The Suspect Blu-ray - Charles Laughton

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

Directed by Robert Siodmak
USA 1944

From Robert Siodmak, the legendary director of The Spiral Staircase, The Killers, Cry of the City, Criss Cross and The Crimson Pirate, comes this classic film noir starring acting great Charles Laughton (Witness for the Prosecution). Philip Marshall (Laughton) is a kind, henpecked accountant who strikes up a friendship with Mary Gray (Ella Raines, Phantom Lady), a young unemployed stenographer who had approached him for work. He gradually finds himself falling in love with her, but keeps the relationship platonic. With his wife suspecting him of having an affair, Philip asks her for a divorce, but she refuses and threatens him with exposure and scandal. When his wife is found dead of an apparent accident, Inspector Huxley (Stanley Ridges, An Act of Murder) of Scotland Yard suspects Marshall of murder, but is unable to prove it or establish a motive.

***

Charles Laughton stars in director Robert Siodmak's excellent 1944 suspense thriller as a middle-aged shop manager in turn-of-the-century London who's driven to murder his shrewish wife when he falls in love with a beautiful young woman, and is then pursued by both a determined Scotland Yard detective and a blackmailing neighbor.

Laughton gives one of his most subtle, controlled performances as a basically good man who turns murderous when his nagging wife threatens to expose his "friendship" with beautiful Ella Raines. Miss Raines is very appealing as his heart's desire, and looks quite beautiful in the period costumes. Rosalind Ivan, who has a similar role as Edward G. Robinson's emasculating wife in Fritz Lang's 'Scarlet Street,' 1945, is excellent as the nagging wife. And Henry Daniell and Molly Lamont also offer top support as Laughton's no-account neighbor and his abused wife.

Excerpt of review from haroldg-2 for imdb.com located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: December 22nd, 1944

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

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures:
Distribution	Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:25:10.688
Video	1.37:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 30,437,817,485 bytes Feature: 26,703,808,512 bytes Video Bitrate: 37.91 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 1554 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1554 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 (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Kino 1.37:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 30,437,817,485 bytes Feature: 26,703,808,512 bytes Video Bitrate: 37.91 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Troy Howarth • Trailers Blu-ray Release Date: February 9th, 2021 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 (January 2021): Kino have transferred Robert Siodmak's The Suspect to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "Brand New 2K Master". It is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. There is consistent prevalent texture but the image overall is a bit on the softer side - which seems quite film-like and natural (not digitized.) The 1080P showcases some strong contrast - rich deep black levels. The image is clean, shows depth and the HD presentation is pleasing without egregious flaws.

I had forgotten that Gregory reviewed the Koch (German) PAL DVD in 2014 HERE. So, I missed the opportunity to do a full comparison although, it seems obvious that this Blu-ray is a significant improvement in all areas.

NOTE: We have added 48 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (16-bit) in the original English language. No aggressive effects - even the first murder is only intimated - but the film's moods are carried by the score of Frank Skinner (The Sleeping City, Canyon Passage, Magnificent Obsession, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, All That Heaven Allows, and The Naked City) adding to the film's suspenseful atmosphere later in the film. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary by Troy Howarth. Although not his premium genre of culty-euro cinema, Troy does a great job of relaying details of the production, discussing director Siodmak and actors Laughton and many of the bit players. He wasn't fond of Ella Raines' accent in The Suspect. Worth the indulgence for fans of the film and genre - a noir-debatable. There are also some trailers although none for this The Suspect.

Robert Siodmak's The Suspect is a very strong period noir. Laughton is understated but conveys the positive aspects of his character with his usual nobility. Ella Raines is also very good - if not particularly challenged by the one-dimensional 'good-girl' role. Rosalind Ivan is excellent as the bitter, spiteful, wife. Really a great film with plenty of dark cinema overtones. I am very happy to own via the Kino Blu-ray. Absolutely recommended!

NOTE: a small point, but Elle Raines never wears anything, in this film, even remotely like what she is dressed in on the cover of the Blu-ray, or many of the posters.