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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

directed by Robert Siodmak
USA 1946

 

Impressively unusual thriller with typically simplistic Freudian elements as psychiatrist Ayres is called in by the police to help investigate a murder committed by one of two identical twins...but which one? Intriguing cat-and-mouse games and perverse power struggles as both he and we try to fathom which of the sisters is the warped psycho, with de Havilland (in the dual role) and Siodmak managing admirably to counteract the contrived plot. What really makes it work, though, is Siodmak's firm grasp of mood and suspense; the opening scene, in which the camera prowls a darkened room until it finds a corpse, sets the tone perfectly for the sense of uncertainty and chaos that follows.

Excerpt of review from TimeOut London located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: October 13th, 1946 (USA)

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Comparison: 

Koch Media - Region 2 - PAL vs. Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

1) Koch Media - Region 2 - PAL LEFT
2) Olive Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray RIGHT
 
Box Cover

 

Distribution

Koch Media

Region 2 - PAL

 Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:21:39 (4% PAL speedup) 1:25:38.133
Video

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 9.27 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 14,140,380,787 bytes

Feature: 14,098,225,152 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 20.00 Mbps

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), DUB: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (German) DTS-HD Master Audio English 823 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 823 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit)
Subtitles None None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Koch Media

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Photo Gallery

• liner notes (German) and photos

DVD Release Date: December 4th, 2009
 Digi-book Case

Chapters 16

Release Information:
Studio: Olive Films

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1

1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 14,140,380,787 bytes

Feature: 14,098,225,152 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Video Bitrate: 20.00 Mbps

Edition Details:

• none

 Blu-ray Release Date: September 4th, 2012
Standard Blu-ray Case
Chapters: 8

 

Comments

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

ADDITION: Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - August 12': The Koch was a great DVD but the new Olive Blu-ray eclipsed it quite handily - despite being single-layered with a modest bitrate. It shows more information on all 4 sides, and contrast tightens the detail - it looks impressive. The usual story - it is marginally brighter with a hint of grain. The audio is lossless mono - consistent and clear - no subtitles and no extras.

The bonus for many will be having it in theatrical running time with no PAL speedup. Super Noir atmosphere and the 1080P exports a satisfying presentation. Certainly recommended!

***

ON THE DVD: The French DVD edition HERE of The Dark Mirror has been out-of-print for a long while but I doubt it could be as perfect visually as this dual-layered, progressive and impressively clean image from Koch Media. The incredibly high bitrate supports the pristine transfer with excellent contrast and solid detail. To tack on some superlatives it may be the best looking image of a film, of this age, that I can remember in SD-DVD. I hope the screen captures bear this out because the video presentation is near flawless.

 

2.0 channel audio is likewise strong and consistent even via Dimitri Tiomkin's score playing over the menus! There is an optional German DUB but no subtitles.

Extras consist of the spiffy looking digi-book case with an essay(? - in German) and some and a digital photo-gallery - but even these images aren't as impressive as the video transfer. This is an easy sell for Noir fans especially those with only the lacklustre Spanish release. Why The Dark Mirror still hasn't come to region 1 is beyond me. Koch have produced one impressive DVD...

Gary W. Tooze

 

 Menus
 

1) Koch Media - Region 2 - PAL LEFT
2) Olive Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray RIGHT
 

 

 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Screen Captures

 

1) Koch Media - Region 2 - PAL TOP
2) Olive Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 
1) Koch Media - Region 2 - PAL TOP
2) Olive Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Koch Media - Region 2 - PAL TOP
2) Olive Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 
1) Koch Media - Region 2 - PAL TOP
2) Olive Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 
1) Koch Media - Region 2 - PAL TOP
2) Olive Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 
1) Koch Media - Region 2 - PAL TOP
2) Olive Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
 

 

1) Koch Media - Region 2 - PAL TOP
2) Olive Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

1) Koch Media - Region 2 - PAL TOP
2) Olive Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Koch Media - Region 2 - PAL TOP
2) Olive Film - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

More Blu-ray Captures

Box Cover

 

Distribution

Koch Media

Region 2 - PAL

 Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

 

 



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