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 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "The 13th Hour" or "The Hunter Is a Fugitive")

 

directed by William Clemens
USA 1947

 

The 13th Hour was Richard Dix's 7th and final hour with the Whistler films; in fact he retired and died 2 years after this. It's not the best or the worst in the series, but still more than an adequate engrossing potboiler. It had the usual tight Columbia b picture budget yet atmospheric sets and photography plus the usual twisty story.

Honest and dependable truck firm owner Dix suddenly finds himself guilty of causing damage through driving whilst under the influence of alcohol, but of course he's innocent. This being the Whistler means it goes from bad to worse, and wanted murderer Dix really has his back up against the wall for most of the picture trying to find the real culprits. If you're familiar with the tenor of the previous entries you can probably see the big twist a-coming, but the beautiful little twist just after will get you! Favourite bits: the atmospheric shots outside Eileen's café; the denouement inside and outside Mabel's apartment, unfortunately leading to a bit of a trite end.

Excerpt of review from Gary170459 for imdb.com located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: 6 February 1947 (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 1:04:58 1:05:38
Video

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 4.60 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 4.29 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: July 7, 2015
Keep case

Chapters 7

 

 

 

Comments

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 excellent contrast, grain structure and lack of any damage on the print, including annoying watermarks with a company logo seen on Onesmedia releases, make releases from Sony easy to recommend. 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. 4 releases from Sony Pictures have already been reviewed here at DVD Beaver - The Whistler, The Power of the Whistler, Voice of the Whistler and Mysterious Intruder. The final three features were released in July 2015 - The Secret of the Whistler, The Thirteenth Hour and The Return of the Whistler - all enjoyable and each has its own merits, but are lacking compared to the first films in the series. They are a nice way to finish the series, and we are comparing them here for completeness sake. The films get our recommendation for any film noir fan and hopefully we will see a better priced boxset release that includes The Mark of the Whistler.

 - 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)
damaged frame on Onesmedia disc

 

 

 

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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