Official Film Noir on Blu-ray Thread

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by Davidian

Start with one of my personal favourites:

Originally Posted by DistrictOfMisery

Double Indemnity, Out of the Past, and The Maltese Falcon are essential films in my opinion.

I agree with all of these. I'm far from a film noir expert, but you can't go wrong with these ten: The Maltese Falcon, Double Indemnity, Out of the Past, The Postman Always Rings Twice, Gilda, Laura, The Lady from Shanghai, The Big Sleep, Sunset Boulevard, and Kiss Me Deadly.

[kuro_sawa]

Originally Posted by EVERYONE LIES

I recently picked up the BFI release of Night and the City for the Richard Widmark interview from 2002. It is the best feature I have ever seen on a blu-ray.

I double dipped as well, and while the CC release is a knock out I honestly feel the BFI outdid them here.

Finally received my copy of Pitfall and watched it this past weekend. While the PQ isn't as prestine as the recent WB Archives titles it's still a great upgrade. I've always loved this film but have a so so feeling towards the ending. This time around I was more warmed up to it but I still feel that way. Great flick regardless, with some of my favourite noir actors Dick Powell and Lizbeth Scott.

[jdw89]

So far I have the following in a cart:
Maltese Falcon
The Big Combo
Out of the Past
Postman Always Rings Twice
Sunset Boulevard
Double Indemnity

Total would be $73.35, not bad... any thoughts?

[DistrictOfMisery]

Originally Posted by jdw89

So far I have the following in a cart:
Maltese Falcon
The Big Combo
Out of the Past
Postman Always Rings Twice
Sunset Boulevard
Double Indemnity

Total would be $73.35, not bad... any thoughts?

All great titles to start off with, The Big Combo is another favorite of mine with stunning noir iconography, I'd say pull the trigger you absolutely cannot go wrong with any of those titles.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by jdw89

So far I have the following in a cart:
Maltese Falcon
The Big Combo
Out of the Past
Postman Always Rings Twice
Sunset Boulevard
Double Indemnity

Total would be $73.35, not bad... any thoughts?

Barnes and Noble is going to be having one of their '40% off all Blu-ray' sales in a couple weeks. I haven't looked too closely at the current prices of the things you've listed (all of which are excellent, btw) but you might be able to save a few bucks.

-edit- worth noting that B&N uses MSRP as the starting point for their sale prices so use that as your baseline for any comparisons.

[jdw89]

Thanks folks! Honestly, it was this or the Bond set. I went ahead and cancelled it, it will always go lower and be available, these seem like true Gems of Film-making.

[jdw89]

I also have these in a cart at TCM Shop - any advice on if I should go forward with any of them, or get them somewhere else since it may be cheaper?

Cry Vengeance - $14.39
Cover Up - $17.59
Caught - $14.39
City That Never Sleeps - $14.39
Laura - $15.99
The Prowler - $19.98
The File on Thelma Jordon - $14.39
The Dark Mirror - $14.39
Plunder Road - $14.39
Secret Beyond the Door - $14.39
Strangers in the Night - $11.99
Murder, My Sweet - $16.79

Any opinions on those prices?

[Cook]

Originally Posted by jdw89

I am not sure where to start with this genre to see if I "get it"

[DistrictOfMisery]

Originally Posted by jdw89

I also have these in a cart at TCM Shop - any advice on if I should go forward with any of them, or get them somewhere else since it may be cheaper?

Cry Vengeance - $14.39
Cover Up - $17.59
Caught - $14.39
City That Never Sleeps - $14.39
Laura - $15.99
The Prowler - $19.98
The File on Thelma Jordon - $14.39
The Dark Mirror - $14.39
Plunder Road - $14.39
Secret Beyond the Door - $14.39
Strangers in the Night - $11.99
Murder, My Sweet - $16.79

Any opinions on those prices?

Cry Vengeance, City That Never Sleeps, Laura, The Prowler, The File On Thelma Jordan, and Murder, My Sweet are all phenomenal in my opinion, definitely worth owning. Murder, My Sweet, Laura, and City That Never Sleeps among those are essential titles.

[jdw89]

Originally Posted by DistrictOfMisery

Cry Vengeance, City That Never Sleeps, Laura, The Prowler, The File On Thelma Jordan, and Murder, My Sweet are all phenomenal in my opinion, definitely worth owning. Murder, My Sweet, Laura, and City That Never Sleeps among those are essential titles.

Are the prices good?

[DistrictOfMisery]

Originally Posted by jdw89

Are the prices good?

Probably as good as they are going to be as far as Kino Lorber and Olive titles go unless there is a sale on those particular ones in the future, which I cannot predict. Some of those Olive titles were recently on sale a few weeks ago but has since ended. However Laura might be slightly cheaper on Amazon, Ebay, Deep Discount, etc. Wouldn't hurt to shop around on that one. Also Murder, My Sweet is still a fairly new release from Warner Archives so that's a pretty consistent price point for that one.

[noiradelic]

Originally Posted by jdw89

I also have these in a cart at TCM Shop - any advice on if I should go forward with any of them, or get them somewhere else since it may be cheaper?

Cry Vengeance - $14.39
Cover Up - $17.59
Caught - $14.39
City That Never Sleeps - $14.39
Laura - $15.99
The Prowler - $19.98
The File on Thelma Jordon - $14.39
The Dark Mirror - $14.39
Plunder Road - $14.39
Secret Beyond the Door - $14.39
Strangers in the Night - $11.99
Murder, My Sweet - $16.79

Any opinions on those prices?

