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

ADDITION: MGM Blu-ray (January 2026): MGM have transferred Burt Balaban's Lady of Vengeance to Blu-ray. The 1080P image is clean overall, with only minor flaws such as occasional specks or scratches, but it avoids the softness or damage often seen in restorations of obscure B-movies, resulting in a sharp, well-contrasted picture that enhances details in shadows and confined sets. The low-budget constraints are evident in cramped sets mimicking grandeur (e.g., Marshall's mansion) and minimal exteriors, relying on stock footage and straightforward cinematography that lacks flair but maintains a crisp widescreen look. This encoding represents a significant upgrade from previous rare screenings or TV airings, making the film's functional yet atmospheric visuals appealing on modern displays.

NOTE: We have added 94 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, MGM use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. The track exhibits no significant distortion, and exports subtle auditory cues - like the rumbling train in the opening suicide scene or the tension-building tape recording in the climax which are delivered with sufficient impact and fidelity for a low-budget production from the 1950s. It's clear with well-preserved dialogue, sound effects, and Phil Cardew's emphatic orchestral score that punctuates key dramatic moments - supported effectively via the lossless. MGM offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The MGM Blu-ray is pure-bare-bones with no supplements at all. This lack of extras is a missed opportunity for a rare title like this, which could have benefited from archival materials or critic essays to elevate its obscurity, leaving collectors reliant on external sources for deeper insights into its twisty narrative and noir elements.

Burt Balaban's Lady of Vengeance was produced on a low budget by the independent Princess Production Corporation and distributed by United Artists. This 73-minute black-and-white picture stars American actor Dennis O'Keefe (The Diamond Wizard, T-Men, Abandoned, The Leopard Man, Cover Up, Raw Deal, Woman on the Run, The Company She Keeps) in the lead role as William T. Marshall, a powerful newspaper publisher exiled to London. The supporting cast includes Anton Diffring (Circus of Horrors, The Man Who Could Cheat Death, The Accursed, The Iguana with the Tongue of Fire, Dead Pigeon on Beethoven Street) as the sinister Emile Karnak, Ann Sears (The Bridge on the River Kwai) as Marshall's secretary Katie Whiteside, Eileen Elton (in her only film role) as the ill-fated ward Melissa Collins, and Vernon Greeves (Quatermass 2, Time Without Pity, The Third Man) as musician Larry Shaw. Shot in widescreen by cinematographer Ian D. Struthers (Fire Maidens of Outer Space,) the film draws from a screenplay by Irve Tunick (Murder, Inc.,) blending elements of psychological thriller and revenge melodrama with a Twilight Zone-esque twist. Set in postwar Britain, it explores the dark underbelly of obsession and retribution, though its obscurity - rarely screened until a 2008 Turner Classic Movies airing and a this 2025 MGM Blu-ray release - has kept it as a minor entry in the noir canon. At its core, "Lady of Vengeance" delves into the insanity of revenge, portraying it as a corrosive obsession that warps morality and leads to self-destruction. Marshall's quest is not for justice but for sadistic torment, raising questions about the ethics of vigilantism and the blurred line between guardian and oppressor - his strict control over Melissa hints at ambiguous, possibly possessive feelings beyond paternal care, evoking themes of guilt and unresolved grief. The film incorporates noir motifs like blackmail, hidden agendas, and improbable coincidences, with Karnak's stamp obsession serving as a metaphor for compulsive pursuits that enable evil. Burt Balaban's (Stranger from Venus) direction is functional but uninspiring, crafting a fast-paced yet uneven thriller that feels like a truncated TV episode - signs of heavy editing suggest cuts from a longer assembly, leading to pacing issues and shortened scenes. "Lady of Vengeance" is a quirky, low-budget noir that punches above its weight with inventive twists and a memorable villain, but falters under contrived plotting, uneven pacing, and emotional detachment. While not a classic, its exploration of revenge's dark psychology and Diffring's slimy tour de force make it a worthwhile curio for genre enthusiasts, best appreciated as a snapshot of 1950s British low budget cinema's resourceful eccentricity. Priced affordably, this MGM Blu-ray earns a "B minus" rating for the film itself but excels in technical merits, serving as a worthwhile curio for genre enthusiasts despite not reaching must-own status due to the bare-bones package. It will be appealing to fans of Brit Noir, Dennis O'Keefe, Anton Diffring, or deceptive revenge thrillers. This was better than I was anticipating and, at the writing of this review, 43% OFF at Amazon.

Gary Tooze