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 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Amenaza diabólica" )

 

directed by Felix E. Feist
USA 1947

 

Steve Morgan (Lawrence Tierney) robs a bank and murders a guard in the process. He hitches a ride with Jimmy Ferguson (Ted North), a stocking salesman returning home from a big party. They stop for gas and pick up a couple of gals… Carol (Nan Leslie), sweet and a bit shy, and Agnes (Betty Lawford), a fun-loving dame. Morgan’s got to keep them out of the hands of the law while not tipping the fact that he’s the guy they’re looking for. After a dubious run-in with a motorcycle cop, he steers them towards an isolated house, the residence of one of Jimmy’s friends. Meanwhile, the hunt is on, including a sharp cop (Harry Shannon), the observant gas station  attendant (Glen Vernon), and a night watchman with a taste for the booze (Andrew Tombes).

Tight and lean at a brisk 62 minutes, this is a delightfully fun movie. It doesn’t go to dark places or explore deep themes about the nature of humanity, but it packs a lot of entertainment. Tierney is riveting as usual. [...]

Excerpt of review from Martin Teller located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: 20 February 1947 (USA)

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DVD Review: Vértice Cine (Filmoteca RKO) - Region 2 - PAL

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Review!

DVD Box Cover

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Distribution

Vértice Cine

Region 2 - PAL
Runtime 1:02:04 (4% PAL speedup)
Video

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 8.43 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

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

Audio English Mono 2.0, Spanish dub Mono 2.0
Subtitles Spanish (forced with English audio)
Features Release Information:
Studio: Vértice Cine

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
� 24-page booklet (in Spanish)

DVD Release Date: February 22nd, 2012
Keep case inside a cardboard slipcase

Chapters 8

 

 

 

Comments

On same dark road of Detour and The Hitch-hiker, a murderous bank robber hitched a ride with 3 other people brought together by chance in The Devil Thumbs a Ride.

Lawrence Tierney, same year he was a heartless murderer in Born to Kill, plays the hitch-hiker Steve Morgan. Ted North (The Unsuspected) as Jimmy Ferguson is at the wheel of the car and two fun-loving dames Nan Leslie (The Woman on the Beach) and Betty Lawford are along for the ride. Marian Carr who followed her career with several prominent noir roles (World for Ransom, Kiss Me Deadly, Cell 2455, Death Row) plays Jimmy's anxious wife.

Like King Vidor's Beyond the Forest, the rights prevent The Devil Thumbs a Ride from being released in region 1 at this time, but the film is available in region 2. Here we have a Spanish release from 2012. Marked as a special edition by Amazon, the lone extra is a 24-page booklet with reproduction of posters and lobby cards and essays on the film in Spanish. The interlaced PAL transfer is not pristine, with some marks and specs on the print and overall quality is lacking, but the film is watchable and until it gets a new transfer from Warner Archive, this will do. The mono English audio is decent, with no distortions. Unfortunately, if you choose English soundtrack, the digital Spanish subtitles are forced, but you can disable them on a computer. A Spanish dub is included. The film deserves a wider exposure and hopefully a new edition is not far behind.

  - Gregory Meshman

 

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DVD Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

   

  
Distribution

Vértice Cine

Region 2 - PAL


 

 



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