711 Ocean Drive Blu-ray

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

directed by Joseph M. Newman
USA 1950

NOTE: Columbia Noir #2 Blu-ray with Framed (1947), 711 Ocean Drive (1950), The Mob (1951),

Affair in Trinidad (1952), Tight Spot (1955) and Murder By Contract (1958) is reviewed HERE

Academy Award® winner Edmond O’Brien (Best Supporting Actor, The Barefoot Contessa, 1954) stars in this top-flight film noir, based on actual events. He plays a telephone repairman who uses his knowledge to help his bookie expand his business to increased profits and rises to the top. But when syndicate head Otto Kruger (Saboteur) wants to take over, things start to get dicey — and O’Brien’s in too deep to call the cops. With gritty photography by Frank F. Planer (Champion), direction by Joseph M. Newman (This Island Earth), and a white-knuckle climax atop Boulder Dam, this is one of the finest crime thrillers of its era. The excellent cast also includes Joanne Dru (Red River) and such veteran tough guys as Barry Kelly, Donald Porter, Howard St. John and Robert Osterloh, plus a brief appearance by Cleo Moore (Over-Exposed).

Posters

Theatrical Release: 1 July 1950 (USA)

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Comparison:

Sony Pictures (Screen Classics by Request) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Kit Parker Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the DVD Review!

1) Sony - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT

2) Kit Parker Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT

Box Cover
Distribution	Sony Pictures Region 0 - NTSC	Kit Parker Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:41:36	1:41:46.642
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.31 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 49,507,040,286 bytes Feature: 16,815,083,520 bytes Video Bitrate: 19.99 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	Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (English)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 892 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 892 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles	None	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Sony Pictures Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Trailer (2:35) DVD Release Date: September 2010 Keep Case Chapters 11	Release Information: Studio: Kit Parker 1.33:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 49,507,040,286 bytes Feature: 16,815,083,520 bytes Video Bitrate: 19.99 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • No extras - shares the disc with The Miami Story and Assignment Paris Blu-ray Release Date: April 23rd, 2019 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 8

Comments

NOTE: Columbia Noir #2 Blu-ray with Framed (1947), 711 Ocean Drive (1950), The Mob (1951), Affair in Trinidad (1952), Tight Spot (1955) and Murder By Contract (1958) is reviewed HERE

ADDITION: Kit Parker Blu-ray (April 2019): Kit Parker Films in association with Millcreek Entertainment have released the first (of three announced) of these 3 Blu-ray / 9 Film Noir features Boxsets. Volume One is described as:

"Stalwart noir directors and casts highlight these hard to find features Address Unknown (1944) dir/William Cameron Menzies, cast/Paul Lukas, Carl Esmond, Peter Van Eyck; Escape in the Fog (1945) dir/Oscar (Budd) Boetticher cast/Otto Kruger, Nina Foch, William Wright; The Guilt of Janet Ames (1947) dir/Henry Levin cast/Rosalind Russell, Melvyn Douglas, Sid Caesar; The Black Book (aka The Reign of Terror) (1949) dir/Anthony Mann cast/Robert Cummings, Richard Basehart, Arlene Dahl; Johnny Allegro (1949) dir/Ted Tetzlaff cast/George Raft, Nina Foch, George Macready; 711 Ocean Drive (1950) dir/Joseph M. Newman cast/Edmond O'Brien, Joanne Dru, Otto Kruger; The Killer That Stalked New York (1950) dir/Earl McEvoy cast/Evelyn Keyes, Charles Korvin, William Bishop; Assignment Paris (1952) dir/Earl McEvoy cast/Dana Andrews, Marta Toren, George Sanders; The Miami Story (1954) dir/Fred F. Sears cast/Barry Sullivan, Luther Adler, John Baer - all in high definition presented in their original aspect ratios."

So, 3 films on a dual-layered Blu-ray, with a decent bitrate in 1080P and the original 1.33:1 aspect ratio. This has the same damage marks as the Sony (MOD) DVD - but the higher resolution shows more texture, detail and superior contrast layering. Like the others we have seen in this set this is a notable step above the made-on-demand SD transfer.

The audio is 24-bit lossless (DTS-HD Master) exporting the score by Sol Kaplan (Trapped, Deadline USA, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Seven Wonders of the World, Niagara, The House on Telegraph Hill) that adds atmosphere. Dialogue is clean and consistent. The Blu-ray offers optional English subtitles on this Region FREE Blu-ray package.

No supplements - but the disc has The Miami Story and Assignment Paris. For Noir fans this is very pleasing to have both upper-tier and mid-level 'dark cinema' gems in the higher resolution. Recommended!

***

ON THE DVD: 711 Ocean Drive is our second disc reviewed from Sony's Screen Classics by Request line and we are as impressed as with Mickey One. The film noir was released in 1950, so full screen ratio is as intended. The film was recently restored and the progressive transfer is very good (it was shown several times on TCM before this debut on home video). It compares very well to the fine transfers on film noir sets recently released by Sony Pictures. I noticed a slight damage at the beginning (capture #1) and at 35-minute mark, a whole sequence has lines running on the left side of the screen (capture #8, although it's more noticeable when in motion), but overall there was very little damage.

The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono soundtrack is without any noticeable issues. The disc is single-layered and includes an original theatrical trailer, with Edmond O'Brien addressing the audience. The film is divided onto 11 chapters every 10 minutes and per usual practice for on-demand releases, there are no subtitles provided. The disc can be purchased directly from Sony Pictures, at Movies Unlimited or Deep Discount and is not sold in stores or, at this time, at Amazon. Amazon is listing a bootleg edition from Customflix, so be aware.

- Gregory Meshman

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