Official Film Noir on Blu-ray Thread

[joie]

Originally Posted by jetthead

Years ago I bought a copy of Spencer Selby's Dark City: The Film Noir in which the author lists nearly 500 films which he classifies as noir. While it may not be the definitive work on the subject, I've found it to be a good reference. FWIW, he does not list Deadline USA as a noir.



Yeah and so are White Heat and Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye and quite a few others. Your point?

I think "Key Largo" is a gangster film, not a film noir. But if anybody wants to call it film noir, carry on, don't mind me.

[KillaCam]

It's difficult to say what is and what isn't film noir really. I'm pretty sure key largo has all of the main elements of a noir though. In all honesty who cares what label you want to slap on a film anyway, we are all lovers of great films so let's just enjoy them and not nit pick over what one wants to call them.

[Vlad Draculi]

The Big Heat - Another excellent Film Noir that went places I didn't expect it to. It was well worth the wait for it to be reissued on BD. I give it an 8/10. BTW, the bonus feature with Scorcese sucked. All he did was pretty much recap the movie and not actually talk about it.

[The Great Owl]

I revisited both The Big Sleep and Key Largo today by way of the new Blu-rays, and I'm on cloud nine. This is a great time for fans of classic-era film noir to be alive.

Key Largo does have more in common with the "rousing for the force of good" vibe of Casablanca than it does with the darker characteristics of noir narratives. I have no qualms, however, about placing Key Largo in Dark City, so to speak, simply based on the power of the interactions between Claire Trevor and Edward G. Robinson. There's a darkness around the outskirts of this film that conjures thoughts of broken dreams and wasted lives.

The Big Sleep needs no defense in terms of its being a film noir. Many of the classic-era films noir were more about mood than narrative, and this is one of the ultimate mood-setting works of noir. Also, every time I revisit this film, I'm surprised at how certain bits of dialogue and certain plot elements made it past the Production Code censors.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I revisited both The Big Sleep and Key Largo today by way of the new Blu-rays, and I'm on cloud nine. This is a great time for fans of classic-era film noir to be alive.

Key Largo does have more in common with the "rousing for the force of good" vibe of Casablanca than it does with the darker characteristics of noir narratives. I have no qualms, however, about placing Key Largo in Dark City, so to speak, simply based on the power of the interactions between Claire Trevor and Edward G. Robinson. There's a darkness around the outskirts of this film that conjures thoughts of broken dreams and wasted lives.

The Big Sleep needs no defense in terms of its being a film noir. Many of the classic-era films noir were more about mood than narrative, and this is one of the ultimate mood-setting works of noir. Also, every time I revisit this film, I'm surprised at how certain bits of dialogue and certain plot elements made it past the Production Code censors.

I've never seen either film, so it's going to be a real pleasure when I finally watch my copies of each film. It may not be for a little while since I'm watching some of my other unwatched ones first, but I hadn't been as psyched as I was for two releases to arrive in quite a while.

I guess it was still a good weekend when I spent over 4 hours of it on first time viewings of both White Heat and Rio Bravo.

[noirjunkie]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I've read mixed reports on whether this is considered film noir. Some classify it as a just a crime drama, rather than true noir. I'd like input from others.

I wouldn't even call it a crime drama. It's a drama about a crusader who doesn't want to see the newspaper for which he works get shut down by people who care more about the bottom line than about exposing injustice. The "investigating the gangster" stuff is there, but it's not the central focus of the story, and it's certainly not enough to categorize it as a noir.

As a drama, it's good stuff, and the German release looks great, so if you're interested in it, I recommend picking it up.

[silverlakephil]

Get your DVRs ready, TCM's schedule for Film Noirs in March:

http://www.filmnoirfoundation.org/news-tv.html

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by noirjunkie

I wouldn't even call it a crime drama. It's a drama about a crusader who doesn't want to see the newspaper for which he works get shut down by people who care more about the bottom line than about exposing injustice. The "investigating the gangster" stuff is there, but it's not the central focus of the story, and it's certainly not enough to categorize it as a noir.

As a drama, it's good stuff, and the German release looks great, so if you're interested in it, I recommend picking it up.

Thanks

[Vlad Draculi]

Originally Posted by silverlakephil

Get your DVRs ready, TCM's schedule for Film Noirs in March:

http://www.filmnoirfoundation.org/news-tv.html

I don't get TCM.

[MifuneFan]

For any region free folks, it looks like Arrow will be releasing Too Late for Tears on June 16th. It was recently rated by the BBFC. It should be a cheaper option than Flicker Alley

http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/too-late-tears-video

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by silverlakephil

Get your DVRs ready, TCM's schedule for Film Noirs in March:

http://www.filmnoirfoundation.org/news-tv.html

LIFEBOAT is now a noir?

I picked up the DVD today for Anthony Mann's STRANGE IMPERSONATION, which is OOP from KINO and unfortunately not so cheap given that it's only a fair transfer and bare bones. But Anthony Mann, in addition to being one of the greatest directors of all time, was a Noir master and every one of his noir ( and western and epic) titles are must haves for any serious collection. What he could do with the slimmest of budgets is astonishing.

I found it on eBay for $11.16 and am glad to have it because I can't see it coming to Blu, but maybe some enterprising company might jump on the trendy noir train and release some of the Mann titles.

