Outrage Blu-ray Review
Score: 73
from 3 reviewers
Review Date:
Ida Lupino's 'Outrage' delivers a raw, courageous portrayal, enhanced by Kino Lorber's strong 4K remaster; a must-see for its artistic and social impact.
Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 80
Outrage on Blu-ray, sourced from a Paramount 4K master of a 35mm fine grain, delivers vibrant 1080p visuals with robust grayscale and depth. Despite minor imperfections like scratches and blemishes, its organic image integrity stands strong, underscoring a solid presentation. Audio is DTS-HD Master Audio (2.0 mono).
Audio: 83
The Blu-ray's DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track delivers a robust and immersive experience, with crisp dialogue and striking ambient details enhancing the tense drama. While not overwhelming for high-end audio systems, it remains impressively solid, free from dynamic fluctuations or age-related artifacts, effectively amplifying dramatic nuances.
Extra: 42
Featuring Imogen Sara Smith's insightful and well-articulated audio commentary, this Blu-ray extra explores Ida Lupino's pioneering role in Hollywood, her fight against norms, key themes of her films, and her multifaceted talent, offering critical analysis and cultural context essential for understanding 'Outrage.'
Movie: 73
Ida Lupino's 'Outrage' (1950) on Blu-ray is a compelling drama that boldly tackles rape and its aftermath with a raw, honest perspective rare for its time. Mala Powers delivers a moving performance, while Lupino's direction shines with creative shot compositions and effective use of audio. Despite occasional melodrama, the film's impactful narrative remains relevant, making it an essential watch highlighting Lupino's pioneering role in Hollywood.
Video: 80
The Blu-ray presentation of "Outrage," delivered by Kino Lorber, offers a visually striking experience by utilizing a 1080p transfer encoded with MPEG-4 AVC, showcasing an aspect ratio of 1.37:1. This version utilizes a robust 4K master derived from a 35mm fine grain, originally supplied by Paramount Pictures. The meticulous detailing ensures that the organic visuals are well-suited for larger screen displays. The delineation is exceptionally precise, and the grayscale gamut masterfully includes nuanced grays, whites, and blacks. Although there are minor density fluctuations, the overall image stability remains consistent.
Despite some cosmetic blemishes such as scratches and marks, which are noticeable but not overwhelmingly distracting, the film's visual fidelity shines through. The absence of a comprehensive restoration is apparent, yet the presentation remains strong with a score of 4.25/5.00 attributed to its current state. Observers must have a Region-A or Region-Free player for playback as the release is locked to Region "A."
Paramount Pictures' remastering in HD, utilizing a 4K scan from the fine grain source, results in a vibrant image with remarkable depth and clarity, recreating the cinematographic essence crafted by Archie Stout. The natural grain structure elegantly maintains the original film's texture with superior shadow delineation that enhances narrative tension. Though image quality is highly consistent, the lack of clean-up in the remastering introduces occasional marks and print damage that slightly detract from the viewing experience. Despite these imperfections, the presentation is likely the finest it has been on home video to date. The DTS-HD Master Audio (2.0 mono), complemented by optional English subtitles, accompanies the visual content effectively, delivering audibly clear dialogue and effects.
Audio: 83
The Blu-ray release of "Outrage" features a single audio option, the English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono track, which stands as a robust and meticulously crafted auditory experience that enhances the film's tension and emotional weight. This lossless track, although not designed to push the limits of high-end audio systems, maintains a consistently solid presence throughout the feature. The audio quality is surprisingly robust, free from any dynamic fluctuations or disturbances. Supported by optional English SDH subtitles, this track offers clear and comprehensible dialogue, ensuring an engaging auditory experience. It’s masterfully balanced, presenting an overall soundscape that remains faithful to Lupino's artistic vision.
The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track meticulously amplifies specific environmental sounds that significantly enhance the viewer's immersion in the film's dramatic elements. The audio brilliantly captures details such as Ann knocking over objects or common office noises, adding depth to the narrative through audio-driven moments of tension. Ambient sounds like footsteps on concrete and street and nature noises are rendered with sharp clarity, contributing to an expansive auditory backdrop. The sound track's fidelity is exemplary, offering a rich experience devoid of age-related hisses, pops, or crackles. This attentive design ensures that viewers can appreciate the full range of Lupino’s sound-centric storytelling techniques with precision and depth.
