Official Film Noir on Blu-ray Thread

[DistrictOfMisery]

Originally Posted by RiFiFi1955

Great snag on The Big Heat! Excellent Film and I am surprised no one but TT has released this. I would have thought MoC would have got to it by now in the UK.

Yeah I need to get a copy of The Third Man now. My Studio Canal Region 1 Disc is faulty and doesn't load, never did I guess but I took three years to put it in the player to find out. I have seen some relative cheap used Criterions The Third Man's around ever since the 4K Region 2 disc dropped so either I could spring for one of those or just import the 4K....OR maybe wait for a stateside release of the 4k transfer(if that ever actually happens).

Thanks! I am very excited to get The Big Heat and view it, I really enjoy checking out the essential titles that people hail as must see. Even though I have been having an awesome time watching a lot of the Olive Films releases and Kino stuff. I recently picked up and watched Force of Evil and was blown away by it, absolutely loved that one. And I definitely agree with you about The Third Man, I am in the exact same boat and think I'm just going to pull the trigger on the Criterion release for sure. That will kill two birds with one stone adding that title to my film noir and Criterion collection.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by DistrictOfMisery

I finally tracked down a copy of Twilight Time's The Big Heat, I cannot wait to check that one out, next up is a copy of Criterion's The Third Man, I'm taking as much over time as I can at work to make that purchase.

If you're not against importing, you should pick up the UK version of The Third Man. It's region free, and has better pq than the Criterion release.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by HD Canuck

Surprised this isn't on the list...

To me, it's more of a murder mystery than a noir.

[Namuhana]

Yeah, I don't see The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as noir. It's still a fantastic film, though, and probably my favorite by Fincher.

[noirjunkie]

I just watched this film last night and came away very impressed. It definitely belongs in the neo-noir section.

[The Great Owl]

Since I bought a new television and a new sound bar a few days ago, I decided to revisit the Blu-ray of my all-time favorite film, Out of the Past, last night.

Out of the Past keeps getting better with each viewing, although the number of times that I've re-watched it far eclipses the number of times that I've re-watched any other Blu-ray in my collection. Jacques Tourneur took everything that he learned from his classic horror films (Cat People, I Walked with a Zombie, etc.) and applied it so well to this movie.

The dialogue in this movie always puts a smile on my face, especially because of Robert Mitchum's laconic delivery of each line.

"You can never help anything, can you? You're like a leaf that the wind blows from one gutter to another."

"She can't be all bad. No one is."
"Well, she comes the closest."

"I don't want to die."
"Neither do I, baby, but if I have to, I'm going to die last."

"I’m sorry he didn’t die."
"Give him time."

"Is there a way to win?"
"There's a way to lose more slowly."

"Don't you see you've only me to make deals with now?"
"Build my gallows high, baby."

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by stevieray44

Also, about that quote I highlighted; I know you said a few days ago, Owl, that you watched Night Moves, 1975; did you pick up on Hackman's line while he was watching the football game on TV?

Ellen: Who's winning?
Harry Moseby: Nobody. One side is just losing slower than the other.

Yes! Night Moves has quite a few subtle references to classic-era film noir, and that line is a cool touch.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by noirjunkie

I just watched this film last night and came away very impressed. It definitely belongs in the neo-noir section.

Thanks. I've had the movie in my Netflix queue for some time, and kept putting off seeing it. I never got any noir impressions from the synopsis or some reviews I read back then, but reading up a little on it now, a lot of people do mention it. Apparently the writer of the novel coined the term "country noir" to describe some of his books too.

[Professor Echo]

Well, I finally got tired of waiting for some ambitious studio to release Blus of Anthony Mann's superb Noir double bill of T-MEN and RAW DEAL, bit the bullet and picked up the two VCI DVDs of both. Unfortunately, it appears each of these bargain priced public domain releases from VCI are now OOP, so I waited too long. T-MEN Used-Very Good was still a reasonable $4.94 shipped but RAW DEAL Used-Like New was $11.99 shipped. That's a lot for a public domain movie with an interlaced transfer, but Beaver said it's not bad. And at least they used awesome original poster art for the covers, which I love. I would have liked to have seen a comparison to the Roan versions as Roan usually trumps the competition for public domain titles, but seeing as how that set is selling for over a hundred dollars (!) now the point is moot.

In any case, if these are announced for Blu, you'll have me to thank! You're welcome.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Well, I finally got tired of waiting for some ambitious studio to release Blus of Anthony Mann's superb Noir double bill of T-MEN and RAW DEAL, bit the bullet and picked up the two VCI DVDs of both. Unfortunately, it appears each of these bargain priced public domain releases from VCI are now OOP, so I waited too long. T-MEN Used-Very Good was still a reasonable $4.94 shipped but RAW DEAL Used-Like New was $11.99 shipped. That's a lot for a public domain movie with an interlaced transfer, but Beaver said it's not bad. And at least they used awesome original poster art for the covers, which I love. I would have liked to have seen a comparison to the Roan versions as Roan usually trumps the competition for public domain titles, but seeing as how that set is selling for over a hundred dollars (!) now the point is moot.

