Town on Trial Blu-ray

(aka "The Case of the Stocking Killer")

Directed by John Guillermin

UK / USA 1957

Investigating a murder in a small English town, a brusque Police Inspector (John Mills Hobson's Choice, Ice Cold in Alex, Young Winston) discovers that virtually everyone he encounters has something to hide. Setting the template for British crime thrillers for decades to come (including recent TV hit, Broadchurch), director John Guillermin s audacious, often salacious, drama is untypical of mainstream British cinema of its time. An intelligent and gripping police-procedural thriller and macabre melodrama, Town on Trial is a rare treat which is ripe for rediscovery.

***

This gripping murder mystery begins when Miller, a village woman of loose morals, is found strangled on the property of an elite social club. There are several likely suspects, so Mills, a Scotland Yard detective, is called in to solve the case. First on his list is Farr, a blackmailer with a concocted war record. He is employed as the club's secretary and is also the father of Miller's unborn child. Another likely suspect is Coburn, a Canadian doctor who had left his native land in a rush, which causes some curiosity. Also on Mills's list is Keen, the town's mayor.

Excerpt from TVGuide located HERE

***

While playing tennis at a posh club in a town near London called Oakley Park, young and flirty Molly Stevens attracts considerable interest. The men ogle her and the women detest her. She is later found dead, strangled with a stocking. The local police chief requests the help of Scotland Yard, so Detective Superintendent Mike Halloran is sent to investigate. The locals, however, resent having an outsider poking into their affairs.

A book of love poems, including an inscription from a Peter Crowley, is found in the victim's flat. There is also a photo of a group of men together with Molly and Fiona Dixon, a young woman from the prominent Dixon family. Her father, although shocked to learn that his daughter knew the "trashy" Molly, will not let Halloran question her.

Halloran eventually learns that Molly left Peter Crowley for a married man, Mark Roper, who is the club's secretary. Roper denies any involvement, and also claims that he was giving nurse Elizabeth Fenner a lift to the hospital at the time of the murder.

Excerpt from Wikipedia located HERE

Posters etc.

Theatrical Release: January 24th, 1957

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Review: Indicator - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover	Coming to Standard Blu-ray by Indicator in May 2023:
Distribution	Indicator Region FREE Blu-ray
Runtime	1:36:09.722
Video	Disc Size: 48,748,314,758 bytes Feature Size: 28,382,365,248 bytes Average Bitrate: 35.01 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video
Bitrate: Indicator Blu-ray
Audio	LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit Lecture: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Indicator Disc Size: 48,748,314,758 bytes Feature Size: 28,382,365,248 bytes Average Bitrate: 35.01 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • The John Player Lecture with John Mills (1970): archival audio recording of an interview conducted by Margaret Hinxman at London s National Film Theatre • An appreciation by film historian and journalist Barry Forshaw (2018 - 19:12) • Focus Puller Alec Burridge (2018 - 6:38) • Adventure in the Hopfields (1954, 58:52): John Guillermin's early film made for the Children's Film Foundation starring Mandy Miller (*The Snorkel) • Original theatrical trailer (1:24) • Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography • Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Neil Sinyard, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and historic articles on the film • Limited Edition of 3,000 copies Blu-ray* Release Date: March 19th, 2018 Transparent Blu-ray case Chapters: 10

Comments

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

Indicator's Blu-ray transfer is very heavy with grain - which looks film-like and appealing. There are some less-consistent sequences - no doubt part of the source used - and most likely inherent as part of the original production. It's in-and-around the 1.75:1 aspect ratio, exhibits occasional depth and is housed on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. It looks excellent in-motion. This is 1080P and appears to be a very strong replication of the original with some minor marks here and there. I enjoyed the HD presentation.

The audio transfer is in a linear PCM mono track - 24-bit - in the original English language. There are some shrill screams and minor effects but the, authentically, flat tracks handles it well exporting a modicum of depth. The score is by Tristram Cary (Blood From the Mummy's Tomb, Quatermass and the Pit, Time Without Pity) and adds some subtle flavor to this Brit-investigatory thriller. Indicator add optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray disc.

Indicator include, playing with the film, The John Player Lecture with John Mills. It is an archival audio recording of an interview conducted by Margaret Hinxman at London’s National Film Theatre in 1972 and has some inconsistencies but I found it audible carrying some interesting tidbits. Barry Forshaw on ‘Town on Trial’ is a 20-minute appreciation by the author of British Crime Film: Subverting the Social Order and Brit Noir: The Pocket Essential Guide to British Crime Fiction, Film & TV. He talks about the production and the film's genre. Adventure in the Hopfields is director John Guillermin’s hour-long Children’s Film Foundation drama starring Mandy Miller (The Snorkel) from 1957. Shooting Hops spends 7-minutes with focus puller Alec Burridge who discusses working with John Guillermin and the production of Adventure in the Hopfields. There is an original theatrical trailer, an image gallery of original promotional material and the package comes with a limited edition exclusive 36-page booklet with a new essay by Neil Sinyard, extracts from the original campaign book, a profile of actor Barbara Bates, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits

Yes, this has some Brit Noir leaning - which is appealing - and I was keen to see the film. It has some salaciousness and a wildly dramatic ending - cool! Indicator's Blu-ray is stacked with extras and offers a satisfying UK crime-drama. Any minor imperfections seem to be a result of the original source. I didn't find them at all distracting. This is another highly competent package from Indicator. Highly recommended!

- Gary Tooze

Indicator - Region FREE - Blu-ray

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

Box Cover

Coming to Standard Blu-ray by Indicator in May 2023:

Distribution

Indicator
Region FREE Blu-ray

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