The Blu-ray has been sourced from a 35 mm fine grain print due to the lack of the original negative, yet despite this potential limitation, the presentation remains exemplary both visually and sonically for this Region “A” encoded release. The perceptive sound design and careful attention to audio clarity render this DTS-HD track a vital component in appreciating the multifaceted layers of "Outrage," offering viewers and listeners alike a powerful window into the film's dramatic depths.
Extras: 42
The Extras section of the "Outrage" Blu-ray provides an in-depth audio commentary from film historian Imogen Sara Smith, showcasing her expertise in discussing Ida Lupino's groundbreaking work in Hollywood. Smith offers an incisive 75-minute commentary that delves into Lupino's journey as an actor, director, writer, producer, and composer, highlighting her as a pioneer in post-World War II independent filmmaking. She meticulously examines Lupino's defiance against Hollywood conventions, the thematic complexity of her work, and the subtle strategies she employed to mitigate gender-based restrictions in a male-dominated industry. Smith also offers a critical analysis of the film’s narrative, reflecting on the societal context and Production Code constraints, and provides trivia that enriches the historical appreciation of the film. This commentary stands as an essential resource for understanding Lupino's influence and the evolving landscape of women in cinema.
Extras included in this disc:
- Commentary: An insightful 75-minute audio commentary by Imogen Sara Smith covering Ida Lupino's influential career and the film's historical context.
Movie: 73
Ida Lupino's "Outrage" (1950) is a powerful, albeit not widely recognized, film that tackles the delicate subject of rape and its aftermath with forthrightness and determination, especially for a film produced under the constraints of 1950s Hollywood. Released on Blu-ray by Kino Lorber, this edition includes an audio commentary by critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, providing valuable insights into both the film and Lupino's groundbreaking work. The story follows Ann Walton, portrayed by Mala Powers, whose life is violently altered following an assault. Idris and co-writer Collier Young address the profound emotional and psychological consequences faced by survivors, avoiding victim-blaming while portraying the deeply ingrained trauma.
Lupino’s direction stands out, exemplified by her creative shot compositions and astute use of audio to deeply echo Ann's fragile psychological state. This film is not melodramatic but rather approaches its subject matter with sincerity and authenticity, opting for raw emotional depth over spectacle. While some aspects of the storytelling may feel preachy by modern standards, such narrative choices were essential at the time to convey its message with impact. The film’s execution allows it to cut through political noise and convey enduring social truths. Despite budget constraints and societal hurdles, Lupino crafted a compelling narrative with style, making an indelible mark in cinema.
"Outrage" maintains authenticity through its casting, with standout performances adding to the narrative's impactful portrayal. Powers' debut performance is particularly noteworthy, embodying a natural and deeply emotional portrayal that captures the myriad crippling emotions a survivor endures. Additionally, Lupino’s fortitude in overcoming Hollywood industry challenges to present women-centric stories provides crucial perspectives on female experiences. The Blu-ray presentation in 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video with DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono consolidates this film’s potent visuals and sound, serving as a testament to both Lupino’s trailblazing spirit and the enduring relevance of her work.
Total: 73
Ida Lupino’s "Outrage," despite being tethered by the restrictive Production Code, manages to be a compelling and heartbreaking portrayal of a young woman’s life turned upside down by a violent assault. The film reveals an unflinching lens on the societal stigmas surrounding rape in the 1950s, highlighting a period when victim support was woefully inadequate. Lupino’s deft direction elevates the narrative, delivering a poignant exploration with exceptional artistry and drawing sensitive performances from her cast.
Kino Lorber’s Blu-ray release showcases a meticulous remastering, sourced from a 4K scan of a 35mm fine grain print, which preserves the film’s original organic texture. The audio is rendered with clarity, enhancing the film's emotional depth. The release is bolstered by an insightful commentary track that provides valuable historical context, enriching the viewing experience for both new audiences and longtime admirers of Lupino’s work.
