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

ADDITION: Imprint Blu-ray (June 2021): Imprint have transferred Don Siegel's Private Hell 36 to 1080P for  Blu-ray spine #48 as part of their Essential Film Noir: Collection 2 Blu-ray set with Hollywood Story (1951), The City That Never Sleeps (1953), Plunder of the Sun (1953) and, this one, Private Hell 36 (1954). It appears to be from the same master in 1.78:1 as the Olive with the same marks but the Imprint bitrate approaches a 50% increase - on a dual-layered disc. The image improves in contrast with darker, richer visuals and an overall superior HD presentation. Depending on your system, it may be minor but it is definitely there.  

NOTE: We have added 70 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 (24-bit) in the original English language. It is another advancement in the film's audio and score as compared to the 16-bit DTS-HS Master audio transfer of the US Blu-ray.  It's a fairly passive film with some early and latter gunplay, a car crash plus a very supportive jazzy score by Leith Stevens (Hercules and the Captive Women, Syncopation, The Gun Runners, World Without End, The Night of the Grizzly, I Married a Monster From Outer Space, 20 Million Miles to Earth, The Garment Jungle)  accentuated the suspense and more intense finale. Marginal superiority for the Aussie disc, but notable. Imprint offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Imprint Blu-ray has a new (2021) audio commentary with film historian Drew Casper. He does some poetic narration of the onscreen activity and extensive discussion of director Don Siegel - highlighting some very interesting subtleties that I was oblivious to, including unsavory traits of Police Sgt. Cal Bruner (Steve Cochran). Casper is always great and I loved the unique touch of dramatic narration. There is also a new (2020) video essay with film critic Kat Ellinger discussing Ida Lupino for over 1/2 an hour. There is so much to be said about Lupino from her film noir work, directing The Hitch-Hiker in 1953, The Bigamist and Never Fear (1949), loosely based upon her own experiences battling paralyzing polio - her marriages including Howard Duff (Police Sgt. Jack Farnham in Private Hell 36) and much more. There is also a new (2021), excellent, featurette about the early career of Don Siegel with C. Courtney Joyner produced and directed by Daniel Griffith for Ballyhoo Pictures. Wonderful. We also get a new interview with film critic Barry Forshaw on “Private Hell 36” for a dozen minutes giving his input on this classic Noir. Lastly, is a theatrical trailer for the film.   

I can easily say that thanks to the commentary and extensive extras that I gained a new respect for Private Hell 36, Siegel and Lupino. It's a far more nuanced film that I initially judged. The Imprint Blu-ray is an easy winner between the two in every category and gets a very strong recommendation for 'Dark Cinema' aficionados! 

Gary Tooze

On the Olive Blu-ray (August 2012): Private Hell 36 has a, predictably, modest Blu-ray transfer from Olive Films. This is only single-layered and contrast looks a shade faint - but this is probably more the condition of the source where density has been compromised by age or storage. There are frequent speckles Noise surfaces a shade but artifacts seem controlled. The black levels do improve in the latter half and detail is not stellar but a notch above SD. The original 1.85:1 has been bastardized to 1.78. This presentation is certainly watchable and the source condition may be why it hasn't surfaced on digital until now. Let's hope an improved HD version, with subtitles and extras, comes along soon!