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

ADDITION: Film Masters Blu-ray (January 2026): Film Masters have transferred Edgar G. Ulmer's The Strange Woman to Blu-ray. This is a newly restored high-definition transfer from archival film elements, offering a improvement over previous public domain DVDs in regards to resolution - and cleaned-up print damage (see captures at bottom), though it exhibits occasional softness, heavy contrast, boosting and a lack of natural film grain that suggests digitization (most visible in in dark sequences and close-ups.) It can be waxy at times but reasonably film-like in others. This is single-layered with a supportive, if not towering, bitrate. Cinematography by Lucien N. Andriot (Dishonored Lady, The Diary of a Chambermaid, The Southerner, And Then There Were None (1945), Bird of Paradise, The Big Trail) employs shadowy, expressionistic techniques to evoke moral ambiguity and psychological tension in the rugged 1820s Bangor, Maine setting. Image-wise it's the best available version yet an imperfect transfer - dependant on discernment - and it remains reflective of the film's public domain lineage.

NOTE: We have added 68 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Film Masters use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. While there are no major distortions or crackling, a minor audio jump or two surfaces - possibly from film damage repair - slightly mars the otherwise solid presentation, aligning with the expectations for a restored 1940s mono soundtrack. The sound elements mash up noir's psychological undercurrents with melodramatic excess where Carmen Dragon's (Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Out of the Blue, Cover Girl, Dishonored Lady) score propels the narrative's sadomasochistic undertones and revivalist sermons, culminating in a auditory crescendo that mirrors Jenny's redemptive yet fatal confession. Incorporated diegetic elements include traditional tunes like the early 19th-century sea chanty "What Can You Do with a Drunken Sailor?" which plays during rowdy tavern scenes to immerse viewers in the era's boisterous culture, and Wagner's "Bridal Chorus" (from Lohengrin), adding ironic commentary to Jenny's opportunistic marriage The dialogue delivery, crisp and period-inflected, benefits from the losless monaural sound mixing, with Lamarr's sultry voice contrasting the male characters' gruff tones to emphasize power dynamics. Film Masters offer optional English subtitles (for the commentary as well) on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Film Masters Blu-ray extras are headlined by a full-length audio commentary from professor (Colorado Christian University) and curator Bernard M. Prokop (he also did the Impact commentary,) who delivers a scholarly overview of the film's production, Edgar G. Ulmer's direction, and Hedy Lamarr's performance, though it can veer into dry lectures and unrelated tangents, making it informative yet not always riveting for casual viewers. Prokop also contributes an essay - "Hedy Lamarr The Strange (and Mistakenly Drawn) Woman" - in the included 10-page booklet (with photos), which discusses Lamarr's aura and the film's themes, while this release features attractive slipcover artwork and a cardboard slipcase, round out a supplementary content.

Edgar G. Ulmer's The Strange Woman stands as a compelling blend of historical melodrama, film noir, and proto-feminist character study, adapting Ben Ames Williams' 1941 novel to explore the ruthless ascent of a manipulative woman in 19th-century Maine. Set against the rugged backdrop of 1820s Bangor, a booming lumber town, the film traces Jenny Hager's (Hedy Lamarr - Experiment Perilous, The Female Animal, My Favorite Spy, Samson and Delilah, The Conspirators, A Lady Without Passport, Crossroads) transformation from an abused child of an alcoholic father into a cunning social climber who weaponizes her beauty, intellect, and sexuality to dominate the men around her, ultimately leading to a tragic unraveling driven by genuine emotion. At the film's core is Jenny Hager, a multifaceted anti-heroine whose portrayal by Lamarr reveals layers of ruthlessness tempered by fleeting vulnerability, making her one of the most intriguing femme fatales of 1940s cinema. Far from a one-dimensional seductress, Jenny embodies a proto-feminist complexity: shaped by paternal abuse and societal constraints, she exploits male weaknesses - Isaiah's loneliness, Ephraim's cowardice, Evered's honor - to forge her own path in a patriarchal world, yet her actions stem from survival instincts rather than innate evil. Lamarr's performance is pivotal, shifting seamlessly from dreamy allure to menacing calculation, her eyes conveying an intelligence that underscores Jenny's danger; this role, which Lamarr helped produce after breaking free from studio contracts, showcases her acting range beyond her glamorous image, portraying a woman who is both magnanimous (in charitable acts) and cruel, challenging postwar audiences' expectations of female morality. Production-wise, Ulmer's (The Amazing Transparent Man, Beyond the Time Barrier, The Man From Planet X, Detour, Strange Illusion, Bluebeard) direction infuses the film with vigorous flourishes despite a modest budget overrun, employing atmospheric sets by Nicolai Remisoff (Lured) and Carmen Dragon's (Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Out of the Blue, Cover Girl, Dishonored Lady) score to heighten tension. Now in the public domain, The Strange Woman endures as a testament to Lamarr's versatility and Ulmer's ability to craft psychologically rich tales on the fringes of Hollywood, offering timeless insights into power's seductive perils. Overall, Film Masters' Blu-ray is a worthwhile upgrade for fans of classic film noir and Hedy, delivering video improvement over SD and best audio to date through thoughtful restoration, even if it doesn't reach archival perfection. It is bolstered by Prokop's commentary and booklet for added context. Noir devotees probably need this one - despite the warts... or we can hope for a superior 1080P somewhere down the road.