Man In the Dark (1953) Blu-ray 3D [Region Free]

[ilovenola2]

Originally Posted by gazadams

i thought this was a great little film and the 3d was exceptional

I thought exactly the same when I was a 10-year old and saw it in the theatre upon release.
I STILL think the same over six decades later!!

What fun it is to revisit a past one actually REMEMBERS!

[donald.brown]

I enjoyed the move and most of the 3D, but the rear projection ruined the rollercoaster sequence. Edmond O'Brien and Audrey Totter are true noir veterans.

[jimqk]

Originally Posted by donald.brown

I enjoyed the move and most of the 3D, but the rear projection ruined the rollercoaster sequence. Edmond O'Brien and Audrey Totter are true noir veterans.

Regarding the rear projection, I see where you're coming from, but when I watch old movies like this - especially ones loaded with this much action - I expect nothing less.

Hitchcock's Spellbound, for instance, includes one of the most ridiculously fake rear projection scenes I ever saw (the skiing sequence), yet for some reason I like it. I mean, back then, how else would they accomplish a scene like that?

You're right about O'Brien and Totter. I think their experience in the noir genre made them great choices for this movie.

[MercurySeven]

Pleased as Punch with this one. It might have a flimsy little plot that barely supports its already short run-time, but I grinned from start to finish. It's a B-movie through and through, the film equivalent of a pulp novella, complete with amusing bursts of hard-boiled dialogue and not much room for characterization.

The fairground scenes are great fun, my favourites in the film. I actually wish the whole story had been set there. Special mention has to go to the 3D photography, which is stunning. It's one of the best-looking black-and-white blu-rays I've seen in terms of PQ, and the 3D adds immeasurably to that. Lots of fun pop-outs--the surgery sequence is a hoot--and so much depth to pretty much every shot, Man in the Dark is just a pleasure to watch.

A pricey purchase from Screen Archives (though I dodged the import charge this time), it's also one of the best 3D "surprises" I've had this year. Okay film, brilliant 3D.

I've yet to be disappointed by one of these Golden Age titles.

[revgen]

It's now available for $14.95 at ScreenArchives.

[robtadrian]

The sale is over but Twilight Time has announced there are now less than 400 copies left! So over 2600 copies sold! Nice! I wouldn't delay if you've been on the fence...

[SMOOT]

The lackluster reviews kept me from buying this title, but the recent half-price sale got me to part with my money. It was a most pleasant surprise -- I think the movie is far better than any review that I have read.
I really agree with jimqk comment #127 about the rear projection on the rider point-of-view inside the roller coaster, and I will add that it did not bother me at all. The entire roller coaster sequence is a great fight sequence all over that ride.
I also agree with MercurySeven post #128 that it would have been nice if more of the movie had been set at the fairground.

[kidglov3s]

I watched this last night and enjoyed it very much, enough to get me to order the Edmund O'Brien crooked cop movie Shield for Murder. The 3D was stellar, I loved all the popouts in the surgery scene.

[revgen]

It's on sale at Screen Archives for $19.95. It's "low quantity" right now, so once it's sold out at Screen Archives, it's gone forever.

[grazina31]

Originally Posted by revgen

It's on sale at Screen Archives for $19.95. It's "low quantity" right now, so once it's sold out at Screen Archives, it's gone forever.

Thank you for the heads up. Already placed an order.

[Smaugone]

I hope there's some left when I get back on my feet.

[xplorar]

Saw this last night!
Excellent 3D here. Good depths and wide separation between layers. Some very well-done and memorable pop-outs.

The movie itself is quiet watchable despite rated low in reviews. Though I would have preferred a more attractive and charismatic cast, I think that the leading man (Edmond O'Brien) acted quiet well here and kept me engaged throughout the film.

Restoration work is great! Picture is very clean and sharp with good contrast.

[fatboy1111]

sale must be over showing $29.99 for me.......

[robtadrian]

Yes..was only 10 days..I missed out on Zardoz...