[MifuneFan]

Official artwork and extras for 99 River Street have been posted by Kino. Release date is June 14th.



Extras:

• Brand New 2016 HD Master!
• Audio Commentary by Film Historian Eddie Muller
• Film Noir Trailer Gallery

[Reddington]

I am working my way through the fantastic MPI BD set of all 14 Sherlock Holmes films starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. Last night I watched Sherlock Holmes in Washington, which features a pivotal scene on a train. I always enjoy films with train sequences, so Googled a list and came across a Richard Fleischer noir that I'd never heard of. As one who is just getting into noir, and as a fan of many other Fleischer films, I thought I'd ask for opinions from the faithful here. Looks to only be available on a DVD-R, unless there has been a BD release in another region.

[desnoes]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Just gave you your first thumbs up "thanks" Welcome to the forum and this fun thread. I look forward to your contributions.

Thanks! and if i can find the time i'm into a community watch of Quicksand or any Noir really if folks decide to make a date.

[0ngakuhenjin]

Originally Posted by Reddington

I am working my way through the fantastic MPI BD set of all 14 Sherlock Holmes films starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. Last night I watched Sherlock Holmes in Washington, which features a pivotal scene on a train. I always enjoy films with train sequences, so Googled a list and came across a Richard Fleischer noir that I'd never heard of. As one who is just getting into noir, and as a fan of many other Fleischer films, I thought I'd ask for opinions from the faithful here. Looks to only be available on a DVD-R, unless there has been a BD release in another region.

Narrow Margin is one of my favorites! McGraw as great as Detective Brown, and had really great tension. Would absolutely recommend it. No blu yet, but will Day 0 that as soon as it gets announced.

[noirjunkie]

Originally Posted by Reddington

I am working my way through the fantastic MPI BD set of all 14 Sherlock Holmes films starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. Last night I watched Sherlock Holmes in Washington, which features a pivotal scene on a train. I always enjoy films with train sequences, so Googled a list and came across a Richard Fleischer noir that I'd never heard of. As one who is just getting into noir, and as a fan of many other Fleischer films, I thought I'd ask for opinions from the faithful here. Looks to only be available on a DVD-R, unless there has been a BD release in another region.

It's my favorite noir. Tight plotting, good twists, stellar acting, nice cinematography -- it has it all. You can pick up a pressed DVD copy of the original but now out-of-print release for about $10 (used) on Amazon: link.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by 0ngakuhenjin

Narrow Margin is one of my favorites! McGraw as great as Detective Brown, and had really great tension. Would absolutely recommend it. No blu yet, but will Day 0 that as soon as it gets announced.

Caught it recently on TCM, agreed. Can't recall whether I'd seen it before.

There's also a remake that I saw quite a while back with Gene Hackman and Ann Archer (from 1990), something to check out somewhere along the line as well.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by 0ngakuhenjin

Narrow Margin is one of my favorites! McGraw as great as Detective Brown, and had really great tension. Would absolutely recommend it. No blu yet, but will Day 0 that as soon as it gets announced.

Thanks for the recommendation and BD info!

Originally Posted by noirjunkie

It's my favorite noir. Tight plotting, good twists, stellar acting, nice cinematography -- it has it all. You can pick up a pressed DVD copy of the original but now out-of-print release for about $10 (used) on Amazon: link.

Wow. Your favourite. Will definitely be checking it out.

And just noticed the link in your signature to your "Films on a Train" thread right here on the site. I'll be taking a good look at that. Seems like we also both enjoy Welles, and an interest in CinemaScope.

[MifuneFan]

Suture, a 90's Neo-noir will be released on BD/DVD by Arrow Films on June 21st, sourced from a 4K restoration.

A THRILLER WHERE NOTHING IS BLACK AND WHITE

Inspired by the paranoid visions of John Frankenheimer’s The Manchurian Candidate and Seconds, the desert noir of Detour and the black and white widescreen beauty of Hiroshi Teshigahara’s The Face of Another and Woman of the Dunes, Suture is one of great feature debuts – by writer-directors David Siegel and Scott McGehee – and a truly unique piece of cinema.

The wealthy and self-assured Vincent (Michael Harris) meets his blue collar half-brother Clay (Dennis Haysbert) at their father’s funeral and is struck by their similarity. He decides to murder Clay and take his identity, only Clay survives the assassination attempt with no memory and is mistaken for Vincent. The fact that Harris is white and Haysbert is black only complicates a film that probes into the nature of identity.

After viewing an early rough cut, Steven Soderbergh came on board as executive producer and enthusiastic patron. Suture went on to become a hit on the festival circuit, including Sundance where it deservedly won the award for Best Cinematography.

DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
•Brand new 4K restoration from the original camera negative
•High Definition (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD Presentations
•Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
•Audio commentary with writer-directors David Siegel and Scott McGehee
•All-new interviews with Siegel, McGehee, executive producer Steven Soderbergh, actor Dennis Haysbert, cinematographer Greg Gardiner, editor Lauren Zuckerman and production designer Kelly McGehee
•Deleted scenes
•Birds Past, Siegel & McGehee’s first short film, about two young San Franciscans who journey to Bodega Bay along the path set by Tippi Hedren in Hitchcock's classic, The Birds.
•US theatrical trailer
•European theatrical trailer
•Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by maarko phntm

[MifuneFan]

Official cover art for Shield of Murder (1954) has been posted. Release date is a June 21st