In any case, if these are announced for Blu, you'll have me to thank! You're welcome.

I did the same thing last year, so maybe our collected efforts can result in a Blu-ray release for both movies.

Raw Deal, in particular, is one top-notch film noir.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I did the same thing last year, so maybe our collected efforts can result in a Blu-ray release for both movies.

Raw Deal, in particular, is one top-notch film noir.

I have to say that just about everything Anthony Mann touched turned to gold. I even like the few moments left of his in SPARTACUS better than Kubrick, as heretical as that is.

[The Great Owl]

I'm considering pre-ordering Black Widow (1987) and Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) from Twilight Time in a few weeks.

Can anyone who has seen these make a case for their being solid neo-noir films?

[lemonski]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Since I bought a new television and a new sound bar a few days ago, I decided to revisit the Blu-ray of my all-time favorite film, Out of the Past, last night.

Out of the Past keeps getting better with each viewing, although the number of times that I've re-watched it far eclipses the number of times that I've re-watched any other Blu-ray in my collection. Jacques Tourneur took everything that he learned from his classic horror films (Cat People, I Walked with a Zombie, etc.) and applied it so well to this movie.

A recommendation for Blood on the Moon (also from 1948), with Mitchum, directed by Lewton alumni Robert Wise, and Out of the Past's cinematographer Nicholas Musaraca. Of the western noirs I've seen, it's probably the closest to a true noir, and well worth a watch. How it ever escaped a DVD release, I have no idea.

[lhslancers]

Originally Posted by AnamorphicWidescreen

Sunset Boulevard is one of the best films of all time. I recently re-watched this on the Blu, and was yet again reminded of it's brilliance. Great commentary on how some people like to live in the past and try to relive their glory days, even when these days are long behind them & these people have long been forgotten. Both Gloria Swanson & William Holden were amazing in their roles, and it was interesting to see Hollywood as it looked in the 1950's.

IIRC, American Beauty paid homage to SB in the opening sequence...

Huge The Big Lebowski fan as well - that's my favorite Coen brothers film, also possibly my favorite comedy of all time. And, yes, there were definite noir "nods" in TBL, notably the detective subplot, the L.A. setting, etc.

Just watched it again today. Really an incredible movie.

[Jobla]

Dupe post.

[Jobla]

I love BLACK WIDOW, but I'm admittedly a Theresa Russell freak. I do think it's a fine neo-noir, although with a contemporary setting (whereas I think that DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS is a period piece). The film was kind of a comeback for director Rafelson. Debra Winger is also good in it, cast against type as a shy woman who falls under Russell's spell while investigating her as a possible serial killer. If you like Seattle or Hawaii, the on-location cinematography is a major plus (I'm from Seattle). It's not a mystery (you know whodunit), but a fine character study of the tricky relationship between the two women.

[HD Canuck]

Another one that might fit the category...

[kaseaver]

"I'm considering pre-ordering Black Widow (1987) and Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) from Twilight Time in a few weeks.
Can anyone who has seen these make a case for their being solid neo-noir films?"

Devil in Blue Dress strikes me as pretty solid neo-noir. It's set in the 1940's but released in 1990's, so I guess it would be considered neo-noir as would Chinatown. Based on novel by Walter Mosely, also credited as writer for the film. Mosely's works in general are considered to be noir.

[burningfool]

Originally Posted by noirjunkie

I just watched this film last night and came away very impressed. It definitely belongs in the neo-noir section.

Agreed 100%. It's a wonderful film, albeit difficult to watch in parts.

[The Great Owl]

I just finished watching my Kino Lorber Blu-ray of Big House, U.S.A.

Big House, U.S.A. benefits from a strong cast of noir stalwarts, namely William Talman (The Hitch-Hiker, The Racket, Crashout, City That Never Sleeps, etc), Charles Bronson (The Big Combo, Crime Wave), Broderick Crawford (Human Desire, All the King's Men, Scandal Sheet, etc.), and Ralph Meeker (Kiss Me Deadly). There's also a notable appearance from none other than horror veteran Lon Chaney, Jr. Finally, Felicia Farr, who graced the westerns, Jubal and 3:10 to Yuma, looks quite good in a nurse uniform.

While I would not rank Big House, U.S.A. among the brightest and best of the films noir, I did thoroughly enjoy its well-paced journey through multiple location settings and such. I'd say that it's just as much of a simple crime thriller as it is an actual noir, but there are quite a few well-regarded films noir that give off the same vibe. I was particularly reminded of Crashout, in part because of William Talman's appearances in both. The horrific nature of the crime itself lends itself to a noir vibe as much as anything. There are also a few scenes that must have been shocking back in their day, especially one involving a blowtorch.

This Blu-ray looks quite filmic, and it's another black-and-white noir done right by Kino Lorber.