Smile Jenny, You're Dead

Search DVDBeaver

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

directed by Jerry Thorpe
USA 1974

Harry Orwell has been retired from the force ever since he caught a bullet that lodged inoperably in his back. But that doesn’t mean the man called Harry O is out of the action. Moonlighting as a private sleuth, fighting off daily back pain and typically traveling by public bus instead of his own car (“It gives a man a chance to think”), he’s on the trail of the lowlife who murdered his pal’s son-in-law. It won’t be the only time the killer strikes before Harry closes in. David Janssen (The Fugitive) portrays dogged detective Harry in the telefilm that was the second of two pilots preceding his memorable Harry O series. Among the highlights: young Jodie Foster as Liberty, the wise-beyond-her-years homeless waif Harry befriends.

TV Premiere: Feb 3rd, 1974

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Warner Home Video (Warner Archive Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Warner Home Video Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime	1:29:39
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.10 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: Warner Home Video Aspect Ratio: Original - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • None DVD Release Date: August 1st, 2011 Keep Case Chapters 9

Comments

Smile Jenny, You're Dead has nice crime-drama atmosphere - this serving as one of the 2 pilots for the David Janssen TV series Harry O. It's adequately-paced with solid character development. Very nicely done...

It's standard single-layered but progressive in the original 1.33:1, TV, aspect ratio and looks a bit thin with some artefacting. The image is a shade weak and flat but consistent and gave only an adequate visual presentation. Black levels aren't piercing but this is still very watchable.

The mono sound is fully audible but unremarkable and there are no subtitles, nor extras, offered.

Great to see the precursor to Harry O and David Janssen's premiering role - he is always a favorite. Very cool to see Jodie Foster too. This was good enough to inspire interest for more - and I am itching to revisit the entire television series. Those keen should indulge - very entertaining.