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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

directed by Richard Fleischer
USA 1949

 

A young Lloyd Bridges stars as hardboiled hood Tris Stewart, a convicted counterfeiter doing time in the Atlanta pen. When a fresh batch of fake bills starts circulating, treasury agents bail Stewart out to help lead them to the maker of the fake plates. But Tris double-crosses the Feds, hooking up with his gun-moll sweetie (22-year-old Barbara Payton in her breakout role). They plan to heist the plates and hightail it across the border. With the Feds closing in and the double-crosses piling up, Stewart finds himself between a rock and a hard place... and this time, he may be trapped for good!

***

Convicted counterfeiter Tris Stewart (Lloyd Bridges - Three Steps North, The Limping Man) is offered early release from prison in return for helping the US Treasury Agents track down his former partners-in-crime. Unwilling to cooperate, Stewart manages to escape, unwittingly playing straight into the T-Men s hands. Directed with style and a documentary feel by Richard Fleischer (The Vikings, 10 Rillington Place), no-one is quite what they seem! Trapped is superbly lit, with crisp, intelligent dialogue a top notch Film Noir with an explosive ending.

***

Inaccurately labeled as a semi-documentary style film, Trapped from director Richard Fleischer begins with a heavy voice-over describing and lauding the efficiency of various government agencies: the Treasury Department and its Secret Service agents, the Coast Guard and the Customs Department. According to the film’s preamble these departments work synergistically to not only do their jobs, but also to stop anyone from interfering with the smooth operation of the U.S. money supply. While listening to this monologue, you get the distinct feeling that you’re watching some sort of recruiting film, written by--and a homage to--the government--and its myriad institutions that collectively form a faceless monolithic beast...
Trapped’s stiff and laudatory introduction underscores the film’s central theme--that crooks are trapped in a web of efficient crime detection orchestrated by the Secret Service Treasury Agents--T-Men. And the more criminals struggle to get out of this web, the more they become entangled in the intricate pathways created by the various government departments. In fact, the way Trapped lays out the story of the futile struggles of career criminal Tris Stewart (Lloyd Bridges), crooks are so out maneuvered, they might as well give up before they even try savoring a life of crime.

Excerpt of review from Guy Savage for Film Noir of the Week located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: October 1st, 1949 (USA)

Reviews                                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Alpha - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Glass Key - Region 2 - PAL vs. Flicker Alley - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

1) Alpha - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT

2) Glass Key - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE

3) Flicker Alley - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT

 

Box Cover

 

Bonus Captures:

Distribution

Alpha

Region 0 - NTSC

Glass Key

Region 2 - PAL

Flicker Alley - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:17:57       1:18:03 1:19:29.598  
Video 1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.18 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.5 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1.37:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 23,395,469,574 bytes

Feature: 19,650,924,096 bytes

Video Bitrate: 29.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate: Alpha

Bitrate: Glass Key:

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (English) 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.5 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1074 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1074 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary:

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

Subtitles None None English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Alpha

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Bonus trailers for titles from Alpha New Cinema
• Alpha Video DVD Catalog

DVD Release Date: November 23rd, 2004
Keep Case

Chapters 7

 

Release Information:
Studio:
Glass Key

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• None

DVD Release Date:
April 6th, 2009
Transparent Keep Case

Chapters 5

Release Information:
Studio:
Flicker Alley

 

1.37:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 23,395,469,574 bytes

Feature: 19,650,924,096 bytes

Video Bitrate: 29.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

Audio Commentary Track Featuring author Alan K. Rode and film historian Julie Kirgo
Freeing Trapped a documentary on the film s creation and history, featuring interviews with Eddie Muller, Donna Lethal, and others. (15:47)
A Sedulous Cinderella: Richard Fleischer Remembered a remembrance of the man, the director, and the father, by his son, Mark Fleischer. (11:58)
24-Page Souvenir Booklet Featuring rare photographs, poster art, and commentary by Czar of Noir Eddie Muller

