real deal.

Posters

Theatrical Release: October 5th, 1955 (New York City, New York, premiere)

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

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures:
Distribution	Arrow Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:52:32.412
Video	1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 48,457,486,446 bytes Feature: 33,054,980,352 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.70 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: Dolby Digital Audio English 320 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 320 kbps / DN -31dB
Subtitles	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Arrow Films 1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 48,457,486,446 bytes Feature: 33,054,980,352 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.70 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Brand new audio commentary by film historian Daniel Kremer • Trouble in Suburbia – brand new appreciation of the film by José Arroyo, Associate Professor in Film and Television Studies at the University of Warwick (38:50) • The Lonely Man – brand new visual essay by Eloise Ross, co-curator of the Melbourne Cinémathèque (14:54) • Scaled Down and Ratcheted Up – brand new audio interview with Catherine Wyler, daughter of director William Wyler (11:47) • Trailer (2:19) • Lobby cards gallery Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Jennifer Dionisio Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Philip Kemp and Neil Sinyard Blu-ray Release Date: October 17th, 20232 Transparent Blu-ray Case inside slipcase Chapters 13

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Arrow Films Blu-ray (October 2023): Arrow Films have transferred William Wyler's The Desperate Hours to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "Brand new restoration by Arrow Films from a 6K scan of the original VistaVision negative". We reviewed Paramount's 2003 DVD HERE and the Blu-ray in Imprint's Essential Film Noir Collection Vol. 3, HERE. There are some comparison captures below. The Imprint was opened-up at 1.78:1 and shows more information in the frame but the Arrow contrast - on a dual-layered disc with a max'd out bitrate - is better layered, has pleasing depth and shows consistent grain textures.

NOTE: We have added 76 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Arrow Films use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. The Desperate Hours has only a few aggressive moments that come authentically flat with audible bass. The Desperate Hours music is by Gail Kubik and Daniele Amfitheatrof (The Capture, An Act of Murder, The Last Hunt, I'll Be Seeing You, Edge of Eternity, The Lost Moment, The Desperate Hours, Human Desire, Letter From An Unknown Woman) sounding clean with consistent dialogue in the lossless transfer. Arrow Films offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Arrow Films Blu-ray offers a new commentary by film historian Daniel Kremer. He talks about this being the first black and white film shot in VistaVision. He discusses the deep focus, Wyler-esque compositions and earmarks, the cast and crew, this being Bogie's second last film (followed by The Harder They Fall), the 'mobile camera', the "Leave it to Beaver' house, other home invasions-hostage dramas of the time (Lewis Allen's Suddenly, John Berry's He Ran All the Way) plus much more. His commentaries are always well-researched and educational. I've enjoyed them all - this was no exception. Trouble in Suburbia is a new 40-minute appreciation of the film by José Arroyo, Associate Professor in Film and Television Studies at the University of Warwick. He talks about how the film has been remade several times - he talks about Wyler, how this was the blueprint for home invasions films etc. The Lonely Man is a new 1/4 hour visual essay by Eloise Ross, co-curator of the Melbourne Cinémathèque. She talks about Humphrey Bogart's legacy on film. Scaled Down and Ratcheted Up is a new dozen-minute audio interview with Catherine Wyler, daughter of director William Wyler. She talks about her father, his friendship with Bogie and Bacall, Wyler's multi-take process etc. Lastly is a theatrical trailer and a lobby cards gallery. The package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Jennifer Dionisio and an 24-page illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Philip Kemp and Neil Sinyard.

William Wyler's The Desperate Hours was based on the 1954 novel and 1955 play (Paul Newman in the Bogart role) written by Joseph Hayes. It involves three escaped convicts and their invasion of a suburban home and the impact on the family they take hostage there. Bogart is Glenn Griffin - an escaped con with nothing to lose. March is Daniel Hilliard - a suburban 'everyman' who has everything to lose. There is a strong theme of masculinity running through the film with Griffin's interactions with Hilliard and Hilliard with his young son. The Desperate Hours is listed in our Essential Noir listing. The Arrow Films Blu-ray is at their usual 'top shelf' standard - superb a/v, new commentary and extras (appreciation, visual essay, interview) and 24-page booklet. A must-own for Bogie, Wyler and Noir fans. Don't hesitate.