The Scar / Hollow Triumph

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

(aka "The Man Who Murdered Himself" or "The Scar")

directed by Steve Sekely
USA 1948

"The Scar" (1948) Originally released under the title "Hollow Triumph," (and also known as The Man Who Murdered Himself), this dandy little film noir thriller from Eagle Lion features Paul Henreid with a chance to lose his leading man image for not one, but two sinister performances. When crooked gambler (Henreid) seeks to hide from a rival mobster, he hatches a plot to take the place of a psychiatrist that he's a dead-ringer for. But it's not long before the good doctor's secretary (Joan Bennett) is on to his scheme.

***

Not half bad, despite a loopy plot about a conman/thief hiding from pursuit who kills a look-alike psychiatrist and assumes his identity (conveniently skilled in surgery through interrupted studies, he is even able to reproduce a facial scar). The tension is kept ticking nicely by a flaw in the impersonation (working by mirror, he scars the wrong cheek), even more so by the fact that he unexpectedly inherits dire troubles from the dead man's past. Good supporting performances, a satisfyingly bleak ending, and absolutely stunning lighting and LA location shooting from John Alton.

Excerpt from TimeOut Film Guide located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: August 10th, 1948

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DVD Comparison:

VCI - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Koch Media - Region 2 - PAL

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the VCI Review!

VCI - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT vs. Koch Media - Region 2 - PAL RIGHT

DVD Box Cover
Distribution	VCI Region 0 - NTSC	Koch Media Region 2 - PAL
Runtime	1:20:00	1:19:24
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.32 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 9.9 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 VCI
Bitrate KOCH
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0), DUB: German (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles	None	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: VCI Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • The Limping Man • Dark Stranger - Tv Episode of 'Henry Fonda Presents the Star and the Story' (25:41) • Film Noir Poster Gallery • Film Noir Trailers DVD Release Date: September 30, 2003 Keepcase Chapters 12	Release Information: Studio: Koch Media Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Book style case with 10-pages (German text) and graphics • Image Gallery DVD Release Date: November 25th, 2011 Book style case Chapters 16

Comments

ADDITION: Koch Media - Region 2- PAL - December 2011: Just to be clear Gregory reviewed the VCI as part of a Double Feature package with The Limping Man HERE. The Koch Media transfer is superior in many ways - the disc is progressive where the North American rendering is interlaced. the VCI is cropped and has terrible contrast from a weak density print with notable damage. The German disc is dual-layered and is the easy winner. It offers the original English track and a German DUB - no subtitles and an image gallery. The disc is housed in a wonderful digi-book.

Gary W. Tooze

****

ON THE VCI: The Scar (aka Hollow Triumph) is a very dark film noir, not just for the great cinematography of John Alton, but also for the plot. Paul Henreid is a criminal who thinks he can have a better life by becoming somebody else. Joan Bennett is wonderful as his love interest and there's Blonde Ice herself, Leslie Brooks in a small roles.

- Gregory Meshman

DVD Menus

VCI - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT vs. Koch Media - Region 2 - PAL RIGHT