DVD


Blu-ray Release Date:
December 31st, 2019
Transparent Blu-ray Case

Chapters 10

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Flicker Alley Blu-ray (January 2020): Flicker Alley have transferred Richard Fleischer's Trapped to Blu-ray via a new restoration from the Film Noir Foundation, and UCLA Film & Television Archive. "Although long sought by the Film Noir Foundation, Trapped was believed to have suffered the unfortunate fate of many B-films of the era oblivion. But when a private collector deposited a 35mm acetate print at the Harvard Film Archive, the Film Noir Foundation and UCLA Film & Television Archive (with support from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's Charitable Trust [The HFPA Trust]) sprang into action, restoring the film. The result, is this Blu-ray dual-format edition by Flicker Alley, honoring the pitch-perfect performances, assured direction, and gorgeous cinematography of this edge-of-your-seat, noir classic." While the image quality is a gigantic leap over the PD DVDs that have floated around, there is still some damage in the print (see captures below), some warping and marks are visible throughout. The fight sequences on the beach seems the most compromised but there are sequences that looks stellar. Overall this is a triumphant 1080P image considering the surviving source elements. Noir fans should be ecstatic with the higher resolution, layered contrast and vastly improved image quality!

NOTE: 57 more full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray captures for Patrons are available HERE.

On their Blu-ray, Flicker Alley use a DTS-HD Master mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. It is another advancement in the film's presentation on digital. This is highly notable in the score by Sol Kaplan (711 Ocean Drive, Deadline USA, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Seven Wonders of the World, Niagara, The House on Telegraph Hill) heightening tension and adding atmosphere. Flicker Alley offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

Flicker Alley include a new audio commentary featuring Alan K. Rode (author of Michael Curtiz: A Life in Film) and film historian Julie Kirgo. It's top-tier stuff with both enjoying the film and exchanging anecdotes about the production, performers, commenting on the California location scenes, director Fleischer and the unusual plot involving the missing Tris Stewart character. It's well worth the indulgence. There are two featurettes; Freeing Trapped is a 1/3 hour documentary on the film's creation and history, featuring interviews with Eddie Muller, Donna Lethal, and others discussing the making of Trapped. A Sedulous Cinderella runs a dozen minutes having Mark Fleischer remember his the father, Richard. The package has a wonderful 24-Page souvenir booklet featuring rare photographs, poster art, and commentary by 'Czar of Noir' Eddie Muller. This is dual-format and a second disc DVD is included.

Flicker Alley's restored Trapped Blu-ray goes right on the shelf with their other 3 Noir gems:

 

I can honestly say I gained a huge appreciation of Trapped thanks to both the restoration presentation and to the informative commentary. It was painful to watch the DVDs with gaining any sense of engagement into the plot or characters. Trapped is a film I am very overjoyed to own on Blu-ray. I am hopeful that many more are coming from Flicker Alley! 

Gary Tooze

ON THE DVDs: Pretty pathetic transfer for this essential Noir - in both editions. They look to be from the same source (same scratches) but the Alpha may have been taken directly from video-tape (flat-line bitrate). Both are interlaced and the Glass Key is, presumably, an incorrect standard source as well - see the running times - meaning 'ghosting' is present as well. The UK release also looks to have contrast boosting and is cropped. Pitiful - as this is a decent dark cinema effort and certainly deserves much better although a viable 35mm source may not even exist. Still we can shake our fists at the cheapo transfers.

Audio is about the same level as the video and there are no subtitles nor extras aside from the Alpha trailers and catalogue.

Almost, impossibly, we must recommend the Alpha at this stage although they are both so poor that it doesn't matter too much. If you are keen to see Trapped - both DVD editions here are basement prices. But you will get what you pay for.  

  - Gary Tooze and Gregory Meshman

 


Universal - Region 1 - NTSC

 

Flicker Alley - Region FREE - Blu-ray


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

 

 

1) Alpha - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Glass Key - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE

3) Flicker Alley - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Alpha - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Glass Key - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE

3) Flicker Alley - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Alpha - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Glass Key - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE

3) Flicker Alley - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Alpha - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Glass Key - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE

3) Flicker Alley - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Alpha - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Glass Key - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE

3) Flicker Alley - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Alpha - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Glass Key - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE

3) Flicker Alley - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


Blu-ray Captures Showing Damage / Cue Blips

(CLICK to ENLARGE)

 

 

More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE

 

 
Box Cover

 

Bonus Captures:

Distribution

Alpha

Region 0 - NTSC

Glass Key

Region 2 - PAL

Flicker Alley - Region FREE - Blu-ray


 


 

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