The Uninvited Blu-ray

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

directed by Lewis Allen
USA 1944

With its atmospheric Cornish locations and all-star cast, The Uninvited is a highly effective and spine-tingling ghost story in the classic Hollywood tradition. Seeking respite from the bustle of London life, writer Roderick Fitzgerald (Ray Milland, Dial M for Murder and The Lost Weekend) and his sister Pamela (Ruth Hussey, The Philadelphia Story) move into a neglected clifftop mansion and set about making it their home. However, it isn't long before an unnerving presence makes itself felt: an eerie chill lingers in the rooms and distant wailing is heard at night. Despite Roderick's cynicism, it becomes increasingly clear that the house is haunted - but why in such a snug haven would the dead trouble the living? Martin Scorsese and various critics, including William K. Everson and Leonard Maltin, regard The Uninvited as one of the best ghost stories ever filmed.

Posters

Theatrical Release: 10 February 1944 (Washington, D.C.)

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Comparison:

Exposure Cinema - Region 2 - PAL vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the DVD Review!

1) Exposure Cinema - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT

2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT

Box Covers		Koch (Germany) coming out with a Blu-ray in May 2014: Also coming from Criterion to the UK on Blu-ray in October 2018:
Distribution	Exposure Cinema Region 2 - PAL	Criterion Collection - Spine #677 Region 'A' -Blu-ray
Runtime	1:35:09 (4% PAL speedup)	1:39:26.126
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 8.67 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.33:1 - 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 39,389,625,830 bytes Feature: 29,186,217,984 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.99 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 Blu-ray
Audio	Dolby Digital Mono (English)	LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles	English, None	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Exposure Cinema Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical trailer (2:00) • Stills and Poster Gallery • 1944 Radio Adaptation (24:41) • 1949 Radio Adaptation (29:00) • 24-Page Collector's Booklet DVD Release Date: October 29th, 2012 Keep Case Chapters 16	Release Information: Studio: Criterion Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 - 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 39,389,625,830 bytes Feature: 29,186,217,984 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.99 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • "Giving Up the Ghost" - a new visual essay by filmmaker Michael Almereyda (26:59) • Two radio adaptations, from 1944 (29:25) and 1949 (29:50), both starring Ray Milland • Trailer (2:03 • Liner notes booklet featuring an essay by critic Farran Smith Nehme and a 1997 interview with director Lewis Allen Blu-ray Release Date: October 22nd, 2013 Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters: 13

Comments

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

ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray (September 2013): The new 1080P from Criterion is wonderful. It is thick with grain and none of the artifacts or damage marks of the UK SD. The film is filled with darkness and shadows but the Blu-ray shows no noise or distracting flaws. The contrast is adept. Hard to believe The Uninvited is almost 70-years old. The higher resolution wins easily over the DVD with more detail on the brighter visuals. There are no noticeable speckles and the image quality is consistent throughout.

There are some 'spooky' effects and the score, composed by Victor Young (Three Faces West, The Sun Shines Bright, Johnny Guitar, China Gate, The File on Thelma Jordan etc.) both sound authentically flat but carrying weight via the linear PCM mono track. I noticed this as being a significant improvement over last year's DVD. There are optional subtitles (via your remote button) and Criterion's Blu-ray is, as expected, region 'A'-locked.

We are treated to an excellent visual essay entitled "Giving Up the Ghost" by filmmaker Michael Almereyda. It covers many interesting points regarding the film and runs almost 1/2 hour. It was produced by Criterion in 2013. Included are two radio adaptations, from 1944 - the screen guild theater (29:25) and the SCreen Director's Playhouse from November 1949 (29:50), both starring Ray Milland. There is a trailer and the package contains liner notes booklet featuring an essay by critic Farran Smith Nehme and a 1997 interview with director Lewis Allen.

While I wouldn't say this has an abundance of Noir markers - but it is still such an enjoyable mystery/horror - almost reminding me of premium Hitchcock. It unravels with a complex and intriguing story - I am very pleased with Criterion's package and we thoroughly recommend! This was a great choice for Criterion to obtain from Universal (their logo starts the presentation). Thumbs skyward!

Gary W. Tooze

***

ON THE DVD: The Uninvited is yet to get its region 1 release, but UK's Exposure Cinema after doing a great job with their Fritz Lang releases, decided to tackle this title. First, the bad news. This is a pretty poor, but progressive transfer from an old master. There is some damage, marks on a print, including cue marks, and excessive grain in some, mostly nighttime, scenes - and there are a lot of those in this film.

The PAL transfer is presented on a dual-layered disc that has some thoughtful and welcome extras. There are two radio adaptations, from 1944 and 1949 - the later even includes a short chatter with Lewis Allen and Ray Milland. A gallery and theatrical trailer are included as well as a 24-page booklet with some nice essays about the film and biographies. The disc also includes optional English subtitles, a nice addition considering none of the made-on-demand or Turner Classic's region 1 releases include them. Until a new HD master is done for this excellent film, the Exposure Cinema DVD is all we have and they should be complemented for their release despite the poor transfer provided by Universal.

- Gregory Meshman

Menus

1) Exposure Cinema - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT

2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT