Midnite Movies Double Feature
A Blueprint For Murder Man In the Attic
USA 1953
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Decent, if occasionally unrealistic, yarn about a woman. Polly and Doug are 2 orphans who live with their stepmother Lynne (Jean Peters). Polly is hospitalized with the same mystery symptoms that killed her father. Visiting uncle Whitney Sargent (Joseph Cotten) becomes suspicious as friends suggest it may be strychnine poisoning. Hence the battle of uncovering deceptive behavior begins.
I enjoyed this quite a lot and I think it was the performances that did it for me. The pace and dialogue had some irrationality to it but once you give in to those weaknesses then you have a great old-fashioned murder-suspense tale that is quite unique from many others. |
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Theatrical Release: September 1953
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DVD Review: 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC
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| Distribution | 20th Century Fox Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC | |
| Runtime | 1:16:27 | |
| Video | 1.33:1
Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.29 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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| Audio | English (Dolby Digital 1.0) | |
| Subtitles | English, Spanish, French, None | |
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Release Information: Edition Details: • Theatrical
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| Comments: |
Single layered and progressive with a brief warning that the 'best elements were used' (usually implying there is some rough spots not financially viable to restore). The image is clean and has good contrast - really nothing untoward to complain about that I could see. There is no excessive manipulation and the soundtrack/dialogue is clear and audible (supported by yellow English, French or Spanish subtitles). Thumbs up!
No viable extras aside from the trailer and a stills gallery. NOTE: This is a separate DVD - as is Man in the Attic (below) not sharing opposite sides or the like. It's a standard keep case with dual DVD holders. Quite competent and reasonably priced for fans. I suppose there is some support for this as an inclusion into the Noir category but its is very entertaining as a straight suspense/murder film. Not high budget and probably filmed quite quickly but we recommend based on value. I settled in and enjoyed this quite a lot - more than the second feature. |
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Unlike its immediate predecessor which was an "A" picture directed by John Brahm with a first rate cast including George Sanders, Merle Oberon, and Cedric Hardwicke, Man in the Attic was clearly a B-movie with Palance as the only high profile name in the cast. Still, the film is atmospheric, faithful to Lowndes's storyline, and an entertaining diversion for Palance fans who enjoy his particular brand of moody self-absorption and intensity. Here he plays a reclusive pathologist named Slade who is looking for lodgings where his privacy will be respected and he can come and go unobserved since he works irregular hours at a nearby university hospital. He finds exactly what he is looking for at the Harleys but his peculiar behavior is evident from the moment he moves into their attic apartment, noting the framed portraits of actresses on the wall: "These pictures...their eyes follow you wherever you walk. They watch. They get on my nerves. I don't like being watched." |
Posters
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Theatrical Release: December 23rd, 1953
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Review: 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC
| DVD Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from:
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| Distribution | 20th Century Fox Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC | |
| Runtime | 1:22:03 | |
| Video | 1.33:1
Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.94 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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| Audio | English (Dolby Digital 1.0) | |
| Subtitles | English, Spanish, French, None | |
| Features |
Release Information: Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Video Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical
trailer |
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| Comments: |
This originally came out on a VCI DVD a while back (2003?) and I have it somewhere but am positive this new Fox edition is superior. Like A Blueprint For Murder (above) it is single layered and progressive on its own DVD. Contrast, grey-scale and detail are all very good. There is no excessive manipulation and the audio is clear and clean (once again supported by yellow English, French or Spanish subtitles).
No real extras aside from the trailer and a photo gallery. The film's title and premise promise a bit more than it delivers but still it has some decent, if not stellar, entertainment value. I wouldn't be recommending this package though if it weren't for A Blueprint For Murder . You can't beat this for the price though and this is the strongest reason for a recommendation. |
DVD Menus
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| DVD Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from:
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| Distribution | 20th Century Fox Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC | |
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Gary Tooze
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Thank You!
