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directed by John M. Stahl
USA 1945

This film won the OscarŽ for Best Cinematography (Color) and received three other Academy AwardŽ nominations: Best Actress for Gene Tierney, Best Sound Recording, and Best Art Direction (Color)/Interior Decoration. Leave Her To Heaven is a stylish psychological thriller starring Gene Tierney as Ellen, the stunningly beautiful wife of handsome writer Richard Harland, played by Cornel Wilde. Ellen panics as her perfect marriage unravels and Harland’s work and invalid brother demand more and more of his attention. Her husband becomes unnerved by her compulsive and jealous behaviour. And when the people close to him are murdered, one by one, it is obvious that this dream marriage has become a full-fledged nightmare. Based on the best-selling novel by Ben Ames Williams.

Posters

Theatrical Release: December 19th, 1945 - USA

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Recommended Reading in Film Noir (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)

 

 

Comparison:

20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Llamentol - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT
2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Llamentol - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray RIGHT

 

Box Covers
 

 

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment - Region 1- NTSC Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray Llamentol - Region FREE - Blu-ray Criterion - Spine #1020 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:49:52 1:50:00.343 1:50:00.343 1:50:14.649
Video 1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 8.35 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size : 34,397,504,149 bytes

Feature: 34,041,962,496 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Average Bitrate: 29.99 Mbps

1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 19,443,932,824 bytes

Feature: 19,221,264,384 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Average Bitrate: 20.73 Mbps

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size : 40,613,119,813 bytes

Feature: 32,605,200,384 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Average Bitrate: 35.30 Mbps

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

Bitrate: twilight Time Blu-ray

Bitrate: Llamentol Blu-ray

Bitrate: Criterion Blu-ray

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), DUBs: Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) DTS-HD Master Audio English 1087 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1087 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1669 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1669 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS Audio English 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps / 24-bit
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1087 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1087 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)
LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles English, Spanish, None English, None Spanish, None English (SDH), None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1

Edition Details:

• Commentary by Darryl Hickman and Richard Schickel
• Restoration Comparison
• Still Gallery
• Fox Movietone News

DVD Release Date: February 22nd, 2005

Keep Case
Chapters: 16

Release Information:
Studio: Twilight Time

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 1.37:1

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size : 34,397,504,149 bytes

Feature: 34,041,962,496 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Average Bitrate: 29.99 Mbps

Edition Details:

• Commentary by Darryl Hickman and Richard Schickel
• Isolated Score
• Theatrical trailer (2:12)
• Fox Movietone News (2:20)

Blu-ray Release Date: May 2013
Standard
Blu-ray Case
Chapters: 16

Release Information:
Studio: Llamentol

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 1.37:1

1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 19,443,932,824 bytes

Feature: 19,221,264,384 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Average Bitrate: 20.73 Mbps

Edition Details:

• None

Blu-ray Release Date: May 2013
Standard
Blu-ray Case
Chapters: 16

Release Information:
Studio: Criterion

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 1.37:1

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size : 40,613,119,813 bytes

Feature: 32,605,200,384 bytes

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Total Average Bitrate: 35.30 Mbps

Edition Details:

• New interview with critic Imogen Sara Smith (26:35)
• Trailer (2:13)
• PLUS: An essay by novelist Megan Abbott

Blu-ray Release Date: March 24th, 2020
Transparent
Blu-ray Case
Chapters: 15

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray - March 2020: The Criterion 1080P version of John M. Stahl's Leave Her to Heaven is the best video presentation described as being a "New 2K digital restoration by Twentieth Century Fox, the Academy Film Archive, and The Film Foundation". The higher bitrate (max'ed out on a dual-layered disc) marginally tightens the image with slightly deeper black levels. It's not a dramatic improvement, but it is there and I could even notice it slightly on my home theatre scene comparisons. This is still not the original Technicolor prints, but we can hope, one day...

 

NOTE: We have added 33 more large resolution Indicator Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

 

To be honest, I could not, however, notice any difference in the audio and film's score by Alfred Newman (The Snake Pit No Way Out, The Diary of Anne Frank, Bus Stop, Blood and Sand, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Panic in the Streets, The Song of Bernadette etc. etc.). The Criterion has optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A'-locked Blu-ray disc.

 

Surprisingly the only significant supplement is s 26-minute interview with film critic Imogen Sara Smith, author of In Lonely Places: Film Noir Beyond the City. She discusses a lot of the mystery behind director John M. Stahl, including inaccurately claiming to have been born in NY city, his Silent Era films tight control of a film's tone. She compares him to the Japanese director Mikio Naruse. I found this very interesting and it was recorded by Criterion in New York in November 2019. There is also, only, a trailer and the package has a liner notes booklet with an essay by novelist Megan Abbott.

 

Stahl's only true Film Noir. Visually the film almost seduces you with it's beauty, even beyond Gene Tierney, steering you to dark melodramatic secrets.  An absolute must-own in the best a/v presentation available for this lush Technicolor masterpiece of cinematography. Imogen Sara Smith's video piece adds immerse value. Must own, imo.

 

***

ADDITION: Llamentol Blu-ray - September 2014': Don't be swayed by this Spanish knock-off. It's not so much a difference in the static caps - although the European 'copy' is far less robust and shows more artifacts (it also tends to look waxier in-motion) but the fact that it is a BD-R! So what that means is that when you want to re-watch it in a year or two - it may not play! My advice is get a proper pressed disc of this wonderfully visual masterpiece while you still can. I can't believe the 3,000 limited edition copies have not yet run out. Buy now when you can! The Twilight Time Blu-ray is destined to go up in value... and don't even consider the Llamentol. At any price - it's a rip-off.

 

***

 

ADDITION: Twilight Time - Region FREE Blu-ray - May 2013':  Unfortunately, in the 70's I believe, the Technicolor elements were 'junked' and only saved in Eastmancolor - hence we lose some of the piercing vibrancy of the colors as seen in its theatrical roots. Of course this is no fault of the Twilight Time transfer - which is solid - dual-layered with a high bitrate and excellent contrast. The image quality is very pleasing. It is brighter than the SD with more information in the frame - notable on all sides. Detail improves, there is a slight sense of depth, colors do perk-up and the 1080P is quite a step beyond the 2005 DVD.

 

The audio goes lossless, but remains mono and Alfred Newman's score sounds quite good with some depth. There are optional English subtitles on the region FREE Blu-ray disc that is limited to 3000 copies.

 

Supplements are mostly from the NTSC DVD with the strong commentary and MovieTone News piece. Twilight Time also add an isolated score (as they usually do) and a trailer.

 

This is such renowned Noir that I suspect the Blu-ray will go out of print pretty quickly - my advice would be to 'buy now'.

***

ON THE DVD: Great DVD! Colors are alive, contrast is sublime, subtitles are excellent and there is a commentary and other interesting extra features. I love the visible film grain. Fabulous job Fox.

Gary W. Tooze


Menus

20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC

 

Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 

Llamentol - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 

Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 


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

 

Subtitle Samples

 

1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC TOP
2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Llamentol - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

Screen Captures

 

1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC TOP
2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Llamentol - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC TOP
2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Llamentol - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC TOP
2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Llamentol - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


 

More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE

 

 


Box Covers
 

 

  

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment - Region 1- NTSC Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray Llamentol - Region FREE - Blu-ray  



 

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