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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "False Face")

 

directed by John Grissmer
USA 197
7

 

US television staple Robert Lansing (Star Trek, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone) stars as a deranged surgeon in this twisty-turny psychological thriller from Blood Rage director John Grissmer.

In Scalpel, Lansing plays Dr. Phillip Reynolds, a man whose daughter Heather (Judith Chapman, As the World Turns, General Hospital) has run away from home a year prior following the suspicious death of her boyfriend. When he happens across a young woman one night, her face beaten beyond recognition, the unhinged Reynolds sees his an opportunity to put his trusty scalpel to use - hatching a plan to ''reconstruct'' her face in the image of his missing daughter, and so claim her sizeable inheritance.

Photographed by celebrated cinematographer Edward Lachman, who would go on to serve as DP on the likes of Erin Brockovich and The Virgin Suicides, Scalpel is an exemplary slice of Southern-fried gothic, filled finally rescued from VHS obscurity in this revelatory new Blu-ray edition from Arrow Video.

***

A deranged plastic surgeon, who has probably murdered his wife and who definitely has murdered his daughter's boyfriend, is distressed when he learns of his father-in-law's will. Rather than leave any money to the transparently awful son-in-law, the man leaves his entire (very large) estate to the surgeon's daughter. The only problem is, the girl has run away. He hits on the scheme of re-creating his daughter face from the ruined features of a go-go dancer, and with her cooperation bilks the estate of several disbursements, growing increasingly deranged as time goes on.

Excerpt from B+N located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: January 1977

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Review: Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover

 

 

Released, by Arrow on Blu-ray, one week later in the US

 

   

 

 

Distribution

Arrow
Region
FREE Blu-ray

Runtime

1:35:06.575 

Video

Disc Size: 48,712,840,227 bytes

Feature Size: 22,765,415,808 bytes / 22,765,415,808 bytes

Average Bitrate: 27.87 Mbps / 27.89 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

Bitrate:

 

Arrow Blu-ray

 

Audio

LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

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

 

Disc Size: 48,712,840,227 bytes

Feature Size: 22,765,415,808 bytes / 22,765,415,808 bytes

Average Bitrate: 27.87 Mbps / 27.89 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:
• Brand new audio commentary by film historian Richard Harland Smith

• Director Introduction (0:31)
Brand new crew interviews

• The Cutting Edge - interview with John Grissmer (13:52)
• Dead Ringer - interview with Judith Chapman (17:20)
• Southern Gothic - interview with Edward Lachman (15:25)

• Image Gallery
• Original Theatrical Trailer (2:42)
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by The Twins of Evil
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector's booklet with new writing on the film by Bill Ackerman

Blu-ray  Release Date: February 19th (UK) - 27th (US), 2018
Transparent Blu-ray case inside cardboard slipcase

Chapters: 12

 

Comments

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

 

ADDITION: Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray (March 2018): Arrow's transfer is cited as a "Brand new 2K restoration from original film elements".

This is the another Arrow Blu-ray release that is being simultaneously released in both region 'A' (US) and 'B' (UK). It is the exact same transfer, extras etc. in both Europe and North America.

 

NOTE: As Michael Brooke informs us in our Facebook Group in regards to Day of Anger: 'As the producer of Arrow's release, I can confirm first hand that the UK and US discs are absolutely identical... The booklets are also identical, but there are minor cosmetic differences on the disc labels and sleeve to do with differing copyright info and barcodes, and the US release doesn't have BBFC logos.' Scalpel is the same situation.

 

Arrow's new 1080P transfers of the film are presented in two different visual grades, both from the same restored materials. Director of Photography Edward Lachman shot the film with a "Southern Gothic" look in mind, with strong warm yellow and green tones. Edward Lachman supervised and approved the grading for this version. The second version, the "Arrow Grade", presents the film in a more traditional look, and is included for comparative purposes. We can switch between each version using the 'Angle' button on the remote or through the 'Pop-up Menu'. I like the strong difference in the individual 'looks' and am appreciative that both are included as options.

 

The Blu-ray disc has the two versions divided into totally separate transfers - both strong and they are technical duplicates. We have a pre-restoration capture compared below and the recent work done of this title it's a mammoth improvement. The new HD image looks great and the more you watch the Lachman version the more you warm to the golden yellows and greens infused in the visuals. 

 

Arrow use an authentic linear PCM mono track (24-bit) that supports the film's impressive score by Bob Cobert (Burnt Offerings, Dan Curtis' TV version of Bram Stoker's Dracula, plus his The Night Strangler and The Night Stalker) and I found it memorable... and mysterious with a deep south feel. There are optional English (SDH) subtitle on the Region FREE Blu-ray disc.   

Arrow augment the release with another excellent new audio commentary by film historian Richard Harland Smith who follows detail and detail of the film with a strong focus on the career of Robert Lansing. Smith has an easy tone and I thoroughly enjoyed his comments. The Cutting Edge with John Grissmer runs 14-minutes and the director talks about casting Robert Lansing and Judith Chapman, also his work on The Bride (Last House on Massacre Street) and Blood Rage. He lauds the music of Bob Cobert, cinematographer Edward Lachman and is a genuinely impressive gentleman - a pleasure to hear. Dead Ringer is an 18-minute interview with, still stunning, Judith Chapman, how she got the part, acting tips she's learned, a few anecdotes of her career,  filming in the south, and the hospital scenes. She loved working with the director Grissmer and Robert Lansing. Edward Latchman has a 1/4 hour video piece entitled Southern Gothic, and discusses the first time filming in 35mm, shooting in Covington, GA. and his style of the film from 41 years ago including transferring the film, color grading the film to match his original intentions and was non-committal on reservationists opinion on using modern techniques to color-correct. It makes for a great discussion. There is an image gallery, an original theatrical trailer and the package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by The Twins of Evil, For the first pressing of the Blu-ray there is a collector's booklet included with new writing on the film by Bill Ackerman.

Once again the supplements are such a positive attribute to enjoying this thematically varied film (incest, obsession, identity, murder) and Arrow go all out with the visual choice, commentary, interviews and booklet. This Blu-ray package has a ton of value and gets our highest recommendation!

 - Colin Zavitz + Gary Tooze

Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray


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

 

1) Arrow (Arrow Grade) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Arrow (Edward Lachman Grade) - Region FREE - Blu-ray- BOTTOM

 


 

1) Arrow (Arrow Grade) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Arrow (Edward Lachman Grade) - Region FREE - Blu-ray- BOTTOM

 


 

1) Arrow (Arrow Grade) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Arrow (Edward Lachman Grade) - Region FREE - Blu-ray- BOTTOM

 


 

1) Arrow (Arrow Grade) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Arrow (Edward Lachman Grade) - Region FREE - Blu-ray- BOTTOM

 


 

1) Pre-Restoration - TOP

2) Arrow (Arrow Grade)  - Region FREE - Blu-ray - MIDDLE

3) Arrow (Edward Lachman Grade) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


More Arrow (Arrow Grade)  - Region FREE - Blu-ray Captures
 


 


 


 


 


 

Box Cover

 

 

Released, by Arrow on Blu-ray, one week later in the US

 

   

 

 

 




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