CLICK to order from:

Universal / TCM

Region 1 - NTSC

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.55 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.

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Ben Mankiewicz Introduction (1:51)
• Galleries (stills, posters, lobby cards)
• TCMDb Article

DVD Release Date: June 5th, 2012
4 Discs in a digipack

Chapters 11

Universal has not released a film noir in region 1 ever since their quartet of releases back on 2004 (to be fair, they did license a number of noirs to Criterion). It's really unfortunate, since besides their own library, they also own a number of Paramount essential noirs that are sorely missing on DVD. Thankfully, they finally released four crime dramas as part of "Women in Danger - 1950s Thrillers" Collection, exclusive to Turner Classic Movies shop and Movies Unlimited. Like the title says, the set features four lead actresses, past their prime, in different degrees of predicament and danger. Only the first film, Woman in Hiding with Ida Lupino, can be considering true film noir. Other titles in the set are Female on the Beach with Joan Crawford, The Unguarded Moment with Esther Williams and The Price of Fear with Merle Oberon. One of the real disappointments is that Universal did not include one of their best woman-in-distress noirs - The Woman on the Run with Ann Sheridan that is currently only available in poor 16 mm public domain transfers (now available on Blu-ray! SEE HERE).

Universal Studios joined forces with Turner Classic Movies for this release. Four single-layered discs are housed in a digipack, with one film per disc. All transfers are progressive, but a real disappointment is The Unguarded Moment. The only color film in a set, it is presented in a letterboxed aspect ratio, quiet muddy and soft. In 2012 this is inexcusable that an old transfer, probably from laserdisc days, was utilized for this release. All other black-and-white transfers are very good, with The Price of Fear being presented in original aspect ratio of 2.00:1, anamorphically enhanced. There is very little damage on the prints and mono audio is good. Extras include a short into for the whole set by Ben Mankiewicz on the Woman in Hiding disc, a TCMDb article on said disc and all discs include a number of stills, posters and lobby cards. All films are good examples of their sub-genre, especially Woman in Hiding. It's really disappointing that they dropped a ball on one of the films in the set - otherwise this set would have been highly recommended.

  -Gregory Meshman

CLICK to order from:

Universal / TCM

Region 1 - NTSC