Black Widow Blu-ray - Gene Tierney

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

Directed by Nunnally Johnson
USA 1954

An adaptation of Patrick Quentin's fine thriller which starts promisingly with Heflin's distinguished Broadway producer, meeting a sweetly aspiring young playwright (Garner), helplessly bemused when (actually vampirically ambitious) she virtually takes over his apartment on the excuse that the surroundings are conducive to inspiration. When she is subsequently found murdered there and he becomes the prime suspect, the film degenerates into a routine whodunnit. Worth seeing for the fine cast, Raft (dreary as ever as the investigating cop) and Rogers (unexpectedly overdoing it as a bitchy actress) excepted.

Excerpt from TimeOut Film Guide located HERE

Poster

Theatrical Release: October 28th, 1954

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Comparison:

20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray

1) Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT

Box Covers
Distribution	20th Century Fox (Fox Film Noir - # 22) - Region 1 - NTSC	Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:35:00	1:35:05.533
Video	2.50:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 8.90 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	2.55:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 31,866,494,127 bytes Feature: 30,020,536,320 bytes Video Bitrate: 28.49 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Bitrate Blu-ray:
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 4.0)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 2868 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2868 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio English 2187 kbps 4.0 / 48 kHz / 2187 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 4.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio English 2057 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2057 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Isolated Score: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1871 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1871 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Commentary: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1566 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1566 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles	English, French, Spanish, None	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: 20th Century Fox Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 2.50:1 Edition Details: • Commentary by Alan K. Rode • Featurette: Ginger Rogers at Fox (8:31) • Featurette: Gene Tierney: Final Curtain for a Noir Icon (6:18) • Pressbook (interactive) • Isolated Score • Stills gallery • Original theatrical trailer DVD Release Date: March 11th, 2008 Keep Case Chapters: 24	Release Information: Studio: Twilight Time 2.55:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 31,866,494,127 bytes Feature: 30,020,536,320 bytes Video Bitrate: 28.49 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Commentary by Alan K. Rode • Featurette: Ginger Rogers at Fox (8:32) • Featurette: Gene Tierney: Final Curtain for a Noir Icon (6:19) • Isolated Score • Original theatrical trailer (2:32) Liner Notes Blu-ray Release Date: October, 2018 Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters 24

Comments:

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

ADDITION: (October 2018) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray: The 'fringe' Noir Black Window get a Twilight Time 1080P transfer and, although blue-leaning, has improved colors from the DVD with brighter whites (see sketch capture), more natural skin tones (the SD had an orange hue) and most colors are deep and rich (see Raft's suit). The teal-ish colors do seem heavy but the visuals in-motion are excellent and detail and contrast make this thick 2.55:1 widescreen image a big leap over the previous release.

The options of DTS-HD Master tracks of 5.1 surround, an original 4.0 track (a Western Electric Recording) or 2.0 channel stereo with the 4.0 channel exporting some subtle separation and plenty of depth in the 5.1 surround. The score by Leigh Harline (The Farmer's Daughter, No Down Payment, Pickup on South Street, 23 Paces to Baker Street, House of Bamboo, Broken Lance) supports the film's drama, tension and mystery. The score is available as a lossless isolated option on Twilight Time's Region FREE Blu-ray. The feature offers optional English subtitles in a white font (see samples below.)

Supplements only include the same excellent Rode commentary - lots about Ginger, Tierney, Heflin and Raft - and Rogers and Tierney featurettes, plus a trailer. It does offer liner notes with an essay by Julie Kirgo.

The BD-effect impacted me again and I enjoyed the film more than I ever had in previous viewings. If you are keen on the impressive cast and a vintage Noir with stunning colors - the Blu-ray is encouraged!

***

ON THE DVD: Beautiful soft palette transfer from Fox. This dual-layered, progressive DVD is anamorphic in-and-about the 2.55 original aspect ratio. Colors look subdued but have their original depth. Contrast is very strong - ditto for detail and overall the image is fabulous. I have no complaints whatsoever and people should remember the film is over 50 years old but damage marks/speckles are at the bare minimum... as is digital noise. The audio is a 4 channel track (original?) and does a competent job of presenting the sound of the film. there are optional English, Spanish or French subtitles supporting the dialogue.

There are some great extras - a pretty thorough, intelligent and brimming-with-information commentary by Alan K. Rode. I remember him doing the commentary on one of VCI's Forgotten Noir series and he knows his stuff! - lots about Ginger, Tierney, Heflin and Raft. There are also two featurettes: Ginger Rogers at Fox running almost 9 minutes (the titles speaks for itself) and there is input from Eddie Muller and others. Even better is Gene Tierney: Final Curtain for a Noir Icon although it runs just over 6 minutes. As with some other Fox Noirs there is an interactive pressbook , the score of the film is available to listen to, a stills gallery and the original theatrical trailer. Great work by Fox and we give it a strong recommendation, especially for Noir fans. This DVD has exceptional value for the price.