WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Kiss Me Deadly
Genre:Mystery Suspense

Reviewed In Issue 28 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Ralph Meeker, Albert Dekker, Paul Stewart, Juano Hernandez, Wesley Addy, Marion Carr, Maxine Cooper, Cloris Leachman & Gaby Rodgers

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 2.5
Sound Rating: 2
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): MGM
(Catalog Number): ML 106553
(MPAA Rating): Not Rated
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 106
(Color Type): Black & White
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1955
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered):

Credits Information
(Director): Robert Aldrich
(Screenplay/Written By):
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DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.66:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.66:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Mono Sound
(Theatrical Sound): Optical Mono
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Based on Mickey Spillane’s best seller, Kiss Me Deadly is a suspense thriller years ahead of its time. Ralph Meeker stars as Mike Hammer, a hard boiled detective desperate to discover who nearly killed him and murdered the woman he was trying to help. But when he uncovers a mysterious black box with deadly contents that not only solve the murder, but trigger an apocalyptic climax as well. Critically ignored at the time of its release, Kiss Me Deadly, now considered one of the finest films of the ’50s, features Cloris Leachman (1971 Best Supporting Actress Oscar®-winner for The Last Picture Show) in her feature film debut. Nearly a half a century since the theatrical release, the original ending has been found and restored in this very special edition.

LaserDisc Picture:
The black and white picture, matted at 1.66:1, presents fairly deep blacks, but contrast is poor, with characters’ faces glowing in the dark beginning scenes. Overall, the grayscale is fairly good and well balanced, with images only sometimes wanting in sharpness and detail.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The sound is compressed mono.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
(Aggressive System Surround): No
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): No
(Aggressive Split Surround): No
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: