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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Anatole Litvak
USA 1948

 

Barbara Stanwyck and Burt Lancaster star in one of the greatest and most engrossing film noir thrillers ever put to celluloid. Young, rich, bedridden Leona Stevenson (Stanwyck) dials a telephone number one night and overhears two men plotting the murder of an unidentified woman. She becomes frantic. Her terror is intensified by mysterious calls from an old college rival and a friend of her father. With time running out, Leona pieces evidence together that leads her to suspect that it is her husband (Lancaster) who wants her murdered. Sorry, Wrong Number is a classic, extraordinary example of cumulative suspense and sheer terror. Barbara Stanwyck received an Oscar nomination for her magnificent performance.

***

Leona Stevenson is a wealthy invalid confined to her bed. It would be easier for people to feel sorry for her if she weren't such a caustic, demanding woman. One night she tries to call her husband Henry at his office and accidentally overhears two men planning a murder on the telephone. As her suspicions mount, Leona becomes more hysterical and paralyzed with fear, convinced that the murderers she has overheard may be coming for her. Left alone on the third floor of her enormous house, Leona's only connection with the outside world is her telephone, which also becomes the source of her growing panic and paralysis.

Sorry, Wrong Number was the film version of the highly successful radio play of the same name by Lucille Fletcher that was so popular it was subsequently broadcast every year for ten years.

The slow build of terror and its reliance on framing shots in tightly enclosed spaces makes Sorry, Wrong Number one of the most effective and memorable suspense films of all time.

Excerpt from TCM located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: September 1st, 1948

Reviews                                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover

 

  

Reissued in February 2021 on Blu-ray without the slipcase:

Bonus Captures:

  

Bonus Captures:

 

Distribution Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:28:40.940         1:28:44.235   
Video

1.33:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 41,776,422,592 bytes

Feature: 25,891,977,216 bytes

Video Bitrate: 33.63 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

1.37:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 44,419,456,271 bytes

Feature: 27,719,927,808 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.00 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

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

Bitrate Imprint Blu-ray:

Bitrate Shout! Factory Blu-ray:

Audio

LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit
Commentary:

LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1781 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1781 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentaries:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1645 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1645 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)

Subtitles English (SDH), None English (SDH), None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Imprint

 

1.33:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 41,776,422,592 bytes

Feature: 25,891,977,216 bytes

Video Bitrate: 33.63 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• NEW Audio commentary by noir expert and Film Noir Foundation board member Alan K. Rode
• Eddie Muller Introduction (2:31)
• 1950 Lux Radio “Sorry Wrong Number” Play with Stanwyck and Lancaster (59:40)
• 2009 “Sorry Wrong Number” Radio Play filmed performance (28:38)
• Hold The Phone: The Making Of “Sorry Wrong Number” (31:24)
• Theatrical Trailer (2:37)
• Photo Gallery (2:50)
Limited Edition slipcase on the first 1500 copies


Blu-ray Release Date:
June 5th, 2020
Transparent Blu-ray Case inside slipcase

Chapters 13

Release Information:
Studio:
Shout! Factory

 

1.33:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 41,776,422,592 bytes

Feature: 25,891,977,216 bytes

Video Bitrate: 33.63 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• NEW Audio Commentary By Film And Pop Culture Podcasters Sam Hurley And Emily Higgins
• Audio Commentary By Film Noir Foundation Board Member Alan K. Rode
• Introduction By Film Historian Eddie Muller (2:30)
• "Hold The Phone: The Making Of Sorry, Wrong Number" (31:25)
• Sorry, Wrong Number – 1950 Lux Radio Play With Barbara Stanwyck And Burt Lancaster (59:41)
• Sorry, Wrong Number – Filmed Performance Of The Radio Play (28:37)
• Theatrical Trailer (2:38)
• Photo Gallery (2:53)


Blu-ray Release Date: March 21st, 2023

Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 13

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Shout! Factory Blu-ray (March 2023): Whether you like the 1080P image quality or not - the Shout! Factory is far closer to how the film should look - by that we mean 'film like' or more akin to its theatrical roots. The thickness, 1.37:1 aspect ratio (the Imprint is 1.33:1 and has some slight stretching issues), heavy grain and lack of compression artifacts signifies that our suspicions on the Imprint were, indeed, correct. The Shout! Factory is darker (as it was shot), generally showing more information in the frame and has different (and, briefly prominent) vertical scratches and marks that identity it as being a different source than the glossy Australian counterpart.  

NOTE: We have added 58 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Shout! use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (but 24-bit as opposed to 16-bit) in the original English language. I wouldn't say the audio is perfect - it sounds weak at times with certain dialogue being unnaturally hollow. I still give the edge to the US transfer. The score is by Franz Waxman (Untamed, Rebecca, Dark Passage, Bride of Frankenstein, Rear Window, Sunset Boulevard) with some classical; Franz Schubert, Felix Mendelssohn, Richard Wagner. Shout! also offer optional English (SDH) subtitles but their Blu-ray is Region 'A'-locked.

