Official Film Noir on Blu-ray Thread

[DistrictOfMisery]

I viewed my copy of Shield For Murder today and I must say this was another outstanding release from Kino. The film itself was beautifully shot with rich black and whites throughout, Edmund O'Brien played the role of a misanthropic crooked detective pretty much perfectly. His directing along with Howard W. Koch was also very tight, this was easily the darkest role I've seen him in as is the overall tone and atmosphere of the film. I also enjoyed the dialogue immensely, there were two scenes that really stuck out one being in the second act and the other in the third. I feel as though this film may be slightly underrated, another one I would recommend without hesitation thanks Kino!

[The Great Owl]

Last night, I watched my Kino Blu-ray of The Chase (1946)

I will not go so far as to say that The Chase is a top-tier film noir, but it is a beautifully photographed movie, and it throws a few interesting storytelling curveballs. I enjoyed this film, and I liked being surprised at the narrative turns. I have a feeling that I'll probably grow to appreciate it more upon subsequent viewings, since it's an example of film noir blending with surrealism in cinema.

Eddie Roman, played with chilling effectiveness by Steve Cochran, is a gangster, a murderer, a wife beater, and, worst of all, a backseat driver. I've always disliked backseat drivers with a passion. If there's one underlying lesson that the kiddies can take home from The Chase, it's that you should never be a backseat driver. If you're a passenger in a vehicle, then just keep your mouth shut and let the driver alone. Backseat drivers are evil.

The legendary Peter Lorre is fantastic as Roman's henchman, and, although his character never stoops to the level of being a backseat driver, he does add some hostility and menace to the story.

Robert Cummings is usually known for his lighter roles, but he's spot-on perfect as the protagonist, Chuck Scott. No good deed goes unpunished, as Scott eventually learns when he returns a lost wallet to Eddie Roman and subsequently ends up employed as a driver by Roman. The film does a great job of showing us this new world through Scott's eyes, and we share his bewilderment with Roman's abusive ways and with underworld crime life in general. The ease to which we relate to Scott's situation works in the movie's favor later on, when the story takes some sharp turns.

Michèle Morgan is quite gorgeous, and it's easy to imagine Scott falling for her, since she gives off simultaneous vibes of being vulnerable and being unattainable.

The Chase has so many great scenes, even if there is some debate about whether or not this movie amounts to more than the sum of its parts. I love an early moment when Roman tells Scott that he should get a medal for his honesty, and Scott wearily replies that he already has a medal.

In terms of high definition presentation, Kino has done an admirable job rescuing The Chase from public domain, just as they did with The Stranger. I give the video and audio a thumbs-up, considering the source material.

The sleep monster caught me last night just after I started watching the film a second time with the Guy Maddin audio commentary track, but I'm looking forward to listening to that track tonight and learning more about this oddball noir.

[CBHampson]

Originally Posted by oildude

As big a Lee Marvin fan as I am, I am even a bigger Robert Mitchum fan. And you get Robert Ryan and Gloria Grahame on the same bill. Both posters look awesome, but I would go with the first one.

Where did you get these?

They're just reproductions. I'm sure originals would be thousands of dollars

Moviepostershop or Amazon though.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by oildude

As big a Lee Marvin fan as I am, I am even a bigger Robert Mitchum fan. And you get Robert Ryan and Gloria Grahame on the same bill. Both posters look awesome, but I would go with the first one.

Just a friendly FYI to those who might miss it: Although Mitchum is indeed in CROSSFIRE and listed on the poster, the images represented on that particular art are of Robert Young and Robert Ryan. It's a great poster and gets my vote, but the one for THE KILLERS has abstract cool to it. Much of it depends on the decor of the rest of the space. CROSSFIRE would fit in with more of a traditional look, THE KILLERS more modern.

[EVERYONE LIES]

Originally Posted by CBHampson

They're just reproductions. I'm sure originals would be thousands of dollars

Moviepostershop or Amazon though.

I collect movie posters. I'm not familiar with The Killers one but the French Crossfire one would cost you about $500-$1000 in excellent shape if you could find it.

