The Mask of Dimitrios - Sydney Greenstreet

Search DVDBeaver

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

directed by Jean Negulesco
USA 1944

Zachary Scott made a smashing screen debut in the title role in The Mask Of Dimitrios for Warner Brothers in 1944. The film stays close to the Eric Ambler novel on which it is based and Scott is helped with the classic presence of Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre in the cast. In fact Lorre and Greenstreet have as much screen time as Scott.

The film is told mostly in flashback after Peter Lorre who is a mystery writer by trade identifies a body that has been fished from the Bosporus to Turkish police as that of Dimitrios Makropoulos a ruthless adventurer for hire. First hearing about the exploits of this international scoundrel from Turkish police inspector Kurt Katch, Lorre becomes fascinated by the man and determines to learn as much as he can from as many sources as he can find. Some of those sources include Greenstreet, Victor Francen, and Faye Emerson who share their recollections of Scott and their bad experiences with him that left them sadder and wiser.

Excerpt of review from bkoganbing for imdb.com located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: 23 June 1944 (New York)

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

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

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Review!

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Warner Home Video Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime	1:35:30
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.2 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 Mono (English)
Subtitles	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Warner Home Video Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical trailer (2:17) DVD Release Date: May 21st, 2013 Keep Case Chapters 26

Comments

The Maltese Falcon was the beginning of a beautiful friendship of the little man (Peter Lorre) and the fat man (Sydney Greenstreet), as they labeled in a
trailer for The Three Strangers. Several more films followed including some entries in the film noir cannon - The Verdict, Background to Danger, The Conspirators and this essential noir finally making its DVD debut in a newly mastered edition from Warner Archive Collection. The movie has been always problematic on home video and Warner went extra mile to clean up this transfer. The film still has issues - some scenes look softer and there is constant flickering, but it is still impressive compared to what was seen on TCM for all these years. The mono audio is likewise shows its age, but it is never intrusive. An original trailer is included making this release highly recommended.

- Gregory Meshman

DVD Menus