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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

directed by Otto Preminger
USA 195
0

Dana Andrews is brutal metropolitan police detective Dixon, who despises all criminals because his father had been one. When the cops pick up two-bit gambler Ken Paine (Craig Stevens) as a murder suspect, Dixon subjects Paine to the third degree -- and accidentally kills him. In disposing of the body, Dixon inadvertently places the blame for the killing on cab driver Jiggs Taylor (Tom Tully). Having fallen in love with Jigg's daughter, Morgan (Gene Tierney), Dixon tries to clear the cabbie without implicating himself, but ultimately he becomes trapped in a web of his own making; luckily Morgan promises to stand by him. Where the Sidewalk Ends was adapted from a novel by William L. Stuart; its director was Otto Preminger, who'd previously put Andrews and Tierney through their paces in Laura (1944) .

Posters

Theatrical Release: June 26th, 1950 - USA (Premiere)

Reviews                                                                     More Reviews                                                              DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

BFI -  Region 2 - PAL vs. 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC vs. BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray vs. Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT

2) 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC - SECOND

3) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - THIRD

4) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT

 

Box Covers

  

  

Distribution BFI - Region 2- PAL 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray Twilight Time
Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:30:54 (4% PAL speedup) 1:34:45 1:34:48.099 1:34:49.975
Video 1.37:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.54mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 8.64 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 21,881,900,327 bytes

Feature: 21,382,437,312 bytes

Video Bitrate: 24.00 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

1.33:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 25,475,728,820 bytes

Feature: 25,338,408,960 bytes

Video Bitrate: 29.99 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:

Bitrate: BFI Blu-ray

Bitrate: Twilight Time Blu-ray

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)  English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (Dolby Digital 1.0)

LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Commentary:

LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1026 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1026 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)
Isolated Score:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1085 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1085 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1499 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1499 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)

Subtitles English, None English, Spanish, None English (SDH), None English (SDH), None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: BFI Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 1.37:1

Edition Details:

• Director Biography (text screens)
• Screenwriter Biography (text screens)
• Original Theatrical trailer 
• Acknowledgements

DVD Release Date: March 29th, 2004

Keep Case
Chapters: 16

Release Information:
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1

Edition Details:

• Commentary by film noir historian Eddie Muller
• Still photo gallery
• Theatrical trailer

DVD Release Date: December 6th, 2005

Keep Case
Chapters: 20

Release Information:
Studio: BFI

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 21,881,900,327 bytes

Feature: 21,382,437,312 bytes

Video Bitrate: 24.00 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:
• Commentary by Adrian Martin
• Theatrical Trailer (1:45)
• Illustrated booklet with essays by Edward Buscombe and full film credits
 

Blu-ray Release Date: September 28th, 2015
Custom Blu-ray case

Chapters 12

Release Information:
Studio: Twilight Time

 

Aspect Ratio:  1.33:1

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 31,142,064,882 bytes

Feature: 30,814,697,472 bytes

Video Bitrate: 29.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• Audio Commentary with Film Historian Eddie Muller
• Isolated Score Track
• Original Theatrical Trailer (1:47)

• Liner notes by Julie Kirgo
Limited to 3,000 Copies!
 

Blu-ray Release Date: February, 2016
Black-Standard
Blu-ray case

Chapters: 24

 

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were obtained directly from the Blu-ray disc.

 

ADDITION: Twilight Time - Region FREE Blu-ray February 2016': Twilight Time's new 1080P shows more information in the frame than the BFI Blu-ray. I like the grain in the, lighter, BFI transfer. The Twilight Time can look sharper but also seems to have less grain and can be, infrequently, a bit waxy. But it is much darker - which is probably more accurate. That being said - I appreciate the differences and that we have a choice. Love this noir...

 

Not much to pick between the audio - both uncompressed and 24-bit supporting the score by Cyril J. Mockridge (Thieves' Highway, Desk Set, The Ox-Bow Incident, The Dark Corner, My Darling Clementine, Nightmare Alley, Heaven Can Wait) and both offer optional English (SDH) subtitles (NOTE: the Twilight Time occasionally run off the side edges of the 1.33:1 frame - see sample below). The BFI is region 'B' and only presently sold in The Otto Preminger Films Noir Collection and the Twilight Time is region FREE but limited to 3,000 units.

 

Twilight Time repeat the, excellent, audio commentary with the 'Czar of Noir' Eddie Muller (from the 2005 Fox DVD) and it remains vital listening to those who adore the dark cinema. There is also their usual isolated score track and an original theatrical trailer plus the liner notes by Julie Kirgo.

 

I'm a little on the fence about this but fans of Noir should get one (or both for the different commentaries). I just watched it last night and feel like throwing it on again. Recommended!

 

***

ADDITION: BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray (September 2015): Firstly, this can only be obtained (presently) in the Otto Preminger Film Noir Collection (Limited Edition 3 - disc Blu-ray set,) with Whirlpool and Fallen Angel.  BFI's new 1080P is solid and despite being single-layered It looks very pleasing in-motion.

 

Audio is authentic and supportive with Cyril J. Mockridge's (Desk Set, The Ox-Bow Incident, The Dark Corner, My Darling Clementine, Nightmare Alley) score in a linear PCM track at 2304 kbps. There are optional English subtitles on the region 'B'-locked Blu-ray disc.

 

BFI again add another educational full length commentary by Adrian Martin although I might lean to Eddie's one on the Fox DVD - this one is still good with fresh topics and production details. There is also theatrical trailer and the package contains an illustrated booklet with essays by Edward Buscombe and full film credits.

 

Dana Andrews? Gene Tierney? - one of the classics of the dark cinema adds significant value to this alluring Blu-rayy boxset - with commentaries. This is a keeper.

 

***

ON THE DVDs: Akin to our "Whirlpool" comparison by the same outfits - Fox has eclipsed in all categories (except cover, menus and subtitles). The BFI image is softer, slightly cropped and may have some contrast boosting. There is a bit more damage on the BFI but it just may be more evident as it is brighter (brightened). Eddie Mueller sure knows his stuff and the commentary is another excellent one on the Fox - I think he is getting better or perhaps more comfortable with doing them. If you factor price into this it really weighs the odds in Fox's favor and that is what we strongly recommend. I think its a MUST have for Film-noir fans. 

Gary W. Tooze

NOTE: This DVD cover is different than the one presently advertised on Amazon.UK HERE:




Menus
(BFI - Region 2 - PAL LEFT vs. 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC RIGHT)

 

BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 

 

 

 

Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Subtitle Sample

 

1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - TOP

2) 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC - SECOND

3) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - THIRD

4) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

NOTE: Not exact frame

 


Screen Captures

1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - TOP

2) 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC - SECOND

3) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - THIRD

4) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 


1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - TOP

2) 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC - SECOND

3) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - THIRD

4) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


 

1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - TOP

2) 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC - SECOND

3) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - THIRD

4) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


 

1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - TOP

2) 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC - SECOND

3) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - THIRD

4) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


 

1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - TOP

2) 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC - SECOND

3) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - THIRD

4) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


More Blu-ray Captures

1) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

More BFI Blu-ray Captures


Recommended Reading in Film Noir (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)

Report Card:

 

Image:

Twilight Time Blu-ray

Sound:

Blu-rays

Extras:

Twilight Time Blu-ray

 

Box Covers

  

  

Distribution BFI - Region 2- PAL 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray Twilight Time
Region FREE - Blu-ray




 

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Gary Tooze