Criss Cross (1949), Scarlet Street (1945), & Touch of Evil (1958) - 2/3/17

[Cevolution]

http://www.ezydvd.com.au/blu-ray/cri...949/dp/6179527

http://www.ezydvd.com.au/blu-ray/sca...945/dp/6179502

http://www.ezydvd.com.au/blu-ray/tou...958/dp/6179497

[Davidian]

Criss Cross!?! Isn't that a WW exclusive?

[nitin]

This just made my day although I fully expect Arrow to also release Criss Cross in 2017, they were waiting on a HD master.

[Wireduck1]

Preordered Criss-Cross today. Can't wait to retire the DVD version. I hope there are more Noir titles to come this year?

[chevywest]

Did anyone manage to get Touch of Evil or Scarlet Street or did the releases get cancelled?

[Davidian]

Criss Cross:

When you double-cross a double-crosser...it's a Criss-Cross!

Burt Lancaster stars as a hardworking armored car driver with a fatal attraction to his ex-wife, Ann (Yvonne DeCarlo), now married to notorious hoodlum Slim Dundee (Dan Duryea). Unable to keep himself from her, Lancaster has a secret tryst with Ann, only to be discovered by Dundee. To cover up their affair, Lancaster convinces the hoodlum that he only met Ann to get Dundee's help in robbing an upcoming payroll shipment he will be driving. The hood falls for the lie, which triggers a series of dark and foreboding events that ultimately lead to violence and death.

Sadly barebones.


BDinfo:

Disc Title: CRISS CROSS
Disc Size: 18,374,840,847 bytes
Protection: AACS
BD-Java: Yes
Playlist: 00002.MPLS
Size: 18,184,765,440 bytes
Length: 1:27:40.838
Total Bitrate: 27.65 Mbps
Video: MPEG-4 AVC Video / 24648 kbps / 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio: Undetermined / LPCM Audio / 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit

[nitin]

There is bound to be an Arrow Academy release for Criss Cross now that there is a HD master. But for around $8, can I pass the local release up....decisions decisions.

[Davidian]

Eight bucks?!?

[The Great Owl]

Last night, I watched my region free Australian Cinema Cult Blu-ray of Criss Cross.



Film noir is my favorite movie genre, and Criss Cross is one of my top 10 films noir. Robert Siodmak, who directed several classic noir titles, namely Phantom Lady (1944), The Killers (1946), Cry of the City (1948), and The File on Thelma Jordon (1950), is at his best here. The music score by Miklós Rózsa is outstanding. Finally, the casting is brilliant across the board.

Steve, played by Burt Lancaster, is a down-on-his-luck armored car guard who returns to town and, against the advice of all of those who are close to him, seeks out his ex-wife, Anna, who is played by the beautiful Yvonne De Carlo (Brute Force, The Ten Commandments). When jealousy is at its boiling point between Steve and Anna's new husband, Slim, a gangster played by the always incredible Dan Duryea (Scarlet Street, Ministry of Fear, Too Late for Tears), Steve tries to throw Slim off base by volunteering as the inside man for an armored car robbery.

Criss Cross is one of the ultimate "Women will get you into trouble." movies. The robbery scene is well-staged and intense, but the action takes second fiddle to the multilayered human emotions and betrayals, which are excellently conveyed by all involved. Even Slim, the most apparent villain character, elicits our sympathy on occasion. I identified most with Steve's friend, the police officer, Pete, played by Stephen McNally, because it's clear that his attempts to talk some sense into Steve are falling on the deaf ears of a man whose obsession with an unattainable love is getting the best of him. Like the best films noir, this one has a distinct "This will not end well." vibe throughout, so I'm not giving away too much when I say that it has one of the most caustically bleak conclusions in cinema history. When these characters, all of whom we get to know well thanks to the strength of the story, take it upon themselves to double-cross each other, the ultimate criss-cross is devastating. The final scene is for the ages.

This Cinema Cult/Shock Entertainment Blu-ray looks fantastic, and the improvement in detail over my old Universal DVD is quite apparent in almost every still frame. There is some softness to many of the images, due to the inherent condition of the source material, and I even chuckled during one dialogue sequence where Burt Lancaster's close-ups appear gauzy while Yvonne De Carlo's close-ups are thankfully shown in lurid detail. For the most part, though, I am impressed and relieved at how amazing this disc looks.
There are no subtitles on this release, but the dialogue is crystal clear, and everything sounds terrific.

For all of the packaging folks, this Blu-ray is housed in an attractive slipbox. The ratings are visible on the artwork, but that's no big deal.

[ShirleyFilms]

Thanks for this helpful review. Been wondering if I should take the plunge on this. Still unsure, after everyone's speculation about a possible Arrow release. Erg.

[bugsy_pal]

I just got around to comparing this bluray with the old US Universal NTSC DVD. Call me crazy, but I am pretty sure that the AU bluray's audio is at a higher pitch than the US DVD.

Could this suggest that it was derived from a PAL source? DVD Beaver reports the DVD and bluray having the same running time, so I am a bit stumped.

I don't think my ears are playing tricks on me.

[Si Parallel Universe]

Originally Posted by ShirleyFilms

Thanks for this helpful review. Been wondering if I should take the plunge on this. Still unsure, after everyone's speculation about a possible Arrow release. Erg.

Where have you heard this ? I'd love if Arrow did do this

[Davidian]

Somewhat disappointed at the lack of effort that went into the cover design for Criss Cross, I spent a few hours working up a couple of mine for my Film Noir Range:

[RICKBONDOO7]

Beautiful artwork for Criss Cross ! I just got it 2 weeks ago. Used my dvd cover art, and cut it down to Bluray size. I will be printing this for sure. If I can.

[Si Parallel Universe]

I think all Noirs should come in those black cases I love the designs on those covers that you did.

[deckard82]

does anyone know whether the French release has forced or removable subtitles? And whether there are any extras on the disc? Thanks!

[laidbacklarkin]

what is the best version of Scarlet Street out there now ? Thanks