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 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

directed by Lew Landers
USA 1945

 

Far from the best of the series. The first twenty minutes or so are intriguing, after which the film trails off into a conventional suspenser. Dix plays a mysterious man who's suffered memory loss following an accident. Lovely Janis Carter steps in to assist after a prophetic portent from an ordinary deck of cards. Dix appears a decent sort eager to uncover his lost identity, but as events unfold the situation becomes darker, with an ending that would warm feminist hearts of decades later.

Some nice touches that build ambiguity, such as the frilly apron as Dix prepares breakfast for the girls, or his saying grace before the chatty sisters can dig in. On the other hand, there are the mysterious deaths trailing behind.

Excerpt of review from Doug Doepke for imdb.com located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: 19 April 1945 (USA)

Reviews                                                           More Reviews                                                            DVD Reviews

 

DVD Comparison:

Onesmedia (The Whistler: The Film Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Sony Pictures (Choice Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC

 

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for all the Screen Caps!

(Onesmedia (The Whistler: The Film Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Sony Pictures (Choice Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers

 

  

 

 

   

Distribution

Onesmedia

Region 0 - NTSC

 Sony Pictures
Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime 1:06:16
Video

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 4.65 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 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:

Onesmedia (The Whistler: The Film Collection)

 

Bitrate:

Sony Pictures (Choice Collection)

 

Audio Dolby Digital Mono (English)

Dolby Digital Mono (English)
Subtitles None None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Onesmedia

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
� 8 movies on 4 discs

DVD Release Date:
 

Chapters 17
 

 Release Information:
Studio: Sony Pictures

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
� None

 

DVD Release Date: May 5, 2015
Keep Case

Chapters

 

 

 

Comments

NOTE: The Whistler is conspicuously absent from Sony's William Castle Collection reviewed HERE.

The Whistler series of eight movies was probably the most requested film series from Columbia library to get a DVD release and it was missing from authorized digital media until now. There were many questionable releases from various companies, like from Onesmedia compared here, a company specializing on radio compilation CDs and DVDs that also releases some film series based in radio plays. Their early release of The Whistler series also includes a DVD of over 235 hours of The Whistler radio mystery plays, but it's no longer available on Amazon. While it was nice to see all eight films collected in one made-on-demand package, the quality of transfers is poor and new made-on-demand discs from Sony Pictures blows the transfers in all regards. The framing is different, but the excellent contrast, grain structure and lack of any damage on the print, including annoying watermarks with a company logo seen on Onesmedia releases, makes releases from Sony easy to recommend. The progressive single-layered disc also provides better audio with no clicks or pops heard on earlier transfers. So far Sony skipped the second entry in the series, The Mark of the Whistler, which was based on Cornell Woolrich's story, Dormant Account, likely due to clearance. The Whistler and The Power of the Whistler were released in May 2015 and Voice of the Whistler and Mysterious Intruder are announced for June 2015 and watch this space for reviews, but it's safe to assume they will match the excellent presentation of the first 2 releases. Highly recommended to all film noir fans.

 For more on The Whistler films we recommend a book on the series, The Whistler: Stepping Into the Shadows.  

 - Gregory Meshman

 

DVD Menus
(Onesmedia (The Whistler: The Film Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC
 

 

Screen Captures

(Onesmedia (The Whistler: The Film Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Sony Pictures (Choice Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

(Onesmedia (The Whistler: The Film Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Sony Pictures (Choice Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

(Onesmedia (The Whistler: The Film Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Sony Pictures (Choice Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

(Onesmedia (The Whistler: The Film Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Sony Pictures (Choice Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

(Onesmedia (The Whistler: The Film Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Sony Pictures (Choice Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

(Onesmedia (The Whistler: The Film Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Sony Pictures (Choice Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

(Onesmedia (The Whistler: The Film Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Sony Pictures (Choice Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

 

Report Card:

 

Image:

Sony Pictures

Sound:

Sony Pictures
Extras: Onesmedia

 
DVD Box Covers

 

  

 

 

   

Distribution

Onesmedia

Region 0 - NTSC

 Sony Pictures
Region 0 - NTSC

 



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