Desert Fury Lizbeth Scott Burt Lancaster

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

(aka 'Desert Town')

Directed by Lewis Allen
USA 1947

Everything is a little bent about this film (pun indented)... to a degree that, with the exception of Edgar G. Ulmer's Detour (1945), Desert Fury is a singular anti-social statement unlike practically anything the American screen produced in the 40s. Take the central character for example. It's a woman - an anomaly in film noir - and the woman, in the guise of Lizabeth Scott's barely legal horniness, is the one driving this Technicolor narrative, which the archetype femme-fatale has been replaced by John Hodiak's male-fatale (there is a long scene with him sunbathing with his shirt off, Barbara Stanwyck-like just in case you need a pointer).

Excerpt from Vigen Galstyan's liner notes on the DV1 DVD

Posters

Theatrical Release: August 15th, 1947

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DVD Comparison:

DV1 'Hollywood Classis' Collection - Region 0 - PAL vs. Koch - Region 2 - PAL

DV1 'Hollywood Classis' Collection - Region 0 - PAL LEFT vs. Koch - Region 2 - PAL RIGHT

DVD Box Cover
Distribution	DV1 'Hollywood Classis' Collection - Region 0 - PAL	Koch Media - Region 2 - PAL
Runtime	1:31:33 (4% PAL Speedup)	1:31:36 (4% PAL Speedup)
Video	1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.53 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 8.11 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: DV1
Bitrate: Koch
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0), German (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles	None	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: DV1 'Hollywood Classis' Collection Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • liner notes DVD Release Date: June, 2008 Transparent Keep Case Chapters: 10	Release Information: Studio: Koch Media Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Trailer • liner notes in German/photos DVD Release Date: December 4th, 2009 Digi-book Case Chapters: 16

Comments:

ADDITION: Koch Media - Region 2 - PAL (August 2010): Seems like the exact same excellent transfer (hope I got the frame matches the same). Koch has a nice package but the liner notes are in German and the DV1 is region FREE - although both are in the PAL standard. Noir and Lizabeth fans will be happy with whatever is the cheapest option for them. Sweetness...

***

ON THE DV1: First off - I LOVE this film - and this new DV1 (Australian) Region 0 - PAL DVD blows away my old black and white DVD-R (from TV) transfer.... by a mile. It is most impressive for the sumptuousness and brilliancy of the Technicolor. Even more so considering this is a single-layered effort. Lizabeth Scott is absolutely radiant! Wow!

Now, it's not perfect as colors look a little faded in a few spots but this is one DVD I have my grip tightly on - and I'm not letting go. Detail is very strong (this film can't be 60 years old!) and the transfer seems fairly free of artifacts and is progressive. I am most impressed.

The audio is represented by a consistent and clear mono 2.0 channel effort. No complaints there with no major dropouts or hiss to note. There are no subtitles offered for this edition of Desert Fury.

Extras consistent solely of a one page liner notes essay by DVDBeaver-brethren Vigen Galstyan. There is a poorer Spanish DVD edition available HERE but this is the one to own and it's primo in the noir canon. No brainer purchase - get it while you can.

Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

DV1 'Hollywood Classis' Collection - Region 0 - PAL LEFT vs. Koch - Region 2 - PAL RIGHT