Official Film Noir on Blu-ray Thread

[scraptor]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Film noir is my favorite movie genre, and Criss Cross is one of my top 10 films noir.

Out of curiosity, what's your top 10?

Out of the Past is my number one all time so maybe your good taste will steer me towards something I haven't heard of

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by scraptor

Out of curiosity, what's your top 10?

Out of the Past is my number one all time so maybe your good taste will steer me towards something I haven't heard of

Here's his top 50:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...10&postcount=5

[Se.Vero]

Originally Posted by 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.

thank you for the review!

you didn't notice any compression issues that seem to be quite apparent in the screen caps?

[Se.Vero]

OTTO PREMINGER Collection (Limited Edition Blu-ray)

FALLEN ANGEL USA | 1945 | 1.33:1 | black and white | 98 minutes
WHIRLPOOL USA | 1950 | 1.33:1 | black and white | 98 minutes
WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS USA | 1950 | 1.33:1 | black and white | 95 minutes

< £10 from third party sellers @ amazon !!!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-li...&condition=new

[mogwai_macabre]

Originally Posted by Se.Vero

OTTO PREMINGER Collection (Limited Edition Blu-ray)

FALLEN ANGEL USA | 1945 | 1.33:1 | black and white | 98 minutes
WHIRLPOOL USA | 1950 | 1.33:1 | black and white | 98 minutes
WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS USA | 1950 | 1.33:1 | black and white | 95 minutes

< £10 from third party sellers @ amazon !!!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-li...&condition=new

Thanks! One of them let me place an order to the US. Normally third party sellers on amazon UK don't allow that.

Anyone know how the quality on Where the Sidewalk Ends compares to the Twilight Time release?

[nitin]

Originally Posted by mogwai_macabre

Thanks! One of them let me place an order to the US. Normally third party sellers on amazon UK don't allow that.

Anyone know how the quality on Where the Sidewalk Ends compares to the Twilight Time release?

It's from an older scan, not the 4k one on the TT. Still looks quite good.

But Fallen Angel and Whirlpool are not that great looking. Whirlpool is particular has a fair bit of noticeable screen jittering (same as the DVD but more noticeable on the BD). TT is waiting on newer restorations of these two.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Se.Vero

you didn't notice any compression issues that seem to be quite apparent in the screen caps?

I did not notice anything other than the inherent source material issues with Criss Cross. The movie looks great in motion on this disc.

(I watched this disc on a 49" 4K television from six or seven feet away, as I do with all of my movies.)

I never notice compression issues while watching a movie in motion on Blu-ray, though, and I thought that the caps-a-holic comparisons looked just fine for this release, so your mileage may vary.

[Modman]

I was watching the Ipcress File last night and I think it’s possible to make an argument that the movie deserves to be considered neo-noir. The way that it’s shot e.g. unusual angles; the first person narration; wisecracking dialogue; downbeat fatalism, the ambiguity of the characters and the principal character being a pawn in a game being played by others. Appreciate anybody thoughts?

[tralfaz]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I did not notice anything other than the inherent source material issues with Criss Cross. The movie looks great in motion on this disc.

(I watched this disc on a 49" 4K television from six or seven feet away, as I do with all of my movies.)

I never notice compression issues while watching a movie in motion on Blu-ray, though, and I thought that the caps-a-holic comparisons looked just fine for this release, so your mileage may vary.

I concur. Got my copy yesterday and watched it on my Sony 4K projector, ten feet diagonally, and the picture quality was quite good. Not pristine from a camera negative, but enough to make me very glad I purchased this.

[Andy Rampage]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

So keep the suggestions coming guys (both adding and subtracting if necessary)! In a little while I'll post a list of titles that made my "maybe" list so that everyone here could chime in on whether they think it should be there or not. But now I need to take a little break

i would like to submit: "TREASURE OF THE SiERRA MADRE" for admission onto "the list"!
I have always felt (myself) this film met MUCH Of the criteria for 'Noir'. Although NO Femme Fatale' in the mix.. there is definitely a involved!

Before You shoot me to bits about this entrant FORGET THE HYPE You've heard or read regarding this title: "A Classic Film", "Bogart's Best", Blah Blah Blah..
& think about The Story!!

[Se.Vero]

one for the OP:

i haven't seen it in full, but looks like a film noir to me:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-B...lu-ray/162853/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042265/

[noirjunkie]

Originally Posted by Se.Vero

one for the OP:

i haven't seen it in full, but looks like a film noir to me:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-B...lu-ray/162853/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042265/

It is indeed a Brit noir. I had no idea this had come out on blu-ray. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

[nitin]

Originally Posted by noirjunkie

It is indeed a Brit noir. I had no idea this had come out on blu-ray. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

It also came out the same time as Carol Reed's The Man Between which might also qualify (at least visually).

[lemonski]

Originally Posted by nitin

It also came out the same time as Carol Reed's The Man Between which might also qualify (at least visually).

The Man Between I would definitely call noir, has a lot in common with "The Third Man"....not up to that level, obviously, but still a very good film in its own way

[crazednoir]

Originally Posted by jetthead

Has everybody who ordered Criss Cross from JB-HiFi received their copies already? Mine shipped 23 days ago and I still haven't received it yet. I've ordered from there several times and it has never taken more than 2 weeks to arrive. I'm getting rather worried.

I received my copy a couple of days ago and it looks good!

[rocknblues81]

I just picked up Lucky Number Slevin and I'm surprised it isn't listed as a modern noir.

[The Great Owl]

I just went to Amazon UK and pulled the trigger on the region free Indicator Blu-rays of The Big Heat and The Lady from Shanghai.

I own both Twilight Time editions of The Big Heat and I own both the TCM and Mill Creek Blu-rays of The Lady from Shanghai, but I'm triple-dipping on both just based on the strength of the DVDBeaver review of Indicator's The Big Heat.

The total damage comes out to $37 and change, including shipping.

These are both highly esteemed movies in my collection, in my favorite movie genre, so they deserve the attention and expense.

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by rocknblues81

I just picked up Lucky Number Slevin and I'm surprised it isn't listed as a modern noir.

I'd add Inherent Vice to the list also.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Originally Posted by rocknblues81

I'd add Inherent Vice to the list also.

Oh man I love Inherent Vice! Looks like we're agreed again haha

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by rocknblues81

I'd add Inherent Vice to the list also.

Inherent is already on there. I haven't seen Slevin, but it probably does fit based on some quick searches. I'll look into further, and likely add it to the ist. Thanks.