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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

Directed by David Miller
USA 1960

 

Although its theatrical origins (Janet Green's Matilda Shouted Fire) aren't exactly disguised, this is a smoothly efficient variation on the 'frightened lady' thriller. Just married to English businessman Harrison, Day's the American in London progressively unraveling after threatening anonymous phone calls and voices in the fog. Perhaps surprisingly for an actress who always seemed to keep plenty in reserve, her hysteria's pretty full-on, and the taut screenplay keeps up the pressure with a string of worthy suspects (wheedling McDowall, scheming Marshall, disturbed war vet Gavin). Suavely effective, with extra fun spotting the joins between the authentic location work featuring Dotty's stand-in, and the star herself back in Burbank on the least convincing London street this side of The Spy Who Shagged Me.

Excerpt from TJ review at TimeOut Film Guide located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: October 13th, 1960

Reviews                                                                More Reviews                                                    DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Universal - Region 2 - PAL vs. Universum - Region 'B' - Blu-ray vs. Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

1) Universal - Region 2 - PAL LEFT
2) Universum - Region 'B' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray RIGHT

 

Box Covers

  

Distribution Universal Home Video - Region 2 - PAL Universum Film - Region 'B' - Blu-ray Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:43:28 (4% PAL Speedup) 1:48:01.933 1:48:01.933
Video 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 4.54 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

2.0:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 22,910,249,256 bytes

Feature: 21,403,564,032 bytes

Video Bitrate: 22.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

2.0:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 43,902,428,944 bytes

Feature: 21,247,346,688 bytes

Video Bitrate: 22.95 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 Universum Blu-ray

Bitrate Kino Blu-ray

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0)  DTS-HD Master Audio German 972 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 972 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio English 962 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 962 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit)

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1555 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1555 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

Subtitles English, None German, None English, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Universal Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.78:1

Edition Details:

• none

DVD Release Date: May 8th, 2006

Transparent Keep Case
Chapters: 12

Release Information:
Studio: Universum
 

2.0:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 22,910,249,256 bytes

Feature: 21,403,564,032 bytes

Video Bitrate: 22.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• Trailer (2:41)

Blu-ray Release Date: February 22nd, 2013
Standard
Blu-ray Case
Chapters: 11

Release Information:
Studio: Kino
 

2.0:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 43,902,428,944 bytes

Feature: 21,247,346,688 bytes

Video Bitrate: 22.95 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Kat Ellinger
Theatrical Trailer (2:42)

Blu-ray Release Date: June 25th, 2019
Standard
Blu-ray Case
Chapters: 11

 

 

 

Comments:

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

 

ADDITION: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray (July 19'): Kino provide both 1.78:1 and 2.0:1 aspect ratio versions of the film in separate transfers on the dual-layered discs. Both have the same low-frequency edge-enhancement as on the Universum - a slight shift in lightness but mostly the image is very similar - visually and technically - far from ideal. Overall watchable and may be the best we get for this 'distressed damsel' thriller.

 

Peter says about the inclusion of the 1.78:1 aspect ratio: "A) not only is it totally bogus, because Universal's house aspect ratio for this time frame was 2:1 – PERIOD, and it's shot by Russell Metty, who did all the Sirk 2:1 Ross Hunter productions, no less – but B) why on earth would you split hairs, and spend all the money to create a separate master, which only reveals a useless sliver of information at the top and bottom of the frame? To satisfy... who? It hardly even "opens it up", which is a nonsense pursuit to start with, and only satisfies ill-informed folks or curiosity seekers. What an incredibly dopey choice."

 

A slightly more robust DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel mono track (16-bit) than the Universum but only moderately improved in the depth. The Kino has optional English subtitles on their Region 'A'-locked Blu-ray. The score is by Frank Skinner's score (Magnificent Obsession, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, All That Heaven Allows, and The Naked City).

 

Big bonus in the extras with another intrepid Kat Ellinger commentary where she makes the case for the influence on Giallo with numerous references. Another winner from Kat. There is also a trailer for the film and other trailers. 

 

Perhaps an overused term - but Midnight Lace is aptly described as 'Hitchcockian'. Some of Miss Day's frenetic performance is culled from some unhappy real life experiences. This is a pretty good thriller with all the pieces in place if a little too much emphasis on the perpetrators 'surprise' identity. Well worth the indulgence for fans of the genre. With the commentary the Kino Blu-ray is the obvious winner.

 

 

***

ADDITION: Universum - Region 'B' - Blu-ray (August 14'): Well,  there are some issues here - the German Blu-ray is in the 2.0:1 aspect ratio (Superscope?) although IMDb says it should be 1.85:1. The PAL DVD was 1.78:1 - so we are losing some information but I can't speak to its theatrical accuracy. There are also some digitalization problems with the BD - mild EE - not overly distracting and more noticeable in the stills than in-motion. But generally it does look better than the older SD - in many visual aspects (detail, contrast, depth)... and its a cracking good thriller! It's bare-bones (only a trailer) but has lossless audio (DTS-HD Master stereo) sounds clean with a modicum of depth. I enjoyed the 1080P presentation significantly more than the sped-up DVD. is it worth it? yeah - I'd say so...

***

ON THE DVD: We have seen sharper single-layered transfers from Universal UK but this progressive effort is at least acceptable if a shade on the dirty side. I'd much prefer it a bit dark than artificially boosted, but colors are still on the dull side. Contrast is fairly good and I have no reason to believe the film didn't look similar in its initial theatrical run. There are optional English subtitles (well done) but no supplements.

Gary W. Tooze

 


Menus

1) Universal - Region 2 - PAL LEFT
2) Universum - Region 'B' - Blu-ray RIGHT


 
 

 

Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 


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

 

Subtitle Sample

 

1) Universal - Region 2 - PAL TOP
2) Universum - Region 'B' - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Kino (1:78) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray THIRD

3) Kino (2:1) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Universal - Region 2 - PAL TOP
2) Universum - Region 'B' - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Kino (1:78) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray THIRD

3) Kino (2:1) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Universal - Region 2 - PAL TOP
2) Universum - Region 'B' - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Kino (1:78) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray THIRD

3) Kino (2:1) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Universal - Region 2 - PAL TOP
2) Universum - Region 'B' - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Kino (1:78) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray THIRD

3) Kino (2:1) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Universal - Region 2 - PAL TOP
2) Universum - Region 'B' - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Kino (1:78) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray THIRD

3) Kino (2:1) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Universal - Region 2 - PAL TOP
2) Universum - Region 'B' - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Kino (1:78) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray THIRD

3) Kino (2:1) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Universal - Region 2 - PAL TOP
2) Universum - Region 'B' - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Kino (1:78) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray THIRD

3) Kino (2:1) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

More Kino Blu-ray Captures

 

 

More Universum Blu-ray Captures

 

 

 


Box Covers

  

Distribution Universal Home Video - Region 2 - PAL Universum Film - Region 'B' - Blu-ray Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray




 

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