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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Dangerous Break")


Directed by Paul Wendkos
 USA 1976

 

From Paul Wendkos, the director of The Mephisto Waltz, Cannon for Cordoba and Guns of the Magnificent Seven comes this stylish heist film starring badass Bo Svenson (Inglorious Bastards, Delta Force) and beautiful Cybill Shepherd (Taxi Driver, The Last Picture Show). A gang of thieves plan a daring bank robbery, making their escape across the rooftops of Los Angeles. The police are quickly called in, however, and only one of the robbers, Murdock (Svenson), makes a clean getaway. Unfortunately, in order to do so, he is forced to dump the stolen cash into a mailbox, which he then finds is locked until midnight, forcing him to wait until the mailman makes his late-night pickup. As he waits, he discovers that his hiding place has been observed by several other people, all of whom want a share of the loot. The stellar cast includes Tom Atkins (Halloween III: Season of the Witch), Sorrel Booke (Bank Shot), Gerrit Graham (Beware! The Blob), Michael C. Gwynn (Harry in Your Pocket), Jeff Goldblum (The Fly), Vic Tayback (Thunderbolt and Lightfoot), Robert Ito (Dimension 5), Kim Richards (Tuff Turf), Deidre Hall (TV’s Days of Our Lives), Ed Peck (Bullitt) and John Quade (Every Which Way But Loose).

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A botched robbery provides the basis of this romantic comedy. The caper was performed by three unemployed Vietnam vets desperate for cash. Unfortunately, two of them are captured during the getaway. The third vet continues to flee and stuffs the loot in a convenient mailbox. A dishonest barkeeper and a crazed artist witness this and try to get the money for themselves. The barman needs it to pay back some Mafiosi. The artists find herself attracted to the veteran and so decides to help him get it back from the bartender. The two succeed and then board an ocean liner, where they bump into the president of the bank the veteran robbed.

Excerpt from Barnes + Noble located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: July 1976

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

Box Cover

   

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Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:39:08.192   
Video

Disc Size: 20,411,045,433 bytes

Feature Size: 18,613,831,680 bytes

Average Bitrate: 21.85 Mbps

Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1556 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1556 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Kino

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.85:1

Disc Size: 20,411,045,433 bytes

Feature Size: 18,613,831,680 bytes

Average Bitrate: 21.85 Mbps

Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video  

Edition Details:

• Audio Commentary by Film Historian Lee Gambin
 • Trailer (1:36) and 3 other film trailers

 Blu-ray Release Date: May 7th, 2018
Standardt Blu-ray Case
Chapters: 8

 

 

Comments:

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

This Kino Blu-ray is cited as a "Brand New HD Master from a 4K Scan of the Original 35mm Negative by Paramount Pictures Archives!" This 1080P looks like a good representation - but there are a few speckles and frame specific damage (sere last capture.) Close-ups show fine detail and colors carry some richness. Contrast is adept and there is depth in many scenes. Generally this is as good as this film is likely to look for your home theater. I had no digitization issues with the transfer - on a single-layered disc with a supportive bitrate. Very pleasing.

Kino go with a DTS-HD Master 2.0-channel mono track (16-bit) for the audio and it supports the film's effects and notably the score by the very versatile Argentinean Lalo Schifrin (famous as the guy behind the Mission: Impossible theme as well as Day of the Animals, Hit!, Man on a Swing, Tango and many other films.) It is all clear and crisp with instances of depth. There are no subtitles offered on the Region 'A' Blu-ray disc.

Kino include an informative but light audio commentary by film historian Lee Gambin (author of Massacred by Mother Nature: Exploring the Natural Horror Film) and his comments are rewarding delving into details of the minor performers (including the dog!), the 70's genre of film and TV - and it flows well with the film. There is also a weak-looking trailer and for 4 similar films as well.

 

I would challenge the IMDb representation as this primarily as a comedy. It has a great opening bank-heist sequence, good performances and plenty of action. It's 'B' material but it comes across as entertaining and the commentary gives it further value. This Kino Blu-ray gets a recommendation.

 

Gary W. Tooze

Extras

 

 

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

 

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Frame Specific Damage

 

 

 

 

Box Cover

   

CLICK to order from:

  

Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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