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Directed by Lamont Johnson
 Canada / USA 1972

 

THE FUSE IS LIT! THE TRAP IS SET! THE EXPLOSIVE CONSPIRACY HAS BEGUN!

 

From Lamont Johnson, the director of A Covenant with Death, The McKenzie Break, Lipstick and Cattle Annie and Little Britches, comes this exciting espionage thriller starring George Peppard (Rough Night in Jericho) and Michael Sarrazin (The Reincarnation of Peter Proud). A violent blast destroys the U.S. government’s top-secret Groundstar Research Complex, and six high-ranking scientists are incinerated. The saboteur, employee John David Welles (Sarrazin), is found barely alive and clutching stolen national security documents. But when ruthless government investigator Tuxan (Peppard) is assigned to the case, he discovers that Welles’s memory has been mysteriously erased. Welles escapes from federal custody, and Tuxan pursues the fugitive in a dangerous game of cat and mouse. With the help of Nicole Devon (Christine Belford, Pocket Money), a beautiful young woman, Welles begins to piece together the truth about his own shocking past. Is he an enemy spy responsible for the Groundstar massacre or an innocent pawn in the deadliest conspiracy of all? Beautifully shot in CinemaScope by Michael Reed (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service) and co-starring James Olson (The Andromeda Strain), Cliff Potts (Silent Running) and Tim O’Connor (Buck Rogers in the 25th Century).

***

A break-in and sabotage attempt occurs at a top secret research institute and the culprit is cornered and captured. The problem is that he's been badly injured and claims to have lost his memory entirely. A cat-and-mouse game ensues between investigator Tuxan, the mystery intruder Welles and the people who sent him on the mission.

Posters

Theatrical Release: June 21st, 1972

Reviews                                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                       DVD Reviews

 

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

Box Cover

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Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:35:36.397        
Video

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 32,120,866,854 bytes

Feature: 29,965,713,408 bytes

Video Bitrate: 37.92 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 1558 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1558 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

 

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 32,120,866,854 bytes

Feature: 29,965,713,408 bytes

Video Bitrate: 37.92 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian and Filmmaker Daniel Kremer and Film Critic Scout Tafoya
• Theatrical Trailer (2:37)


 Blu-ray Release Date: October 6th, 2020
 Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 10

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (September 2020): Kino have transferred Lamont Johnson's The Groundstar Conspiracy to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "Brand New 2K Master". It's on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. It has heavy textures and deep, rich, colors. The 1080P exports a thick film-like HD presentation. There is some depth and the transfer handles the film's many dark scenes well. There is no noise. Overall, this appear to be an authentic presentation of the film without manipulation - and the source is clean. 

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (16-bit) in the original English language. There are effects but it is not a particularly violent film with some minor aggression near the conclusion. The score is by Paul Hoffert, and has some moments of surprisingly intensity and seething tension. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers a new audio commentary by film historian and filmmaker Daniel Kremer (author of Sidney J. Furie: Life and Films) and film critic Scout Tafoya. They quote Quentin Tarantino about the film; "The Groundstar Conspiracy is an espionage thriller – a man-on-the-run action movie – a film noir-ish man-with-amnesia movie – except instead of being done à la David Goodis, it’s told in a Michael Crichton-ish science fiction vein." I enjoyed their conversation talking about similar genre films (Project X, a bit on Frankenheimer's Seconds and The Manchurian Candidate), the original title - The Plastic Man - filmmaker Lamont Johnson, the camera movement and much more including mentioning Jack Smight's Frankenstein: The True Story (which I also like very much.) There is a theatrical trailer for the film and for a few other films.

Lamont Johnson's The Groundstar Conspiracy is an usual film - I loved the amnesia aspect. George Peppard and Micheal Sarrazin are very good - there are some suspenseful twists and I like that so much is left 'unsaid' and that it had 70's sensibilities. It's a film I am very happy to have seen, for the first time, on Kino Blu-ray and the commentary was refreshing. Recommended!

Gary Tooze

 

Menus / Extras

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Box Cover

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Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


 


 

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