The High Command Blu-ray

Firstly, a massive thank you to our Patreon supporters. Your generosity touches me deeply. These supporters have become the single biggest contributing factor to the survival of DVDBeaver. Your assistance has become essential.

What do Patrons receive, that you don't?

1) Our weekly Newsletter sent to your Inbox every Monday morning!
2) Patron-only Silent Auctions - so far over 30 Out-of-Print titles have moved to deserved, appreciative, hands!
3) Access to over 20,000 unpublished screen captures in lossless high-resolution format!

Please consider keeping us in existence with a couple of dollars or more each month (your pocket change!) so we can continue to do our best in giving you timely, thorough reviews, calendar updates and detailed comparisons. Thank you very much.

Search DVDBeaver

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

Directed by Thorold Dickinson
UK 1937

Lionel Atwill, Lucie Mannheim and James Mason (in an early breakout role) star in this memorable Colonial tale of honour and betrayal between the wars. Oscar-nominated Thorold Dickinson's feature debut as a solo director, The High Command is presented here as a High Definition remaster from original film elements in its as-exhibited aspect ratio.

West Africa, 1937. When a medical officer attached to a military garrison is found murdered, a fellow soldier is suspected. The subsequent court martial rakes up the past, uncovering secrets best left dead and buried...

***

Creaky British melodrama directed by Thorold Dickinson in which the general (Lionel Atwill) commanding a 1930's West African garrison is implicated in the murder of an unscrupulous medical officer (Leslie Perrins) when police find evidence in the victim's room tying the commander to the death of a romantic rival in 1921 Ireland. Complicating matters is the attraction between the dead officer's cousin (James Mason) and the estranged wife (Lucie Mannheim) of a local businessman (Steve Geray). Stylized violence and romantic implications.

Excerpt from USCCB located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: March 22nd, 1937

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Review: Network - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures:
Distribution	Network - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:28:25.791
Video	1.37:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 21,963,932,308 bytes Feature: 18,580,451,328 bytes Video Bitrate: 24.97 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
Subtitles	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Network 1.37:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 21,963,932,308 bytes Feature: 18,580,451,328 bytes Video Bitrate: 24.97 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Philip Horne introduction (10:11) • Extensive image galleries (Image - 3:53, Behind the Scenes - 3:32, Publicity - 2:50) Blu-ray Release Date: February 15th, 2021 Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters 12

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Network Blu-ray (February 2021): Network have transferred Thorold Dickinson's The High Command to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "High Definition remaster from original film elements in its as-exhibited aspect ratio". Like most Network transfers, this sems true to the source without digital embellishment. The image has some surface scratches and speckle marks that are generally frame-specific. The superiority over SD would be the film's natural textures showing through and more layered contrast. Approaching 85-years old the is not without its production limitations but the 1080P image exports those and the attributes adeptly. It looks pleasing in-motion.

NOTE: We have added 54 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Network use a linear PCM mono track (16-bit) in the original English language. Like the video the audio is at the mercy of the original production values and the sounds is, predictably, a bit weak - hollow and scattered with some bass-less gunfire. The score by Ernest Irving (Kind Hearts and Coronets, Whiskey Galore!) supports the film well but sounds fairly unremarkable in the uncompressed transfer. Network offer optional English subtitles (see sample below) on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

The Network Blu-ray offers a 10-minute introduction by Philip Horne. he discusses Thorold Dickinson's career and how he got into film direction and sound editor. Notable as a 'surgeon of celluloid', Dickenson has a highly interesting history. Horne discuiss Lionel Atwill who had a scandal in his career - regarding sex orgy and perjury that basically blacklisted him from all except minor roles. There are also image galleries (Image - 3:53, Behind the Scenes - 3:32, Publicity - 2:50.) In the Blu-ray disc's root is a folder with a campaign sheet for The High Command in PDF format.

Thorold Dickinson's The High Command is full of wit. I loved the 30's fashion and deco-ish props. There are some impressive scenes that carry a subtext (the playing of God Save the King and the wind dramatically picking up.) Some may recall Atwill from the serial Lost City of the Jungle playing the mastermind criminal. He died during its filming and was replaced by a double for his character's remaining scenes. Nice to see 28-year old James Mason in The High Command. Fans of vintage cinema and Thorold Dickinson's (Gaslight, The Queen of Spades, The Arsenal Stadium Mystery) debut feature, will find much to appreciate about the film and the Network Blu-ray presentation as well as the Philip Horne introduction. Recommended to that group.