Footsteps in the Fog Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.0

Footsteps in the Fog Blu-ray Movie Review

A thriller produced by M.J. Frankovich (Marooned).

Footsteps in the Fog is a thriller with mystery and suspense based on the original short story by W.W. Jacobs. The feature-film is adapted by Arthur Pierson and produced by M.J. Frankovich (Marooned, The Shootist) and Maxwell Setton (Town on Trial, Web of Evidence). Starring Stewart Granger and Jean Simmons.

Against the backdrop of London, Stephen Lowry (Stewart Granger) is seen as a widower to his close friends. Yet Stephen holds a decidedly dark secret: he actually murdered his wife by poison. The maid to the household, Lily Watkins (Jean Simmons), discovers the dark secret and decides to blackmail him in to starting a romance with her. Yet Stephen has other plans... and soon it may be time for Lily to go.

The film has some noteworthy performances. Both Stewart Granger and Jean Simmons deliver solid performances in the feature-film. There are some tense dramatic moments between the two actors. Simmons is especially impressive in her role (and makes her scenes much more memorable).

The production has some effective elements that help the filmmaking. The art direction by Wilfred Shingleton (The African Queen, Great Expectations) is compellingly detailed. The stylistic flourishes make the film more interesting on a number of artistic levels. The sets are impressive to behold. The costumes by Beatrice Dawson (A Doll's House, The Pickwick Papers) are especially noteworthy and impressive.

A dark tale of murder and suspense.

The cinematography by Christopher Challis (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Deep) is one of the best elements of the production. The visual style of the color cinematography is compelling and there are some nice cinematographic elements on display. Challis did quite well with the production.

The music score composed by Benjamin Frankel (Battle of the Bulge, Night and the City ) is one of the less effective elements. The music score is serviceable but not especially memorable in the film. The score is more of a back- drop than a fully developed musical score to enhance the storytelling. This element of the production was inconsistent.

The screenplay by Dorothy Davenport (Haunted House, Honeymoon Limited) and Lenore J. Coffee (The Night of Love, Four Daughters) has some interesting narrative elements. Though the story is dark, the dialogue and dramatic pacing is impressive. These elements help the narrative excel more. If not perfection, Footsteps in the Fog is still a script with some unique ideas.

Arthur Lubin (The Incredible Mr. Limpet, Phantom of the Opera) directs. The film has some nice sequences and the pace is well established by Alan Osbiston (The Guns of Navarone, Zarak). A production well-mounted in many regards (costumes, production design, and cinematography).

If anything about the film disappoints, its the misogynistic undertone, with visuals showcasing a woman gripped by the throat being unnecessarily vile. There is also the awful marketing that mentions “Close enough to kiss... or kill!” as the tag-line. While a dark thriller, these elements are certainly over-done and detract from some other elements of the film.

Footsteps in the Fog Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Indicator, Footsteps in the Fog is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.75:1 widescreen. The presentation quality is quite good. The scan looks crisp and clean. There are no significant issues to report in regards to compression and other such anomalies. The print is free from any significant wear and tear.

Footsteps in the Fog Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in English uncompressed PCM 1.0 mono. The 24 bit depth audio track is quite effective. Though the audio quality lacks the degree of fidelity found on a modern production, this is still a compelling track that delivers an impressive audio presentation. The high resolution audio is clean throughout. There are no significant issues to report with regards to hiss, crackle, warps, pops, and clicks.

Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Footsteps in the Fog Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

36 page booklet featuring essays on Footsteps in the Fog. The release comes in a clear Criterion-style case and printed reversible art-work on the sleeve (with alternate cover art).

The Guardian Interview with Stuart Granger (1990)

Belinda, Goddess of Devon

Something in the Air

Gothic Imprints

Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2:07)

Image Gallery featuring 75 slides (some with several pictures) showcasing promotional photography and advertising imagery created for the release of the film.

Footsteps in the Fog Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Footsteps in the Fog is a generally well-mounted thriller with some compelling production merits. The performances by Stewart Granger and Jean Simmons are impressive and add a lot to the filmmaking. Despite these positives, the film has some misogynistic undertones that I found unpleasant. The Blu-ray release features an impressive video-audio presentation and a selection of supplements. RENT IT.