Classic Film Noir Double Feature

The Scar (1948)         The Limping Man (1948)

Product description: VCI Entertainment presents a double feature of classic film noir to die for... "The Scar" (1948) and "The Limping Man" (1953)

First up we have "The Scar" (1948) Originally released under the title "Hollow Triumph," (and also known as The Man Who Murdered Himself), this dandy little film noir thriller from Eagle Lion features Paul Henreid with a chance to lose his leading man image for not one, but two sinister performances. When crooked gambler (Henreid) seeks to hide from a rival mobster, he hatches a plot to take the place of a psychiatrist that he's a dead-ringer for. But it's not long before the good doctor's secretary (Joan Bennett) is on to his scheme.

Second on the double bill is "The Limping Man" (1953) (76 min. B/W)....Our story opens with Lloyd Bridges returning to Britain to visit a long lost love Moira Lister from the war...a murder takes place right in front of him at the airport...Scotland Yard enters the picture and Bridges becomes involved and is a suspect...who is "The Limping Man", what part in this mysterious murder and intrigue does he play...watch the story unfold as this film has more twist and turns than a roller coaster and you're loving every minute of it....


 

(aka "Hollow Triumph" or "The Scar")

 

directed by Steve Sekely
USA 1948

 

Not half bad, despite a loopy plot about a conman/thief hiding from pursuit who kills a look-alike psychiatrist and assumes his identity (conveniently skilled in surgery through interrupted studies, he is even able to reproduce a facial scar). The tension is kept ticking nicely by a flaw in the impersonation (working by mirror, he scars the wrong cheek), even more so by the fact that he unexpectedly inherits dire troubles from the dead man's past. Good supporting performances, a satisfyingly bleak ending, and absolutely stunning lighting and LA location shooting from John Alton.

Excerpt from TimeOut Film Guide located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: 10 August 1948

Reviews    More Reviews  DVD Reviews

DVD Review: VCI - Region 0 - NTSC

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Review!

DVD Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

Distribution

VCI

Region 0 - NTSC

Runtime 1:20:00
Video

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.32 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

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

Bitrate

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles None
Features Release Information:
Studio: VCI

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Dark Stranger - Tv Episode of 'Henry Fonda Presents the Star and the Story' (25:41)
• Film Noir Poster Gallery
• Film Noir Trailers

DVD Release Date: September 30, 2003
Keepcase

Chapters 12

 

Comments NOTE: The Scar (Hollow Triumph) VCI transfer is compared to the vastly superior German Koch Media edition HERE.

The Scar (aka Hollow Triumph) is a very dark film noir, not just for the great cinematography of John Alton, but also for the plot. Paul Henreid is a criminal who thinks he can have a better life by becoming somebody else. Joan Bennett is wonderful as his love interest and there's Blonde Ice herself, Leslie Brooks in a small roles.

 - Gregory Meshman

 



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directed by Cy Endfield
UK 1953

 

Though this watchable and moody English thriller--about an American (Lloyd Bridges) visiting a former lover (Moira Lister) in London and becoming involved in a murder case--is signed by one "Charles De Lautour," it's actually the first English feature of the black-listed American director Cy Endfield, who had to work anonymously or pseudonymously even in England during this period. (De Lautour was in fact a real director whom Endfield paid to "front" for him.) Despite an unsatisfying denouement that suggests hasty script work (the credited writers are Ian Stuart and Reginald Long), this manages to pack a lot into its tidy 74 minutes.

Excerpt from Jonathan Rosenbaum's review at the Chicago Reader located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: November 1953 (UK)

Reviews    More Reviews  DVD Reviews

DVD Review: VCI - Region 0 - NTSC

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Review!

DVD Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

Distribution

VCI

Region 0 - NTSC

Runtime 1:15:45
Video

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.32 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

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

Bitrate

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles None
Features Release Information:
Studio: VCI

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Dark Stranger - Tv Episode of 'Henry Fonda Presents the Star and the Story' (25:41)
• Film Noir Poster Gallery
• Film Noir Trailers

DVD Release Date: September 30, 2003
Keepcase

Chapters 12

 

 

Comments The Limping Man must be one of the most disappointing film noirs (if you can call it). Unlike the memorable ending of its co-feature on this disc, The Scar, the ending of this film is one of the worst. VCI presents the usual to their early standard passable interlaced transfer.

 - Gregory Meshman

 

 



DVD Menus


 

 


Screen Captures

 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

DVD Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

Distribution

VCI

Region 0 - NTSC




 

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