7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A respected grocery shop employee in Prague is covering up for her manager's misconduct with whom she is having an affair; however, things will get complicated when a thorough auditor pays a visit.
Starring: Anne Heywood, James Booth (I), Rudolf Hrusínský, Ann Todd, Donald WolfitForeign | 100% |
Drama | 47% |
Crime | 5% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
English: LPCM Mono
Czech: LPCM Mono
English, English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
In one of the supplements included on this Blu-ray disc, Michael Brooke provides a really interesting analysis of this joint UK-Czech co-production, citing at least some of the differences between the English language Ninety Degrees in the Shade and its Czech counterpart Třicet jedna ve stínu. Brooke refers to the longstanding tradition in early cinema of films being shot twice for different languages, as in the case of The Blue Angel and Dracula (both of the Blu-ray releases linked to happily provide both versions of each film on their respective discs). Another somewhat salient and decidedly more contemporary example, though one that offers two English language versions of the same film, would be Oklahoma!, the venerable Rodgers and Hammerstein musical classic that was shot in both Todd-AO and CinemaScope, with some kind of fun differences between takes aside and apart from more technical aspects like aspect ratios that eagle eyed viewers can watch for. That perhaps seemingly perplexing tether is due to the fact that, as Brooke gets into, aside from some manifest differences in sequencing and linked editing differences, and the obvious differences in spoken languages, there are some really fascinating slight differences in takes at times that give each version of this film a bit of "meta" interest for those who are fans of some of the supposedly "hidden" ins and outs of film production.
Ninety Degrees in the Shade is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Powerhouse Films' Indicator imprint with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. Powerhouse only sent a check disc for purposes of this review, and so I'm not privy to any information imparted in the insert booklet, but Powerhouse's website states that the UK version is "a new 2K restoration from the original negative by Powerhouse Films", and the Czech version is "a High Definition remaster". I've included a few screenshots starting in position 15 of the Czech version, but some of the clearest differentiations between the two can be gleaned in Degrees of Separation, where some side by side analyses clearly show brightness and contrast variances between the two. The UK version is undeniably better looking, not just in terms of detail levels and grain resolution, but perhaps especially in terms of (admittedly typically minor) damage. The Czech version has quite a few blemishes, albeit usually slight and fleeting, that the UK version doesn't exhibit, at least not in the same amounts. The Czech version also doesn't offer quite the same consistent levels of fine detail that the UK version does. While the UK version arguably has better contrast, it still looked a bit anemic to me at times, with blacks that approach a slightly milky appearance at times.
Ninety Degrees in the Shade features an LPCM Mono track in English, while Třicet jedna ve stínu features an LPCM Mono track in Czech. There aren't any huge differences in terms of mix or amplitude between the two, other than the obvious differences in language being spoken. You're getting at least some dubbing in either version (Brooke talks about not being able to completely determine who did the looping), but the UK version will probably be the choice for most native English speakers, and it provides problem free fidelity that delivers dialogue, effects and score clearly. Optional English subtitles for both versions are available.
If some elements of Ninety Degrees in the Shade may strike some as being melodramatic and maybe even turgid, the film's underlying sociopolitical context gives it some real force. This is a fascinating character(s) study on a number of levels, with strong performances and an ultimately kind of devastatingly tragic power. Technical merits are generally solid, and the supplementary package very well done. Recommended.
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