An Inspector Calls Blu-ray

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

Directed by Guy Hamilton
UK 1954

From Guy Hamilton, the acclaimed director of The Devil’s Disciple, Goldfinger, Funeral in Berlin, Force 10 from Navarone, The Mirror Crack’d and Evil Under the Sun, comes this classic murder mystery starring the great Alastair Sim (A Christmas Carol, Green For Danger) as the enigmatic Inspector Poole. The Birling family are rich, pampered and complacent. It is 1912 and the shadow of the impending war has yet to fall across their lives. As they sit down for dinner one night, celebrating the engagement of the eldest child, Sheila (Eileen Moore), to prosperous businessman Gerald (Brian Worth), a knock at the door announces the arrival of a visitor who changes their lives forever. Based on the classic stage play by J.B. Priestley (The Old Dark House), An Inspector Calls is a compelling critique of the moral hypocrisy of upper-crust English society, beautifully photographed by Edward Scaife (The Captain’s Paradise) and co-starring actor / writer / producer / director Bryan Forbes (Quatermass 2).

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When a young girl is murdered a Police Inspector is sent to investigate a prosperous Yorkshire household. It emerges that each one of the family has a guilty secret - each one is partly responsible for her murder. Alastair Sim stars in this classic drama.

Posters

Theatrical Release: March 11th, 1954

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Review: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Also available on Blu-ray from Studio Canal in 2014:
Distribution	Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:20:23.818
Video	1.33:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 28,088,207,332 bytes Feature: 25,197,864,960 bytes Video Bitrate: 37.90 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	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1556 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1556 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Kino 1.33:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 28,088,207,332 bytes Feature: 25,197,864,960 bytes Video Bitrate: 37.90 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian David Del Valle • Interview with Actress Jane Wenham (6:53) • Trailers Blu-ray Release Date: May 5th, 2020 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 9

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (April 2020): Kino have transferred Guy Hamilton's An Inspector Calls to Blu-ray. Despite the max'ed out bitrate, the 1080P presentation is limited to the source condition. There isn't damage but the density of the print seems effected and this shows in the mediocre contrast displayed. Black levels are not pitch, but the image quality is consistent. I expect it looks similar to the Studio Canal Blu-ray but we don't own it to compare. There is grain but it is fairly flat and this is still a full notch ahead of SD.

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel mono track (16-bit) in the original English language. This is a dialogue-driven film without much in the way of effects. There is a score by Francis Chagrin (The Snorkel), sounding occasionally somber and suspenseful. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary by David Del Valle who makes comparisons to the play and does some narrative explanation as well as detailing the cast and crew (including actor-eventual-director Bryan Forbes). He talks about Alastair Sim and his very private side (refused a 'Knighthood' in the early 70s) and much more including the characters taking responsibility. He relays a lot and it is worth the indulgence. There is also a 7-minute interview with actress Jane Wenham (Eva Smith in An Inspector Calls) and some trailers - none for the film.

An Inspector Calls is a classic - certainly one-sided, condemning the cruel wealthy while the poor are portrayed as the 'salt of the earth' and honorable. Nice to see Guy Hamilton's adept ability at transferring the Priestley play to the screen. It's a film that is great to have in the collection and the Kino Blu-ray, with commentary, is certainly recommended!