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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Richard Brooks
USA 19
50

 

Eugene Ferguson pledged to help people when he became a doctor, but will he perform a life-saving surgery on a South American tyrant (Jose Ferrer) who’s taken him captive? Yes, if Ferguson hopes to leave the troubled land. No, if he heeds the threats made by revolutionaries determined to overthrow the despot. Cary Grant plays Ferguson, a physician navigating the unexpected terrain between a rock and a hard place in this political thriller that’s the directorial debut of Richard Brooks (Elmer Gantry). The role is a change of pace for Grant, and he prepared for it with diligent study and observation of surgical procedures. The result is a portrayal rooted in reality and put across with the uncanny talent of one of film’s greatest stars.

Posters

Theatrical Release: July 3rd, 1950

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DVD Review: Warner Home Video (Warner Archive Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC

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Distribution

Warner Home Video

Region 0 - NTSC

Runtime 1:36:03 
Video 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.55 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: Warner

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1

Edition Details:

• Trailer (3;12)
• Archive Advert (:59)

DVD Release Date: June 22nd, 2009

Keep Case
Chapters: 10

 

Comments:

Not to be confused with the Ingmar Bergman film of 1946 (HERE) this a strong thriller with Cary Grant and the not-enough-screen-time babe Paula Raymond.

Unfortunately, this little gem may be the worst Warner Archive transfer I've come across. It is single-layered DVD-R treatment that is also interlaced, with extensive combing (see sample below) and prominent Chroma Bug (ughhh - see last capture). It doesn't have too much in the way of damage marks but, my goodness, this is weak. Contrast shift to looking very green in the second half. People could TIVO a better image methinks...

No subtitles - and, unremarkable and so-so 2.0 channel audio. Extras consist of a trailer and Archive advert.

It's a decent to above average political thriller with international flavor. The casting seems flawless with Grant as the morally debating Doctor and Ferrer as the tin-pot dictator. If Warner wants people to take their bare-bones Archive editions seriously - they shouldn't release transfers like this one. It borders as unwatchable on anything more advanced than a Dumont - and they want $20 for it as well. Pass - simply on principal - the film deserves much better and so do you. 

Gary W. Tooze

 



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Screen Captures

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


Combing
 

 


Chroma Bug
 

 


DVD Box Cover

   

CLICK to order from:

 

Distribution

Warner Home Video

Region 0 - NTSC

 



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