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directed by Budd Boetticher
USA 1945

A nurse (Nina Foch, My Name is Julia Ross), suffering from a nervous breakdown, has nightmares about a man being murdered, only to see him standing in front of her when she awakens.

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Years before Budd Boetticher made the Randolph Scott-starring westerns for which he is best remembered -- Seven Men from Now (1956), The Tall T (1957) and Ride Lonesome (1959) among them -- he learned his craft by directing a run of B films for Columbia, Eagle-Lion and Monogram studios. Escape in the Fog (1945), a 63-minute Columbia production, was Boetticher's fifth picture.

It's the story of an expert in psychological warfare (William Wright) who is given a secret mission to deliver some wartime documents from San Francisco to the Far East. German agents, however, have gotten wind of the plan and spend the movie trying to capture Wright before he can leave the city. Before we see all this, however, we are introduced to a Navy nurse on leave (Nina Foch) who has a dream of Wright being attacked by two men on the foggy Golden Gate Bridge - but only after she awakes does she actually meet Wright. As she tries to figure out the meaning of her dream, she becomes his unwitting partner as he tries to outwit the Germans; naturally the two also fall for each other (in an unconvincing romantic subplot).

Excerpt of review from TCM located HERE

Poster

Theatrical Release: April 5th, 1945

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DVD Review: Sony (Choice Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC
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Distribution

Sony

Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime 1:02:44
Video

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 6.80 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

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

Audio Dolby Digital 1.0 (English)
Subtitles None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Sony

Aspect Ratio:
Original - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• None

DVD Release Date: July 3rd, 2010
Keep Case

Chapters 7

 

Comments

Firstly, I agree with Gregory - in that Columbia have the best print sources for their DVD-R titles. Regarding the film I agree with an IMDb comment that describes Escape in the Fog as an 'economical, satisfying thriller'. Spot on - characters are 1 dimensional and the suspense is as well built as possible in a little over an hour-long feature. I liked it.

It's standard single-layered but progressive in the original 1.33:1 aspect ratio and looks very good. This is labeled under the Sony's "Choice Collection" marquee and the image is very impressive with not one prominent instance showing damage. Black levels are strong and detail surprisingly good. There is some grain showing and the disc supports Escape in the Fog with a fine transfer with plenty of shadows and light play. Excellent overall.

The mono sound is decent but unremarkable and there are no subtitles, extras or even a main menu offered. The score has awkward moments with a uniquely odd edge to it.

I was keen on this and I found it a pleasing short crime-based thriller with overtones of Noir. Sure it has limitations but as an example of a B-suspenser - this is prime. No masterpiece but entertaining nonetheless. 

  - Gary Tooze

 


 

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DVD Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

Distribution

Sony

Region 1 - NTSC

 



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