In conclusion, "Outrage" is a film that confronts the harsh realities of its era while maintaining relevance today. Lupino's courageous storytelling not only challenges societal norms but also uncovers the systemic issues that enable predators to thrive. The Blu-ray edition is a testament to the enduring impact of her vision, making it a highly recommended addition for cinephiles and historians alike.
Blu-ray.com review by Dr. Svet AtanasovRead review here
Video: 90
Some minor density fluctuations are present, but the overall quality of the visuals is very consistent....
Audio: 100
No, it is not going to test the muscles of your audio system, but it is very solid and does not have any areas with momentary dynamic fluctuations....
Extras: 30
...
Movie: 80
Then, after the girl casually reveals that she used to make ends meet as a secretary, they move her to the owner's office where she spends long hours putting his financial books in order....
Total: 80
I have to speculate that in the early 1950s Outrage had a similar, or perhaps even the same, type of impact Irreversible had in the early 2000s because Ida Lupino goes as far as she could have with its...
The Digital Bits review by Stuart Galbraith IVRead review here
Video: 85
Made independently by The Filmmakers, a company Lupino founded with her then-husband Collier Young, for release through RKO, the film changed hands through the years, eventually landing with Paramount....
Audio: 85
Made independently by The Filmmakers, a company Lupino founded with her then-husband Collier Young, for release through RKO, the film changed hands through the years, eventually landing with Paramount....
Extras: 85
Movie: 90
Though hardly the first Hollywood to depict a sexual assault, with many such scenes in silent films and during the pre-Code era, as well as in Johnny Belinda (1948), a huge box-office and critical success,...
Total: 86
Outrage may at first appear dated, but really it offers a pretty accurate view of how taboo the subject of rape was in 1950, and how unimaginatively more difficult it must have been for victims then in...
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
Plenty of marks, a few scratches, and some print damage mar the source and distract a bit at times, but despite the occasional roughness, Outrage looks quite good and most likely better than it ever has...
Audio: 80
Subtleties like footsteps crunching against concrete, distant street noise, and chirping birds and crickets are also incredibly crisp and all the dialogue is easy to comprehend....
Extras: 20
Smith covers a variety of topics in this packed 75-minute track, including Lupino's rebellion against Hollywood norms, the controversial topics and themes that drew her attention, the signature aspects...
Movie: 60
Outrage was just her second credited feature, but despite the constraints of a bargain-basement budget and challenges of navigating a sexist industry, there's nothing amateurish about this often powerful...
Total: 80
Outrage may be constrained by the rules of the stringent Production Code, but it remains a powerful portrait of a young woman whose carefree life is forever changed by a vicious, violent sexual assault....
Director: Ida Lupino
Actors: Mala Powers, Tod Andrews, Robert Clarke
PlotAnn Walton is a young woman living in a small Californian town, happily engaged to her boyfriend, Jim Owens. One evening after work, she is attacked and raped by a stranger, a trauma that leaves her emotionally shattered and withdrawn. Ann grapples with fear, disillusionment, and the stigma surrounding the crime. She struggles to confide in Jim, her family, or the authorities, spiraling into isolation. Haunted by flashbacks and fear of the public gaze, her engagement becomes strained as she pushes Jim away, unable to reconcile her love for him with her experiences. Feeling suffocated by the town’s whispers and expectations, she decides to leave in search of escape and healing.
Ann flees to Los Angeles, striking out on her own in hopes of starting anew. She finds work at a farming community run by a compassionate minister named Reverend Ben. Despite gradually opening up to him and some residents, Ann battles with deep-seated trust issues and paranoia. Her past continues to haunt her as she tries to make sense of her experience and future. While interacting with those around her, Ann begins confronting her inner turmoil, spurred by the kindness of those who do not know her history. The struggle between fleeing from or confronting her trauma defines her journey towards reclaiming control over her life.
Writers: Collier Young, Malvin Wald, Ida Lupino
Release Date: 13 Dec 1950
Runtime: 75 min
Rating: Approved
Country: United States
Language: English