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directed by Delmer Daves
USA 1947

 

Bogey's on the lam and Bacall's at his side in Dark Passage, Delmer Daves' stylish film-noir thriller that's the third of four films Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall made together. Bogart is Vincent Parry, a prison escapee framed for murder who emerges from plastic surgery with a new face. Bacall is Irene Jansen, Vincent's lone ally. In a supporting role, Agnes Moorehead portrays Madge, a venomous harpy who finds pleasure in the unhappiness of others. The chemistry of the leads is undeniable, and they augment it here with exceptional tenderness. Exceptional, too, are the atmospheric San Francisco locations and the imaginative camera work that shows Vincent's point of view - but not his face - until the bandages are removed. Lest Irene get ideas, the post-surgery Vincent tells her: "Don't change yours. I like it just as it is." So do we.

Posters

Theatrical Release: 5 September 1947 (New York)

Reviews                                                                                   More Reviews                                                                DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Warner Home Video - Region 1,4 - NTSC vs. Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the DVD Review!

1) Warner - Region 1, 4 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Warner  Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT

 

Box Covers

 

   

 

   

Distribution

Warner Home Video

Region 1,4 - NTSC

Warner Archive
Region FREE  -
Blu-ray
Runtime 1:46:04 1:46:13.450
Video

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.54 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

Disc Size: 32,600,068,005 bytes

Feature Size: 30,656,053,248 bytes

Total Bitrate: 33.91 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate

Bitrate: Blu-ray

Audio Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (English)

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1783 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1783 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DUBS:

Dolby Digital Audio French 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB

Subtitles English, French, Spanish, None English, Japanese, French, Spanish, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Warner Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Hold Your Breath and Cross Your Fingers featurette (10:31)
• Slick Hare Short (7:43)
• Theatrical trailer (2:13)

DVD Release Date: November 4th, 2003
Snap case or Keep case

Chapters 30

Release Information:
Studio:
Warner

 

Disc Size: 32,600,068,005 bytes

Feature Size: 30,656,053,248 bytes

Total Bitrate: 33.91 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC

 

Edition Details:
• Hold Your Breath and Cross Your Fingers featurette (10:32)
• Slick Hare Short (7:43)
• Theatrical trailer (2:15)

 

Blu-ray Release Date: May 17th, 2016
Standard Blu-ray case

Chapters: 30

 

 

 

Comments

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

ADDITION: Warner Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray February 16': The SD transfer was strong but the Blu-ray gives a richer, more film-like presentation. the 1080P, naturally, has more layered contrast - supports grain textures to a higher degree and just simply, look much better. When you look at Lauren Bacall - you should be seeing her in this higher resolution.

Warner use a DTS-HD Master transfer and it sounds perfect. The powerful Franz Waxman (Rebecca, Bride of Frankenstein, Rear Window, Sunset Boulevard) score adds a further edge of suspense and adventure. There are optional subtitles on the region FREE Blu-ray disc.

Extras duplicate the DVD including a brief featurette on making of the film and a Bugs Bunny animated short by Friz Freleng; Slick Hare that includes caricatures of Bogie and Bacall and a trailer.

This remains an excellent Film Noir thriller - on our Essential List - and it looks impressive in 1080P. What? You need by recommendation? Don't hesitate!

***

ON THE DVD: Dark Passage is the third collaboration between Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall and, out of 4 of their films together, their least successful. We already covered the other three - To Have and Have Not, The Big Sleep and Key Largo, so naturally we want to cover this Essential Film-Noir listing:

Even the lesser film has a lot going for it, including the terrific performance by Agnes Moorehead. The dual-layered disc was first released in a snapper case in 2003 and re-released in a keep case 3 years later with exactly the same contents. The progressive transfer looks excellent with no damage and mono soundtrack is adequate. The disc includes some nice extras, including a brief featurette on making of the film and an animated short by Friz Freleng Slick Hare that includes caricatures of Bogie and Bacall. A top-notch release by Warner that is highly recommended.

  - Gregory Meshman

 


DVD Menus
 

 

Warner - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 


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

 

Screen Captures


Subtitle sample

1) Warner - Region 1, 4 - NTSC - TOP

2) Warner  Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Warner - Region 1, 4 - NTSC - TOP

2) Warner  Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Warner - Region 1, 4 - NTSC - TOP

2) Warner  Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Warner - Region 1, 4 - NTSC - TOP

2) Warner  Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Warner - Region 1, 4 - NTSC - TOP

2) Warner  Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Warner - Region 1, 4 - NTSC - TOP

2) Warner  Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Warner - Region 1, 4 - NTSC - TOP

2) Warner  Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Warner - Region 1, 4 - NTSC - TOP

2) Warner  Archive - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


Box Covers

 

   

 

   

Distribution

Warner Home Video

Region 1,4 - NTSC

Warner Archive
Region FREE  -
Blu-ray

 




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