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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
Directed by Robert S. Baker, Monty Berman
UK 1959
In 1959, legendary showman Joseph E. Levine unleashed this grisly UK thriller on
American moviegoers. But when audiences were horrified by the film's startling
violence, graphic nudity and bloody Technicolor climax, it became one of
Levine's most notorious failures. Today - in its notorious UK cut and the
American version with a brassy new score - it remains among the most
underappreciated and provocative shockers of its time. *** Suspenseful, interesting, and macabre, this period piece by Robert S. Baker overcomes a weakness in characterization by sheer dint of storyline and action. Jack the Ripper still remains the unidentified killer of at least three, probably five, and possibly even eight prostitutes living or working in London's East End in 1888. The murders occurred in August, September, and November of that year and were never solved. Because various internal organs of the dead victims (their throats were cut after they were strangled into unconsciousness) were removed rapidly and with an accurate surgical technique, investigators have postulated that the demented serial killer was a surgeon. In this cinematic version, the murders are shown as they happened while Inspector O'Neill (Eddie Byrne), along with an American detective Sam Lowry (Lee Patterson) try to track down suspects and prevent the next killing. The theory put forward here is that Jack the Ripper was looking for one particular woman. As the tension mounts, his suggested identity -- and what happened to him -- is revealed. |
Posters
Theatrical Release: May 28th, 1959 (London)
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Review: Severin - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from: |
Distribution | Severin - Region FREE - Blu-ray | |
UK Version | US Version | |
Runtime | 1:21:05.610 | 1:25:04.641 |
Video |
1.33:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 39,753,342,894 bytesFeature: 16,911,011,904 bytes Video Bitrate: 22.99 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
1.66:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 39,753,342,894 bytesFeature: 15,874,508,544 bytes Video Bitrate: 22.00 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate UK Blu-ray: |
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Bitrate US Blu-ray: |
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Audio |
LPCM Audio English
1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit |
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Subtitles | English (only on UK version), None | |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Severin
UK: 1.33:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 39,753,342,894 bytesFeature: 16,911,011,904 bytes Video Bitrate: 22.99 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
US: 1.66:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 39,753,342,894 bytesFeature: 15,874,508,544 bytes Video Bitrate: 22.00 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details: • Audio Commentary with Co-Director/Co-Producer/Co-Cinematographer Robert S. Baker, Screenwriter Jimmy Sangster, Assistant Director Peter Manley, Moderated by British horror Historian Marcus Hearn (only on UK version)• Alternate Continental takes (10:56) • Interview with Denis Meikle, author of Jack the Ripper: The Murders and the Movies (10:33) • The Real Jack the Ripper featurette (13:31) • Theatrical Trailer (2:28) • Poster and Still Gallery.
Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 8 X 2 |
Comments: |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. Severin bring the 1959 crime-horror-mystery film Jack the Ripper to a new Blu-ray edition. It contains both the UK (1-hour-21-minute) version as well as the US (1-hour 25-minute) version - on separate transfers with about the same bitrate. With the original film elements lost - the video quality is compromised on both versions. The film was composed for 1.66:1 but the UK version is cropped to 1.33:1 where the longer US cut is transferred in the preferred accurate widescreen. There are scratches, and hazy shots that almost look like Kinescope. Both have grain but the UK is weaker with instances of chroma and artifacts. I will say that the quality limitations didn't hinde the appreciation of seeing the film for this reviewer. This statement prefaces the UK version:
"All of the original film elements on every version of
JACK THE RIPPER are currently lost. This cut of the film is technically
the closest to the director's cut despite some instances of censorship
at the hands of the BBFC. It also features the filmmaker approved score
by Stanley Black. This master was created around 2005 via an HD telecine.
The master was matted at 1.33:1 for reasons unknown. This is before the US version presentation:
"Distributor/showman Joseph E. Levine released the
film stateside after introducing a few creative tweaks, not least of
which was a whole new score by Jimmy McHugh and Pete Rugolo. This new 2k
scan was created from a 1960 release print on loan from the Library of
Congress film archive and is presented in the original 1.66:1 aspect
ratio." |
Menus / Extras
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Subtitle Sample - Severin (UK version) - Region FREE - Blu-ray (no subtitles on US version)
1) Severin (UK version) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Severin (US version) - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Severin (UK version) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Severin (US version) - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Severin (UK version) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Severin (US version) - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from: |
Distribution | Severin - Region FREE - Blu-ray |
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