Price on Laura is expensive. If you wait for a FoxConnect 50% off sale, you can get it for $8. And get Panic in the Streets while you're at it.

Prowler's expensive. DeepDiscount has it right now for $15. It'd be even cheaper with a one-day 15% off code.

Cover-Up's too expensive. Doesn't have a big rep -- hold off on it. Hold off on Strangers in the Night too.

You might be able to get Murder My Sweet a little cheaper from DeepDiscount.

[joie]

Look into the "Black Dahlia," Miss Elizabeth Short, a woman in L.A. She was brutally murdered in 1947, and someone has come up with the idea that Orson Welles was the killer. It looks like a circumstantial evidence case; for example, she may have been cut up like a mannequin used on a "Lady from Shanghai" set was cut up.

[Trax-3]

Originally Posted by jdw89

So far I have the following in a cart:
Maltese Falcon
The Big Combo
Out of the Past
Postman Always Rings Twice
Sunset Boulevard
Double Indemnity

Total would be $73.35, not bad... any thoughts?

Maltese Falcon - great
The Big Combo - meh
Out of the Past - meh
Postman Always Rings Twice - good
Sunset Boulevard - great
Double Indemnity - great

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by jdw89

I also have these in a cart at TCM Shop - any advice on if I should go forward with any of them, or get them somewhere else since it may be cheaper?

Cry Vengeance - $14.39
Cover Up - $17.59
Caught - $14.39
City That Never Sleeps - $14.39
Laura - $15.99
The Prowler - $19.98
The File on Thelma Jordon - $14.39
The Dark Mirror - $14.39
Plunder Road - $14.39
Secret Beyond the Door - $14.39
Strangers in the Night - $11.99
Murder, My Sweet - $16.79

Any opinions on those prices?

I must be the only person on the planet who thinks THE PROWLER is vastly overrated. And the Blu of it isn't all that hot either. But you can get it cheaper directly from its manufacturer, VCI Entertainment, when they have one of their periodic sales.

Two noirs from the Warner Archive, POSSESSED and OUT OF THE PAST both came down to $9.99 at some point and I expect MURDER, MY SWEET will do as well in time. If you're in no hurry, wait on that one.

I've never seen THE DARK MIRROR, but one of my go to noir guys on this site, THE GREAT OWL, says it's on the fringes of noir and more of a melodrama, but the look of it is supposed to be great as per its expressionistic director. You might want to wait for an Olive sale to pick that one up. I never go above $12 for any Olive title.

Your entire list is all worth a watch, but it has some second and third tier noir titles that I would only consider after I've picked up the essential ones.

[jdw89]

So everyone, what would your essential Noir's be?

Keep in mind I think I have bought a few of them, here is my list so far

Strangers on a Train
Maltese Falcon
Out of the Past
The Big Combo
Force of Evil
Postman Always Rings Twice
Sunset Boulevard
Double Indemnity

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by jdw89

So everyone, what would your essential Noir's be?

Keep in mind I think I have bought a few of them, here is my list so far

Strangers on a Train
Maltese Falcon
Out of the Past
The Big Combo
Force of Evil
Postman Always Rings Twice
Sunset Boulevard
Double Indemnity

Those are great. Add these: Sweet Smell of Success, Laura, Shadow of a Doubt, Kiss Me Deadly and Ace in the Hole.

And Gilda when that's out.

[CBHampson]

Originally Posted by jdw89

Are the prices good?

Try Jet.com.....will probably save you a decent amount when grabbing all of those.

[DistrictOfMisery]

I just finished up watching Storm Fear and I must say I was completely blown away by it, by both the narrative and direction of this film. The acting was top notch as well from the entire cast particularly by Cornel Wilde, Jean Wallace, Dan Duryea, and David Stollery. It is no surprise that Cornel Wilde and Jean Wallace were once married as their chemistry on screen is phenomenal, as it is also in The Big Combo. I really enjoyed the atmosphere in this too, I thought the snowy mountain setting was a perfect fit with the entire story and a breath of fresh air for a film noir backdrop. It was obviously entirely different from the usual rain slicked streets in the big city and showed crime can invade at any point in a secluded and rural area. The tagline on the cover has never been more appropriate in my opinion "It Hits Like A Thunderbolt" because it most definitely struck my emotions in more ways than one. I am disappointed in myself that I didn't view this noir sooner, can't recommend it enough!

[jetthead]

Originally Posted by DistrictOfMisery

I just finished up watching Storm Fear and I must say I was completely blown away by it, by both the narrative and direction of this film. The acting was top notch as well from the entire cast particularly by Cornel Wilde, Jean Wallace, Dan Duryea, and David Stollery. It is no surprise that Cornel Wilde and Jean Wallace were once married as their chemistry on screen is phenomenal, as it is also in The Big Combo. I really enjoyed the atmosphere in this too, I thought the snowy mountain setting was a perfect fit with the entire story and a breath of fresh air for a film noir backdrop. It was obviously entirely different from the usual rain slicked streets in the big city and showed crime can invade at any point in a secluded and rural area. The tagline on the cover has never been more appropriate in my opinion "It Hits Like A Thunderbolt" because it most definitely struck my emotions in more ways than one. I am disappointed in myself that I didn't view this noir sooner, can't recommend it enough!

I agree. It's a terrific film.