[Cranston37]

Originally Posted by tallguy58

Ida Lupino, Barbara Stanwyck, Claire Trevor, Lizabeth Scott and Shelley Winters all have 7 so the crown for "Queen" is up for grabs.

Ida Lupino gets bonus points from me since she directed one. That was just unheard of back then.

[CBHampson]

Originally Posted by EVERYONE LIES

I collect movie posters. I'm not familiar with The Killers one but the French Crossfire one would cost you about $500-$1000 in excellent shape if you could find it.

Nice. That seems reasonable actually.

[MifuneFan]

Kino has just announced Hangover Square (1945), coming from a new HD rmaster, and schedueld for 2017. Two other John Brahm films, The Undying Monster (1942) and The Lodger (1944) are coming later this year.

Coming in 2017 on Blu-ray! Brand New HD Master!

Hangover Square (1945)
Starring Laird Cregar, Linda Darnell, George Sanders and Alan Napier
Directed by John Brahm

We originally planned to release all three John Brahm classics December 2016 - Now THE LODGER and THE UNDYING MONSTER will be released December 6th - HANGOVER SQUARE will be receive a brand new HD transfer and will be released in 2017.

[noirjunkie]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Kino has just announced Hangover Square (1945), coming from a new HD rmaster, and schedueld for 2017. Two other John Brahm films, The Undying Monster (1942) and The Lodger (1944) are coming later this year.

Hey, welcome back!

[MifuneFan]

Thanks

[silverlakephil]

TCM Channel's July lineup:

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

[MifuneFan]

Last call for the TT sale. It ends at 4 PM EST, or about 1.5 hours from now.

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

The Twilight Time Sale is now live, and is good till July 1st.

Here are the Noir titles on sale:

$19.95

ALL THE KING’S MEN
BIG HEAT, The (ENCORE EDITION)
BLACK WIDOW
DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS
EXPERIMENT IN TERROR
HOUSE OF BAMBOO
MAN IN THE DARK 3-D
VIOLENT SATURDAY
WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS

http://www1.screenarchives.com/index.cfm

[tallguy58]

Originally Posted by silverlakephil

TCM Channel's July lineup:

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

They list The Bad Seed on July 31st.

It should be The Big Combo according to the description.

[MifuneFan]

Anyone lookng to stock up on some Noir titles from Olive, Deep Discount is having a BOGO sale right now, and the prices are quite good. You can get them for around $11 or less each after discount

http://www.deepdiscount.com/olive-fi...y=PriceLowHigh

[drb124]

Got these in from the Arrow sale.

[jetthead]

Originally Posted by drb124

Got these in from the Arrow sale.

[Show spoiler]

Lizabeth Scott is about as ruthless a femme fatale as there ever was in Too Late for Tears!

[jetthead]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Anyone lookng to stock up on some Noir titles from Olive, Deep Discount is having a BOGO sale right now, and the prices are quite good. You can get them for around $11 or less each after discount

http://www.deepdiscount.com/olive-fi...y=PriceLowHigh

I picked up the last of the noir films from Olive that I wanted with this sale:

[Ray Jackson]

Gilda vs. Ride The Pink Horse?

I'm sure they're both good, but does anyone have strong feelings as to which one is better?

[lemonski]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Gilda vs. Ride The Pink Horse?

I'm sure they're both good, but does anyone have strong feelings as to which one is better?

Ride the Pink Horse for me, it's a great little B-noir gem. I just don't get Gilda - if you take the attraction of Rita Hayworth out of it (granted, it is a fairly decent attraction ), I didn't think there was much to it. That said, I ordered it in the B&N sale - I'm going to give it a second shot.

[MeMynonsense]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Gilda vs. Ride The Pink Horse?

I'm sure they're both good, but does anyone have strong feelings as to which one is better?

Ride The Pink Horse is the more cynical & conventional and therefore a more safer option.
It however lacks the charms of the optically orgasmic Rita Hayworth

No offence to Gilda & The Lady from Shanghai, my favoured Hayworth indulgence continues to be The Shawshank Redemption