Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/direct-chair/ulmer.htm

Hedy Lamarr is very alluring in this sordid romantic saga based on the book by Ben Ames Williams. She plays Jenny, a lusty, sociopathic lass in the wilds of 18th Century Bangor, Maine, who uses her beauty to snare a local, rich, middle-aged businessman (Gene Lockhart). She then seduces his weak-willed son (Louis Hayward) and later goes after John (George Sanders), a tall, dark, handsome woodsman engaged to her friend, Mae (Hillary Brooke). For a period piece made in the 1940s, this film is briskly paced, action-packed, and unusually erotic, courtesy the assured direction of low-budget genius Edgar G. Ulmer (Detour, Strange Illusion etc.) in one of his rare big-budget projects. Highlights include a forbidden embrace amid a raging lightning storm, and Jenny allowing herself to be beaten by her alcoholic father (Dennis Hoey), and then showing off her whip marks to arouse Mr. Poster. All About Eve fans will delight in seeing their Addison De Witt (Sanders) looking uncomfortably overeducated in the part of a robust New England woodsman.

Posters

Theatrical Release: October 26th, 1946

Reviews                                                     More Reviews                                           DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Film Chest - Region 0 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover

   

CLICK to order from:

Distribution Film Chest - Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime 1:39:54 
Video 1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.64 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 English (Dolby Digital 2.0) 
Subtitles None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Film Chest

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1

Edition Details:

• none

DVD Release Date: April 29th, 2014

Standard Keep case
Chapters: 12

 

 

Comments:

The new Film Chest DVD is sourced from an HD transfer of the original 35mm elements. It is easily the best image that The Strange Woman that I have seen and the captures support it is the best of the 3 DVDs compared. NOTE: We reviewed the Image Entertainment / All-Day Entertainment 'Ulmer King of the B's' set HERE. Detail on the Film Chest is significantly tighter and contrast indicates decent density on the print. This improvement is despite being a single-layered transfer with a middling bitrate. It still has damage (see bottom of the review) mostly in the form of frame-specific marks, cuts and gouges but there are also vertical scratches scattered throughout. They are really only more noticeable because the overall image quality is quite strong. There is even some depth exported in the SD. I can only imagine what Hedy would look like in a 1080P transfer of The Strange Woman.   

Unfortunately, there are no extras or optional subtitles. It is a bare-bones disc.

Quite an upgrade to the image - if only it was Blu-ray. Ulmer fans may wish to indulge in this DVD - this is bona-fide Noir and Hedy Lamarr is 'femme-fatale' perfecto!

Gary W. Tooze


DVD Menus


 


Screen Captures

 

1) Ventura Distribution - Hedy Lamarr Collection - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Edgar Ulmer - King of B's (Reviewed HERE) - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE

3) Film Chest - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM

 


1) Edgar Ulmer - King of B's (Reviewed HERE) - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Film Chest - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM

 


1) Edgar Ulmer - King of B's (Reviewed HERE) - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Film Chest - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM

 


1) Edgar Ulmer - King of B's (Reviewed HERE) - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Film Chest - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM

 


More Film Chest captures

 

 


 

 


 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 


 

 


 

 


  Damage Samples

 

 


 


DVD Box Cover

   

CLICK to order from:

Distribution Film Chest - Region 0 - NTSC

 




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

 

Hit Counter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Thank You!