Supplements duplicate the Imprint with one new addition. We still get the wonderful Alan K. Rode commentary, Eddie Muller intro, 1950 Lux Radio audio radio play with Stanwyck and Lancaster and a 1/2 hour 2009 “Sorry Wrong Number” radio play filmed performance, plus the 1/2 hour Hold The Phone: The Making Of “Sorry Wrong Number", trailer and a gallery of stills. What is new is a commentary by Film and Pop Culture Podcasters Sam Hurley And Emily Higgins. I rarely criticize a commentary -- understanding the work that goes into it... but I didn't like this one. I suggest re-listening to Rode as he exports so much information.

So there you have it. We love having choices and some, less-concerned with the best representation, may still lean to the Imprint - that we did not endorse 3 years ago. We recommend the Shout! Factory Blu-ray with its more authentic image... and warts (scratches, minor audio inconsistencies) - and the matched extras with a new addition, even if we don't advocate - and the extensive supplements with the Rode commentary. Oscar nominated for the role, Barbara Stanwyck plays Leona Stevenson - an the invalid who intercepts a murder plot on the phone - from Lucille Fletcher's play that was reprised seven different times. Orson Welles called Sorry, Wrong Number "the greatest single radio script ever written". Clips were used in Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid. There are plenty of shadows, flashbacks and a twist finale to delight Noir aficionados. Imperfect but absolutely we recommend the Shout! Factory Blu-ray.     

***

ADDITION: Imprint Blu-ray (June 2020): Newcomer 'Imprint' out of Australia (the disc starts with a ViaVision logo) have transferred Anatole Litvak's 1948 Sorry, Wrong Number to Blu-ray. Initial reports were that the transfer had DNR (Digital Noise Removal.) Looking closely, you can see that the grain is not smeared away leaving a waxy, un-textured look, but instead is very clunky, uneven and visible by its lack of consistency. This looks to me like an SD bump, either that or a low-grade print. Regardless, whether it is any of the above - the image is marred by these artifacts (see samples below.) Now, I am not defending this image quality but depending on how forgiving your system is - you may not see it to the same degree. It was occasionally noticeable on my system but other may not find it unwatchable. I imagine if this Blu-ray was projected - the digitization would be far more prevalent in the viewing experience. Better than SD? - I think so, but again it would depend on your system and how discerning your eyes are. Bottom line is that stringent home theater aficionados won't be pleased.  

NOTE: We have added 66 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Imprint use a linear PCM dual-mono track (16-bit) in the original English language. It is another advancement in the film's audio in telephone-related effects and the score by Franz Waxman (Untamed, Rebecca, Dark Passage, Bride of Frankenstein, Rear Window, Sunset Boulevard) that also has come classical music incorporated; Franz Schubert, Felix Mendelssohn, Richard Wagner - all sounding deeper exporting a more dramatic tone. Imprint offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Imprint Blu-ray includes a new audio commentary by noir expert and Film Noir Foundation board member Alan K. Rode who provides some in-depth information into the production and many facets of the original play and story by Lucille Fletcher. It is at his usual high standard and I am glad I indulged. We get a previously unseen 2.5 minute introduction by the 'Czar of Noir' himself, Eddie Muller. I enjoyed the hour-long 1950 Lux Radio “Sorry Wrong Number” Play with Stanwyck and Lancaster and a 1/2 hour 2009 “Sorry Wrong Number” radio play filmed performance - it was kinda cool! Hold The Phone: The Making Of “Sorry Wrong Number" runs over 31-minutes and its also previously unseen on disc (the original DVD had only a trailer.) This Blu-ray includes both a theatrical trailer and photo gallery. The package with the slipcase is limited to the first 1500 copies.

Classic Noir still not given rightful justice on digital. Dammit. I have always suspected the elements to be compromised but hopefully one day we will be able to compare this to a new 1080P transfer worthy of the film. As for now we can't endorse the Imprint Blu-ray, especially the offered price, excepting to those ultra-devout 'Dark Cinema' completists that crave the flawed image in higher resolution, the excellent commentary and other, previously unavailable, extras. I'm keeping mine but I am disappointed in the video. 

Gary Tooze

 

Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray Package

 


Menus / Extras

 

Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


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

 

Digitization / Bump samples on Imprint:

 

(CLICK TO ENLARGE)

 

1) Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


Scratches on Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

(CLICK TO ENLARGE)

 

1) Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

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

 

Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

 

Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 
Box Cover

 

  

Reissued in February 2021 on Blu-ray without the slipcase:

Bonus Captures:

  

Bonus Captures:

 

Distribution Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


 

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Gary Tooze

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