Dead of Night & Queen of Spades [DVD] [1945] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

Essential double bill of two of the finest films of the 40's.

Dead of Night(1945)Much heralded pormanteau of horror tales directed by Charles Crichton and Cavalcanti amongst others is justifiably remembered for the final segment - Michael Redgrave and that dummy!The tales are linked together by the gathering of a group of people at a country mansion,one of whom is convinced he knows everyone present because he has met them all in his dreams.
Variable in chills,each tale is memorable in it's own way with Robert Hamer's "Mirror"segment being particularly creepy.Redgrave's tour de force performance in the final tale is the icing on the cake,

Queen of Spades(1948)Slow moving but utterly riveting supernatural tale(based on a Pushkin short story)is a forgotten gem with an electrifying central performance from Anton Walbrook.
It is Russia in the early 19th century and an embittered military captain(Walbrook)lacking the financial resources of his more titled collegues determines to raise his status by persuading an aged countess(the quite brilliant Edith Evans)to give up her "secret of the cards",something that she had bought many years before through the selling of her soul.
To reveal more would ruin the enjoyment of this unsettling,beautifully shot film.Performances are uniformly excellent,Dickinson's use of light and darkness are thematically and literally spellbinding(when Walbrook steps out of the shadows in one sequence the effect is positively spine tingling)and the finale is utterly mesmirising.
This together with Gaslight(the original not the insipid remake)were the high watermarks of Thorold Dickinson's directing career in movies.

' Dead Of Night' is the star of this little pricey package - a fine, clean, sharp image, FAR superior to the atrocious Optimum Region 2 disc, which is unwatchable.

'Queen Of Spades' - well, the reverse applies here! The Optimum Region 2 disc leaves this disc in the dust, picture-quality wise - like night vs day.

DEAD OF NIGHT:

Several chilling tales in this, featuring some very good stories. 'The Haunted Mirror' being by far the best in my opinion, and one which starred Googie Withers at her most talented. There's something very un-settling about old mirrors, and for some reason, this stuck in my mind more than any of the other stories after watching it as a child when the movie was featured in the classic seventies TV series (for those of us old enough to remember) called: 'Appointment With Fear'. This series consisted of some of the greatest horror and thriller movies being selected and shown on a weekly basis. 'The Christmas Party' tale which starred a very young but talented Sally Ann Howes was extremely eerie too - something even 'spookier' about the night cry of a dead child coming back to haunt the living!

This is an absolute gem from the Ealing Studios. About the only criticism I would have, is the 'comical' fabricated story featuring the famous double act: Naunton Wayne and Basil Radford, (whom I never particularly cared for) this we could have done without in such a great ghost movie. I felt it was most definitely out of place, and almost made all the other tales lose their credibility with the viewer... Had the other actors not been so good, this segment could have spoiled the whole film.

One to definitely recommend!

THE QUEEN OF SPADES:

Anton Walbrook, Dame Edith Evans and Yvonne Mitchell star in this long-overdue release of the much in demand: 'The Queen Of Spades'.

It's interesting to note here that two great stage actresses made their film debut; Dame Edith Evans (at aged 62!) and Yvonne Mitchell. Both made memorable and lasting impressions - Evans plays the aged Countess (playing a character years older than she was in real-life -even then!) and Mitchell who plays her young Ward - contrarily playing a part years younger than she actually was. (she was 35 at the time!)

This is a great movie from so many aspects; the story, the acting, the outstanding cast which also includes Athene Seyler, Miles Malleson and Hay Petrie - not to mention the production! It's not a movie to be watched late at night and alone - full of atmosphere with plenty 'jolts' and eerie feeling - particularly Evans' great portrayal of the death of the old Countess which will certainly have the hair on the back of your neck standing on end and afraid to go to bed! This is also helped along by the fact that this Picture was made in black and white.

Several dashing guys as eye -candy in this too - not least a very handsome Anthony Dawson - and all in gorgeous uniforms...

I recall wanting this on Video almost twenty years ago - and nobody had even heard of it... Great to see that it's finally out on DVD at long last! It's been well worth the wait!

Includes 'Extras' - featuring fascinating Interviews on how the movie was made, and how Edith Evans and Yvonne Mitchell had to be 'coached' through the new medium for their work.