Station Six-Sahara Blu-ray

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Seth Holt
USA 1963

Oscar-nominated Carroll Baker gives a memorable performance as a manipulative vamp in this erotically-charged, X-rated thriller written by Bryan Forbes and Brian Clemens and stylishly directed by Seth Holt. Co-starring Ian Bannen, Denholm Elliott and German character actor Peter van Eyck, Station Six-Sahara is presented here as a brand-new High Definition remaster from original film elements in its original theatrical aspect ratio.

Five dysfunctional individuals man an isolated oil pipeline station in the Sahara, their mutual contempt only overshadowed by their desire for female company. Without warning, a car drives out of the desert night and crashes in front of the station the driver is badly injured but the passenger, a gorgeous blonde, stirs up the tension amongst the men to unbearable levels.

***

American audiences were disappointed when the nude scenes featuring sexy Baby Doll (1956) star Carroll Baker were excised from this potboiler for its exhibition on U.S. shores. At an isolated oil pumping station deep in the African desert, workers Kramer (Peter Van Eyck), Fletcher (Ian Bannen), Macey (Denholm Elliott), Martin (Hansjorg Felmy), and Santos (Mario Adorf) are tense, lonely, and love-starved. A little excitement unexpectedly comes into their lives when they rescue a couple, Jimmy (Biff McGuire) and Catherine (Baker), from a wreck. While Jimmy is bed-ridden with his injuries, Catherine flirtatiously arouses passions and inflames simmering resentments among the oil crew. An amusing dalliance goes too far when Catherine sleeps first with Kramer and then Martin. Based on the play Men Without a Past by Jacques Maret, Station Six-Sahara (1963) played as the B-slot picture on a double bill with Topkapi (1964).

Excerpt from Karl Williams at AllMovie.com located HERE

Posters and Books

Theatrical Release: January 11th, 1963

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Review: Network - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures:
Distribution	Network - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:41:53.958
Video	1.66:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 21,200,687,250 bytes Feature: 20,617,746,432 bytes Video Bitrate: 23.98 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:
Audio	LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bits
Subtitles	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Network 1.66:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 21,200,687,250 bytes Feature: 20,617,746,432 bytes Video Bitrate: 23.98 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Theatrical Trailer (2:39) • Image gallery PDFs of Campaign Book and Information Sheet Blu-ray Release Date: February 10th, 2020 Slim Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters 12

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Network Blu-ray (February 2020): Network have transferred Seth Holt's Station Six-Sahara to single-layered Blu-ray. It has some softness which appear to be inherent. The 1080P looked pleasing on my system. Not abundant contrast layering but enough to export some depth. There isn't an abundance of grain texture but decent detail. A watchable image with a few light marks and speckles, a shade 'thin' is spots but that easily advances beyond SD.

NOTE: We have added 50 more large resolution Blu-ray captures for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Network use a linear PCM mono track (16-bit) in the original English language. There are few effects - a loud machine operating and a few jeeps but generally the transfer exports the consistent dialogue and score by Ron Grainer (Night Must Fall, Doctor Who theme, The Prisoner theme, To Sir with Love, The Omega Man etc.) sounding passive but heightening a few emotional sequences. Network offer optional English subtitles (see sample below) on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

The Network Blu-ray has only a trailer and image gallery as supplements. There are two PDFs in the root of the disc; a 'Campaign Book' and 'Information Sheet'.

Station Six-Sahara is an interesting film that reminded me somewhat of Wages of Fear with sweating, greasy machismo males battling a relentless sun and foreboding landscape - with less of the danger. There are plenty of, knowing, furtive glances with Miss Baker strutting her stuff in a mysterious fashion. Her teasing and sharing of her body bring up interpersonal issues and conflicts with men already in a, desperate, jail-like atmosphere. Station Six-Sahara captures the undercurrent of tensions and sexual subtexts very well - more notably in the higher resolution of Blu-ray. No commentary but a film that I would watch again. Recommended for the curious and Carroll Baker fans.

Gary Tooze