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(aka "Personal Column" )

directed by Douglas Sirk
USA 1947

 

Early Sirk serial killer thriller set in London, with a brassy Ball as an American gal enlisted by Scotland Yard to trap the culprit. As they frequently do in the movies, the serial killer meets his victims through the personal columns and sends gloating announcements to the police in verse form, just before he commits a murder. Nice of him to meet them half way and provide a tangible paper trail. As this is a studio-bound London somewhere in California, there are no prizes for guessing who plays the supporting Brits: Karloff, Hardwicke, Napier and Zucco - a nice brace of red herrings.

Excerpt from Channel 4 located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: 28 August 1947

 

Reviews                                                                                                 More Reviews                                                                                   DVD Reviews

Comparison:

Kino - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Cohen Media Group (Two Films by Douglas Sirk Double Feature) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Review!

1) Kino - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT

2) Cohen Media Group - Region 'A' - Blu-ray RIGHT

 

Box Covers

   

   

Distribution

Kino

Region 0 - NTSC

Cohen Media - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:42:32 1:42:50.164
Video

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.26 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 35,888,765,588 bytes

Feature: 32,070,242,304 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.99 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: Blu-ray

Audio English Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono

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

Subtitles None English (SDH), None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Kino

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• None

DVD Release Date: May 23, 2000
Keepcase

Chapters 16

Release Information:
Studio: Cohen Media Group

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 35,888,765,588 bytes

Feature: 32,070,242,304 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:
• 
Audio commentary by film historian Jeremy Arnold, author of "Turner Classic Movies” The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies

• Re-release Trailer (1:12)

Blu-ray Release Date: September 27th, 2016
Transparent
Blu-ray Case
Chapters: 10

 

 

 

Comments

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

 

ADDITION: Cohen Media Group - Region 'A' - Blu-ray (October 2016): Cohen's new, restored, 1080P transfer of Sirk's Noir Lured is paired in their Two Films by Douglas Sirk Double Feature package with A Scandal In Paris - also directed by Sirk - and made a year before and fully reviewed on Blu-ray HERE. It also suffers from some inconsistency - around the middle of the running time where it can looks inordinately softer than the preceding sequences. It is not as crisp or glossy as A Scandal In Paris, but I'm glad we could compare it as it is light years ahead of Kino's 2000 SD. There is some waxiness but I'd be more inclined to believe this was the source limitations rather than digitization. Even with the weaknesses - it's a substantial improvement over the, chroma-infested, DVD.

 

Cohen use a linear PCM 2.0 channel at 2304 kbps (24-bit) and it sounds clean with the score by Michel Michelet (Fritz Lang's Indian Epic, Renoir's Diary of a Chambermaid, Arthur Ripley's The Chase, Joseph Losey's M) adding some atmosphere to the film's suspense. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles and the Blu-ray disc is region 'A'-locked.

 

Cohen include an audio commentary, as they have with A Scandal In Paris. This one is by film historian Jeremy Arnold, author of "Turner Classic Movies” The Essentials: 52 Must-See Movies and Why They Matter. It is very professional and informative. He discusses the original 1939 French film on which this is based, Lucille Ball, Noir and so much more - a educational pleasure to indulge in. We should note that the volume is a tad quieter when he references a film scene - than his own voice. There is also a re-release trailer - and as we mentioned the package contains a second Blu-ray with A Scandal In Paris.

 

Sirk fans should definitely indulge and Noir fans should also benefit seeing how poor the old DVD was. Lots of value here with A Scandal In Paris included. Absolutely recommend! 

***

ON THE DVD: One of Kino's better efforts -  although speckles, artifacts and chroma are the visible culprits here. There may be some black boosting as well. Cue blips from theatrical viewing are present (see below). Overall though this is very suitable for CRT viewing with decent sharpness. Audio, like the image, has inconsistencies. There are no subtitle options offered and no supplements making the price offered on the high end.

Sirk students and Noir fans will get the most benefit - it has moments of strong atmosphere.

Gregory Meshman


DVD Menus

 

Cohen Media Group - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


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

 

Subtitle Sample - Cohen Media Group - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

 

Screen Captures

 

1) Kino - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Cohen Media Group - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Kino - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Cohen Media Group - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Kino - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Cohen Media Group - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Kino - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Cohen Media Group - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Kino - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Cohen Media Group - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


'Cigarette burn' or 'cue blip' visible on upper right of image...

 

1) Kino - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Cohen Media Group - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


  Bad Chroma evident on DVD...

 

1) Kino - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Cohen Media Group - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

More Blu-ray Captures

 


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


Box Covers

   

   

Distribution

Kino

Region 0 - NTSC

Cohen Media - Region 'A' - Blu-ray





 

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