Official Film Noir on Blu-ray Thread

[latehong]

And those 3-line, all-capital, high-above English subtitles look extremely awful.

[Richard--W]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

DVDbeaver has their review up for Olive's Odds Against Tomorrow. Not really a huge difference in PQ aside from the different AR's. The BFI disc is better encoded, and looks better to me though. I'd even say the framing looking better in some instances too.

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film5/blu-r...ow_blu-ray.htm

I just looked at that and all I saw was the BFI bluray comparison to the old MGM DVD, which is the same. Then I clicked refresh and suddenly there were the captures from the Olive bluray.

I think I understand now why the Olive is different. The BFI reproduces the entire 35mm frame on the negative. It's Academy ratio. The Olive adjusts to the 1.85-1 framing that the director and dp composed for. What the blurays have in common is the same width. So while there is more top and bottom image on the BFI, the Olive provides only the story-telling area that we were intended to see. Balance and symmetry are in the Olive.

Anyhow, Odds Against Tomorrow is one of my top 5 favorite film noirs.

[Richard--W]

Love the films noir of the 1950s. So many intense films. My top ten of the moment are:

1951 Victimas del pecado (Sinful Victims) -- needs a bluray
1952 The Narrow Margin -- needs a bluray
1953 The Big Heat
1954 Crime Wave -- needs a bluray
1955 Kiss Me Deadly
1956 Nightmare -- needs a bluray
1957 Sweet Smell of Success
1958 Touch of Evil
1958 Vertigo
1959 Odds Against Tomorrow

[Richard--W]

I note that Arrow Academy in the U.K. is bringing out region-free blurays this month of The Dark Mirror, Force of Evil, Secret Beyond the Door and The Big Combo and loading them with supplements. Hmmm.

[MAUL xx]

I really enjoyed Out of the Past & Kiss Me Deadly. I need to check out some more noir.
Haven't seen those releasing this month. I've had great luck so far with noir blind buys like the aforementioned so maybe I'll try it again.

[noirjunkie]

Originally Posted by Richard--W

I note that Arrow Academy in the U.K. is bringing out region-free blurays this month of The Dark Mirror, Force of Evil, Secret Beyond the Door and The Big Combo and loading them with supplements. Hmmm.

They were released months ago in a box set and are just now getting individual releases.

[chas speed]

Originally Posted by Richard--W

I just looked at that and all I saw was the BFI bluray comparison to the old MGM DVD, which is the same. Then I clicked refresh and suddenly there were the captures from the Olive bluray.

I think I understand now why the Olive is different. The BFI reproduces the entire 35mm frame on the negative. It's Academy ratio. The Olive adjusts to the 1.85-1 framing that the director and dp composed for. What the blurays have in common is the same width. So while there is more top and bottom image on the BFI, the Olive provides only the story-telling area that we were intended to see. Balance and symmetry are in the Olive.

Anyhow, Odds Against Tomorrow is one of my top 5 favorite film noirs.

That sounds good, but all evidence points to "Odds Against Tomorrow" being shot in a 1:37.1 ratio according to IMDB and the paper work provided by BFI.

[noirjunkie]

Originally Posted by chas speed

That sounds good, but all evidence points to "Odds Against Tomorrow" being shot in a 1:37.1 ratio according to IMDB and the paper work provided by BFI.

I would need to double check what I'm about to say, but when I was researching this film a while back, I believe I read that Wise wanted to shoot it in Academy ratio but knew it would projected in 1.85.1 widescreen, so it's composed with both in mind.

[chas speed]

Originally Posted by noirjunkie

I would need to double check what I'm about to say, but when I was researching this film a while back, I believe I read that Wise wanted to shoot it in Academy ratio but knew it would projected in 1.85.1 widescreen, so it's composed with both in mind.

I guess it's just a matter of taste. I like the fact that "Odds Against Tomorrow" at a 1:37.1 ratio looks like all the classic movies of the noir era.

[DaBargainHunta]

How is the Taschen Film Noir book, and how often do they re-release it?

[rocknblues81]

I would surely like to have the special features from the UK edition, but that edition is region B locked and so that means I'm getting the Olive release.

[noirjunkie]

Originally Posted by chas speed

I guess it's just a matter of taste. I like the fact that "Odds Against Tomorrow" at a 1:37.1 ratio looks like all the classic movies of the noir era.

If memory serves, that's why Wise shot it that way.

[Richard--W]

Mifune Fan: I just saw your originating posts. Found several releases I didn't know about I plan on buying.

Do you think a pre-noir section would be appropriate? Films like SCARFACE, FURY, YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE, etc.

There is a tendency to overlook the noir nature of some crime films. To my mind THE GODFATHER (1972), THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE (1973) and BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GRACIA are noir first, then crime films. So is ACROSS 110TH STREET (1973) which is too often dismissed as mere blaxploitation and REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONER (1975).

You might want to add John Bailey's CHINA MOON. It's an authentic nior and a Lorber blu-ray.

JOE (1970), MIAMI BLUES (1988) and the theatrical MIAMI VICE (2006) also come to mind.

I don't know if television programs are to be considered, but the short-lived MAGIC CITY (2013) certainly qualifies as noir. Two sensational seasons of downbeat storytelling in the Miami of 1959.

[Richard--W]

Originally Posted by chas speed

That sounds good, but all evidence points to "Odds Against Tomorrow" being shot in a 1:37.1 ratio according to IMDB and the paper work provided by BFI.

I just said that.

I attended a seminar in which Robert Wise was asked about full-screen VHS's and DVD's of his films and he stated unequivocally that by the mid 1950s he was strictly a widescreen filmmaker and intended all his films to be seen in widescreen. The widescreen composition was important to him. He turned down offers to direct for television. He stated loud and clear that he did not provide for television because if a director does that then that's how it will be shown. He made a point of saying this and reiterating it.

[Richard--W]

Originally Posted by chas speed

I guess it's just a matter of taste. I like the fact that "Odds Against Tomorrow" at a 1:37.1 ratio looks like all the classic movies of the noir era.

Forgive me for sounding argumentative, I don't mean to be. Odds Against Tomorrow was not made in the 1940s nor was it intended to look as if it were made in the forties. It was made in 1958 for release in 1959 when movies were composed in widescreen ratios for cinemas equipped with widescreens. The extraneous information at the top and bottom was intended to be masked off by a plate inserted into the projector. Classic movies of the late 1950s were not in the Academy ratio, they were in the widescreen ratios.

[Richard--W]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

How is the Taschen Film Noir book, and how often do they re-release it?

I've been meaning to get this myself. A hefty 648 pages. Taschen puts out elaborate pictorial coffee-table books. Not too many words, usually. It's really cheap right now:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/3836561697...8035347&sr=1-1

[MifuneFan]

Olive's Odds Against Tomorrow down to $12.99 at. Best Buy

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/odds-ag...ruNwIX_tzQtASA

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Olive's Odds Against Tomorrow down to $12.99 at. Best Buy

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/odds-ag...ruNwIX_tzQtASA

Unfortunately, it is sold out.

[snipemonkey]

May I suggest DARK BLUE for the neo-noir list?

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Dark-...lu-ray/139441/

[noirjunkie]

This is only a noir-adjacent title, but Indicator/Powerhouse will be releasing Foosteps in the Fog (1955) on July 23.