Trapped (1949) (Deluxe Edition)

[MooneyRara]

Trapped (Deluxe Edition) Blu-ray

Special Features and Technical Specs:

NEW RESTORATION OF THE FILM
"Freeing Trapped" — a mini-documentary on the film's creation and history, featuring interviews with Eddie Muller, Donna Lethal, and others.
"A Sedulous Cinderella: Richard Fleischer Remembered" — a remembrance of the man, the director, and the father, by his son, Mark Fleischer.
Audio Commentary Track — Featuring author Alan K. Rode and film historian Julie Kirgo.
24-Page Souvenir Booklet — Featuring rare photographs, poster art, and commentary by "Czar of Noir" Eddie Muller.
REGION-FREE

[lemonski]

Originally Posted by MooneyRara

Trapped (Deluxe Edition) Blu-ray

So the obvious question is what makes it a Deluxe Edition, the 24 page booklet?

[chas speed]

I usually wait for the UK Blu-ray on UCLA film noir titles because of the price, but it didn't seem like "The Man Who Cheated Himself" was ever released in England.

[MifuneFan]

One thing to note is FA lists this as releasing on December 17th, while Amazon states December 31st.

[randian]

Is there any retailer selling Flicker Alley titles at reasonable prices?

[Gunsnroses092789]

Originally Posted by randian

Is there any retailer selling Flicker Alley titles at reasonable prices?

On the FlickerAlley website, with code JULY2020, you can get it for about $30 including shipping.

And DeepDiscount has a bunch for just above $30: https://www.deepdiscount.com/search?...=Flicker+Alley

[Professor Echo]

My hopes for a more affordable overseas edition of this title are fading away. Flicker Alley is a good tiny label and they often do admirable work, but as much as I understand the pricing structures relative to their operation costs, it's hard for me to justify $30 or more for a single Blu. When possible, I've gone the UK route for the same titles, but somehow TRAPPED seems trapped with FA.

[randian]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

My hopes for a more affordable overseas edition of this title are fading away. Flicker Alley is a good tiny label and they often do admirable work, but as much as I understand the pricing structures relative to their operation costs, it's hard for me to justify $30 or more for a single Blu. When possible, I've gone the UK route for the same titles, but somehow TRAPPED seems trapped with FA.

The Man Who Cheated Himself is in much the same situation. iTunes has a version from Fox but I don't know how "restored" the FA version is in comparison. Plenty of streaks and speckling in the iTunes version. From what I've read of FA's releases they don't do much in the way of digitally fixing print damage and speckling. Frame by frame fixup like that is probably expensive.

There are also a bunch of noirs like Where the Sidewalk Ends that are unfortunately no longer available in any format since the demise of Twilight Time.

[Gunsnroses092789]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

My hopes for a more affordable overseas edition of this title are fading away. Flicker Alley is a good tiny label and they often do admirable work, but as much as I understand the pricing structures relative to their operation costs, it's hard for me to justify $30 or more for a single Blu. When possible, I've gone the UK route for the same titles, but somehow TRAPPED seems trapped with FA.

Same. Especially when it’s a second rate noir. Like you, I’d like to own it but not at $30+. I also opted for the Arrow versions of the two noirs that FA released.

[Rzzzz]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

My hopes for a more affordable overseas edition of this title are fading away. Flicker Alley is a good tiny label and they often do admirable work, but as much as I understand the pricing structures relative to their operation costs, it's hard for me to justify $30 or more for a single Blu. When possible, I've gone the UK route for the same titles, but somehow TRAPPED seems trapped with FA.

Yeah, I finally just broke down and bought this since I collect Barbara Payton movies....

[Richard--W]

The JULY2020 coupon closed weeks ago.

Originally Posted by Rzzzz

Yeah, I finally just broke down and bought this since I collect Barbara Payton movies....

I'm tempted. I collect Richard Fleischer and Barbara Payton movies.

I don't like Flicker Alley's stiff prices and crappy covers. Since they've made this
one region-free Arrow UK will probably be discouraged from releasing it over there.

I wish the Film Foundation / Film Noir Foundation would hook up with ClassicFlix
or some other boutique label. Any label but Flicker Alley.

[lemonski]

Originally Posted by Richard--W

The JULY2020 coupon closed weeks ago.



I'm tempted. I collect Richard Fleischer and Barbara Payton movies.

I don't like Flicker Alley's stiff prices and crappy covers. Since they've made this
one region-free Arrow UK will probably be discouraged from releasing it over there.

I wish the Film Foundation / Film Noir Foundation would hook up with ClassicFlix
or some other boutique label. Any label but Flicker Alley.

It seems like the FNF have something going on with Imprint, their upcoming noir box set has new commentaries on all the discs by either Alan K. Rode or Eddie Muller. Perhaps we'll see some of the treasures the FNF is sitting on coming out from Imprint, which would be just fine by me. In a footrace between FA and a tranquilized sloth, I know who I'd be putting my money on.

[randian]

Originally Posted by lemonski

It seems like the FNF have something going on with Imprint, their upcoming noir box set has new commentaries on all the discs by either Alan K. Rode or Eddie Muller. Perhaps we'll see some of the treasures the FNF is sitting on coming out from Imprint, which would be just fine by me. In a footrace between FA and a tranquilized sloth, I know who I'd be putting my money on.

Single BDs are going for $34.95 and the Essential Film Noir Collection 1 is $120 for 4 films. I’m not feeling the pricing love from Imprint, it’s basically the same pricing as Flicker Alley.

[lemonski]

Originally Posted by randian

Single BDs are going for $34.95 and the Essential Film Noir Collection 1 is $120 for 4 films. I’m not feeling the pricing love from Imprint, it’s basically the same pricing as Flicker Alley.

Remember your exchange rate though, Imprint are priced in $A.

What I was more getting at is the speed of releases. FA have released 4 noir titles in 4 years, Imprint did that in one box set.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by Richard--W

I don't like Flicker Alley's stiff prices and crappy covers. Since they've made this one region-free Arrow UK will probably be discouraged from releasing it over there.

I wish the Film Foundation / Film Noir Foundation would hook up with ClassicFlix or some other boutique label. Any label but Flicker Alley.

I agree with this completely and even though I sometimes feel guilty knocking Flicker Alley because I know they are a small label struggling to survive, it often appears as if they are shooting themselves in the foot by being unable or unwilling to change their methods. I don't know what contracts they have in place or if some of their releases were originally passed on by larger labels, but I have no doubt that at least a few would have been much better served by companies like KINO or ClassicFlix.

Maybe someone here has more insider knowledge of FA and their operations and can elaborate a bit on the choices they make.

[Richard--W]

I'm not spending $40 on a short B movie. No way.

Alan K. Rode and Eddie Mueller are the best commentators in the business and
their participation alone is reason enough to buy TRAPPED but not at $40.

[lemonski]

Originally Posted by Richard--W

I'm not spending $40 on a short B movie. No way.

Alan K. Rode and Eddie Mueller are the best commentators in the business and
their participation alone is reason enough to buy TRAPPED but not at $40.

Some short B movies are better than A movies, I wouldn't hesitate spending $40. But Trapped isn't one of those, despite the attraction of Barbara Payton.

The best prices I've seen on FA titles is $28-odd when Deep Discount have a 15% coupon - even then I've never been able to pull the trigger. It's a shame really, because I wouldn't mind getting a few of the Cinerama titles.