Sorry, Wrong Number Blu-ray - Barbara Stanwyck

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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

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

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Review: Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures:
Distribution	Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:28:40.940
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
	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-bit Commentary: LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit
Subtitles	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

Comments:

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

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.