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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
directed by Charles David
USA 1945
The Indicator Blu-ray set Universal Noir #2 is compared HERE
Young, pleasant Nikki Collins (Deanna Durbin) witnesses a brutal murder while riding on a train on her way to New York City. Though she desperately tries to inform others of what she saw, no one believes her. In her scramble to convince someone, anyone, of the crime, she finds an ally in a mystery writer named Wayne Morgan (David Bruce). Trapped as she is on the train, however, the more she tries to raise the alarm, the more attention she draws to herself -- and the killer is starting to notice. *** Durbin plays a girl who witnesses a murder from the window of a train pulling into New York, is believed by no one, and so turns to detection herself, becoming entangled with the victim's sinisterly bizarre family (which includes the killer). With a strong supporting cast, it's surprisingly entertaining. The plot, derived from a story by Leslie Charteris previously filmed in Britain as A Window in London, doesn't delve into the dark chaos beloved of noir thrillers in the '40s so much as play it slightly tongue-in-cheek. Light, cheery and shading into darker areas for the climax, it's fun Excerpt from TimeOut located HERE ***
The script for Lady on a Train was based on a story by
Leslie Charteris, who created the dapper detective known
as "The Saint." The comedy came courtesy of
screenwriters Edmund Beloin and Robert O'Brien, who had
written for Jack Benny's radio show, and would go on to
write films for Bob Hope. The film also had an
exceptionally strong supporting cast of comedy stalwarts
such as Edward Everett Horton, Allen Jenkins, and
Elizabeth Patterson; interesting heavies like George
Coulouris and Dan Duryea; and the always-dependable
Ralph Bellamy. |
Film Posters and Book Cover
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Theatrical Release: 3 August 1945 (Los Angeles, California)
DVD Comparison:
Universal (Deanna Durbin: Sweetheart Pack) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal 'Vault Series' - Region 0 - NTSC
DVD Box Cover |
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Distribution | Universal - Region 0 - NTSC | Universal - Region 0 - NTSC |
Runtime | 1:34:21 | 1:34:42 |
Video | 1.33:1
Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.99 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
1.33:1
Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.3 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
Bitrate: |
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Audio | Dolby Digital 2.0 (English) | Dolby Digital 2.0 (English) |
Subtitles | English, Spanish, French, None | None |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Universal Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details (from
Sweetheart Pack): DVD Release Date: August 3, 2004 2 double-sided discs in a digipack Chapters 18 |
Release Information: Edition Details: • NoneDVD Release Date: September 28th, 2016 Keep Case Chapters: 9
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Comments: |
The Indicator Blu-ray set Universal Noir #2 is compared HERE Gregory reviewed the Deanna Durbin Sweetheart Pack from 2004 HERE.
There are 6 movies on 2
double-sided discs -
In their infinite wisdom, Universal decided to release Lady on a Train in their MoD 'Vault Series' - and in the process, lessoning the quality of the SD digital transfer produced 13 years hence. I notice that Simply Media (UK) also did a PAL version back in the day HERE. The 'Vault Series' disc is predictably single-layered and has no menus, or extras, and the transfer is interlaced (see combing in bottom capture.) In static stills it looks reasonably as good as the one in the Deanna Durbin Sweetheart Pack, and probably suitable for CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) viewing. The audio is decent lossy Dolby but unremarkable in terms of quality. The iconic Miklós Rózsa did the score (The Killers, The Lost Weekend, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, The Strange Love of Martha Ivers, Double Indemnity) but most will remember Deanna Durbin beautifully singing Cole Porter's Night and Day. There are no subtitles and the media is to region FREE. Lady on a Train is sweet.
A cute vehicle for advancing Miss Durbin - showcasing some of her
talent, and lovable qualities. The film works well in that respect.
Obviously, The better deal is to buy the
Deanna Durbin Sweetheart Pack. It's only a few bucks more than
the Universal Vault stand-alone, subtitle-less, extras-less, menu-less,
and interlaced MoD disc and has 5 other enjoyable films! Go for it -
great value!
Gary Tooze ON THE SWEETHEART
PACK DVD set: In anticipation of
Universal and TCM releasing Deanna Durbin: The Music and
Romance Collection in the summer m0f 2010 (already delayed
twice) - I dug up Universal's first collection of Deanna Durbin
movies released in region 1 in 2004; Deanna Durbin:
Sweetheart Pack. |
Universal (Deanna Durbin: Sweetheart Pack) - Region 1 - NTSC Menu
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Screen Captures
1) Universal (Deanna Durbin: Sweetheart Pack) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP2) Universal 'Vault Series' - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM
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1) Universal (Deanna Durbin: Sweetheart Pack) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP2) Universal 'Vault Series' - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM
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1) Universal (Deanna Durbin: Sweetheart Pack) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP2) Universal 'Vault Series' - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM
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1) Universal (Deanna Durbin: Sweetheart Pack) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP2) Universal 'Vault Series' - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM
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1) Universal (Deanna Durbin: Sweetheart Pack) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP2) Universal 'Vault Series' - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM
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More Captures from the Universal 'Vault Series' - Region 0 - NTSC
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DVD Box Cover |
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Distribution | Universal - Region 0 - NTSC | Universal - Region 0 - NTSC |
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