Pretty Poison Blu-ray - Anthony Perkins

Search DVDBeaver

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

(aka 'She Let Him Continue' or 'Der Engel Mit Der Mörderhand')

Directed by Noel Black
USA 1968

Ever since this corrosive tale of insidious madness and deceptive innocence in Small Town USA, buffs have sought out Noel Black's other work (mainly for TV), vainly hoping to find something as good. The film is blithely written by Lorenzo Semple Jr, who suddenly proved at a stroke that he was worthy of more than the script consultant's job on Batman. And the performances are great. Perkins' role, as a dedicated fantasist employed at a chemical factory, treads on Psycho ground without ever causing the usual feelings of déjà vu; but Tuesday Weld is the film's linch-pin, brilliantly playing a girl whose drum-majorette demeanour hides the most amazing emotions. In a word, recommended.

Excerpt from TimeOut located HERE

A one-off minor masterpiece from debut director Black, Pretty Poison stars Perkins as the factory worker and part-time arsonist, who gets more then he bargained for when he teams up with impressionable teenager Weld. Giving new meanings to the phrase quiet waters run deep, Perkins with his psychological problems is no match for Weld's murderous intent. While Perkins initially manages to teach her a trick or two, the roles are soon reversed. Impressively dark comedy, especially noteworthy for Perkins' performance. Black's direction manages to get the most out of the tight script, by regarding his characters with a mixture of horror and fascination.

Excerpt from Channel 4 located HERE

Poster

Theatrical Release: October 23rd, 1968

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Comparison:

20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Intergroove - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray

1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT

2) Intergroove - Region FREE - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT

Box Covers
Distribution	20th Century Fox Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC	Intergroove Region FREE - Blu-ray	Twilight Time Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:29:12	1:29:16.726	1:29:17.810
Video	1.78:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.76 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 20,197,321,108 bytes Feature: 20,188,643,328 bytes Video Bitrate: 25.27 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video	1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 27,524,422,150 bytes Feature: 27,164,522,496 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 29.99 Mbps
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Bitrate: Intergroove Blu-ray
Bitrate: Twilight Time Blu-ray
Audio	English (Dolby Digital Mono), English (Dolby Digital 2.0), DUB: Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0)	LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit DUB: LPCM Audio German 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit	DTS-HD Master Audio English 2039 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2039 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Commentaries: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1913 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1913 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio English 1800 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1800 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) Isolated Score: DTS-HD Master Audio English 2066 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2066 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles	English, Spanish, None	None	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Video Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.78:1 Edition Details: • Trailer • recommendations DVD Release Date: August 29th, 2006 Keep Case Chapters: 20	Release Information: Studio: Intergroove Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 20,197,321,108 bytes Feature: 20,188,643,328 bytes Video Bitrate: 25.27 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • None Blu-ray Release Date: December 6th, 2013 Bookstyle Blu-ray case Chapters 12	Release Information: Studio: Twilight Time Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 27,524,422,150 bytes Feature: 27,164,522,496 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 29.99 Mbps Edition Details: • Audio Commentary with Executive Producer Lawrence Turman, and Film Historians Lem Dobbs and Nick Redman • Audio Commentary with Director Noel Black and Film Historian Robert Fischer • Isolated Music & Effects Track • Deleted Scene Script and Commentary • Original Theatrical Trailer) • 8-page liner notes by Julie Kirgo Limited to 3,000 units Blu-ray Release Date: November, 2016 Transparent Blu-ray case Chapters 24

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray November 16': Great to see Twilight Time release this gem in 1080P. Their transfer is a shade green-leaning but colors are richer and contrast and black levels deeper than the Euro release. I played both and in-motion it was no contest with the Twilight Time looking far superior. I see some of the colors are different - even from the Fox DVD - and I can't speak to that but the higher bitrate and, presumably better source (there is movement in the frame), I preferred the US HD but it is always good to have a choice.

Twilight Time advance in the audio with a DTS-HD Master (24-bit). It is more robust and benefitting is Johnny Mandel's (Point Blank, Deathtrap, M*A*S*H, That Cold Day in the Park, Heaven with a Gun etc.) mysterious score balanced nicely between romance and suspense. Twilight Time add it as an isolated option and there are English (SDH) subtitles - see sample - on their region Blu-ray FREE disc.

Consistently improving over the Intergroove, Twilight Time add two excellent audio commentaries - and this film deserves them. The first has executive producer Lawrence Turman, and film historians Lem Dobbs and Nick Redman while the second has director Noel Black and film historian Robert Fischer (as found on the R2 DVD of Pretty Poison) discussing many interesting aspects of the production. There is also a brief deleted scene script (text) with commentary with Black and Fischer, and an original theatrical trailer. the package has an 8-page liner notes leaflet with essay by Julie Kirgo and it is limited to 3,000 units.

Pretty Poison remains quite fascinating - even in repeat viewings and its wonderful to see it treated with a bevy of supplemental material including the valuable commentaries. Absolutely recommended!

***

ADDITION: Intergroove - Region FREE Blu-ray - June: This is still a very cool film. The German, region-free, 1080P isn't particularly dynamic looking but you can see the improvement over the SD - skin tones cool and look more natural, but there is still only minor depth and modest tightening of detail. I see some grain textures in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio rendering.

Perhaps equally as important is the audio - we get a lossless transfer using a linear PCM at 1536 kbps in stereo (16-bit). There is an optional German DUB but no subtitle options and the disc is region FREE - playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.

This is truly a bare-bones disc with no extras at all. I had forgotten how good the film was and I really enjoyed my viewing. If you haven't seen this make sure you pick up a copy...

***

ON THE DVD: Another winner from Fox with an above-average transfer on a darkly inventive film - all at a very reasonable price. Anamorphic and progressive transfer with optional subtitles - colors, contrast and sharpness are strong. We may compare this to the Region 2 UK PAL edition but I suspect this is superior in image.

NOTE: You should mention that the R2 DVD of Pretty Poison (you reviewed R1) contains a full commentary by the director and German film historian Robert Fischer (Thanks Daniel)

Gary W. Tooze

Menus

1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT

2) Intergroove - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT