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

ADDITION: Studiocanal Blu-ray (October 2025): Studiocanal have transferred Jacques Tourneur's Circle of Danger to Blu-ray and boasts a brand-new 4K restoration. We reviewed the Network PAL DVD from 2015 HERE and have compared some captures below. The 1080P exhibits excellent delineation, clarity, and depth in most sequences, with convincing grayscale management that avoids crushing in blacks or unnatural whites, while image stability remains spotless throughout, free of debris or damage. Minor fluctuations in sharpness occur in a few areas, appearing slightly softer, but these are negligible against the backdrop of the restoration's pleasing picture quality, which enhances the atmospheric location shooting across postwar Britain, from misty valleys to rugged moors, making the visuals a standout feature for fans of classic cinema.

NOTE: We have added 56 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Studiocanal use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. Robert Farnon's (The Prisoner, Expresso Bongo) understated score and ambient sound effects integrate seamlessly. Farnon's work, known for its melodic elegance in British cinema, adds emotional depth through orchestral swells during key revelations and lighter, whimsical cues in romantic interludes, blending seamlessly with the narrative's shifts from suspense to wry humor. Sound effects are minimalistic and functional, integrated subtly to enhance the realism of locations - such as the ambient bustle of markets, the echo of footsteps in rural paths, or the rustle of wind on moors - without drawing attention away from the human drama.  The uncompressed supports subtle auditory nuances of Tourneur's restrained thriller. Studiocanal offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'B'-locked Blu-ray.

The extras package on the Studiocanal Blu-ray includes a 6.5 minute introduction by Jean-Baptiste Thoiret (Back to the Bone: John Carpenter 2025,) where the French cinema historian offers insights into the film's place in Tourneur's oeuvre. Other supplements include Circle of Control - a dozen minute interview with Christina Lane, in which the author of Phantom Lady: Hollywood Producer Joan Harrison, the Forgotten Woman Behind Hitchcock discusses producer Joan Harrison's contributions (Rebecca, Suspicion, Saboteur) and influence. Culture Clash is a half-hour interview with Imogen Sara Smith (author of In Lonely Places: Film Noir Beyond the City), where she explores themes of cultural displacement and postwar tensions in the narrative. Rounding out the bonuses are a trailer and a stills gallery.

Jacques Tourneur's Circle of Danger stands as a lesser-known yet intriguing entry in the director's filmography, bridging his acclaimed horror and noir works like Cat People (1942) and Out of the Past (1947) with a more subdued, investigative thriller set against the backdrop of postwar Britain. Produced by Joan Harrison - a longtime collaborator of Alfred Hitchcock - and adapted by Philip MacDonald from his own novel White Heather, the film exemplifies a transatlantic hybrid: an American protagonist navigating British reticence, blending elements of mystery, romance, and psychological drama. The narrative centers on Clay Douglas (Ray Milland - French Without Tears, The Big Clock, A Man Alone, Ministry of Fear, Something to Live For, So Evil My Love,), a pragmatic American salvage diver from Florida, who liquidates his business to cross the Atlantic and probe the mysterious death of his younger brother, Hank, during a 1940 commando raid in occupied France. Clay develops a tentative romance with Elspeth Graham (Patricia Roc - Canyon Passage, The House in the Woods,) a spirited children's book illustrator linked to one of the suspects, adding layers of emotional tension and comic relief to his dogged pursuit. Marius Goring's (The Red Shoes, The Man Who Watched Trains Go By, A Matter of Life and Death,) Sholto Lewis is a standout, gleefully subverting stereotypes from initial flamboyance to emotional apex, exposing prejudices in a rare, courageous queer depiction for 1951. Hugh Sinclair (The Saint features) conveys contained suffering as the reticent Hamish, while Naunton Wayne (The Lady Vanishes) steals scenes with gimlet-eyed wit as the unscrupulous car salesman, adding eccentric charm. Reginald Beckwith (Night of the Demon) delivers a characteristically quirky performance in his small role as Oliver, a befuddled character who adds a touch of eccentricity to the protagonist's investigative encounters. Known for his work in horror and noir, Tourneur employs a "poetics of waiting" here, using long takes, full-figure compositions, and charged silences to build tension through deferral rather than overt suspense. Circle of Danger is a deftly crafted thriller that rewards patience with profound insights into truth, trauma, and human complexity, proving Tourneur's mastery in transcending formulaic suspense. For enthusiasts of classic cinema, it offers a compelling case study in subtlety, deserving a place alongside Tourneur's more celebrated works. The Studiocanal Blu-ray's technical excellence and insightful extras make it a worthwhile addition for enthusiasts of British postwar cinema, Hitchcockian intrigue, and Tourneur's subtle style. To those cinephiles this is recommended. 

Gary Tooze