[RockyIII]

Why was production discontinued? These 3D movies would sell like hot cakes, based on the current state of the home video market

[SMOOT]

Originally Posted by RockyIII

Why was production discontinued? These 3D movies would sell like hot cakes, based on the current state of the home video market

Man in the Dark 3D was the first 3D from Twilight Time, and the company was not all that well known then -- Plus, the title was not on the top of many 3D fan lists.
It was low on my list, and I only purchased it later at a sale. And, wow, it turned out to be a great surprise:

Really excellent 3D and a fun movie.

The film history on this one is littered with myths -- Even the Blu-ray box has the myth that it was shot in only 11 days (and, I tell you, no way!).
Plus, people only mention the rollercoaster in the background not being a 3D background. Well, it's the most thriling action sequence that I have ever seen around a rollercoaster, and other than the shots from inside the car (when the hero is riding), it's all 3D, and even in those hero-riding shots the foreground is 3D and looks fine.

A really underrated film.

But, Twilight Time licensed only so many, and it took some time to sell those. Likely, had it been released a bit later in their game, it would have sold out faster and even a few more licensed.

[RockyIII]

Originally Posted by SMOOT

Man in the Dark 3D was the first 3D from Twilight Time, and the company was not all that well known then -- Plus, the title was not on the top of many 3D fan lists.
It was low on my list, and I only purchased it later at a sale. And, wow, it turned out to be a great surprise:

Really excellent 3D and a fun movie.

The film history on this one is littered with myths -- Even the Blu-ray box has the myth that it was shot in only 11 days (and, I tell you, no way!).
Plus, people only mention the rollercoaster in the background not being a 3D background. Well, it's the most thriling action sequence that I have ever seen around a rollercoaster, and other than the shots from inside the car (when the hero is riding), it's all 3D, and even in those hero-riding shots the foreground is 3D and looks fine.

A really underrated film.

But, Twilight Time licensed only so many, and it took some time to sell those. Likely, had it been released a bit later in their game, it would have sold out faster and even a few more licensed.

Same with Miss Sadie Thompson. These people are sitting on a gold mine and they don't even realize it. Check out how quickly 3D sell on the US market in general, and the moment any 3D title goes on sale, good luck finding even one copy left!
Stupid move on behalf of TT!

[Robert Furmanek]

In their defense, Twilight Time cannot license any more Sony 3-D titles for release because Sony does not have masters on the remaining five features. As we were told about six years, "We've done the important ones."

So while complete left/right 35mm elements have been preserved, there are no available 3-D digital masters for The Stranger Wore a Gun, The Nebraskan, Fort Ti, Drums of Tahiti and Jesse James vs. the Daltons. The last three were directed by William Castle.

Of course, we can create a new digital master at a great price...

[RockyIII]

Originally Posted by Robert Furmanek

In their defense, Twilight Time cannot license any more Sony 3-D titles for release because Sony does not have masters on the remaining five features. As we were told about six years, "We've done the important ones."

So while complete left/right 35mm elements have been preserved, there are no available 3-D digital masters for The Stranger Wore a Gun, The Nebraskan, Fort Ti, Drums of Tahiti and Jesse James vs. the Daltons. The last three were directed by William Castle.

Of course, we can create a new digital master at a great price...

I am not referring to the masters of the remaining five features. I am talking about production THIS title, Man In The Dark, along with Miss Sadie Thompson, as both older and newer fans never had the chance to grab a copy.
Why do you think Best Buy sells out every time a new movie comes out in 3D, and why 3D blurays are the most coveted ones on the second-hand market?

[kyle]

Originally Posted by RockyIII

I am not referring to the masters of the remaining five features. I am talking about production THIS title, Man In The Dark, along with Miss Sadie Thompson, as both older and newer fans never had the chance to grab a copy.
Why do you think Best Buy sells out every time a new movie comes out in 3D, and why 3D blurays are the most coveted ones on the second-hand market?

Twilight Time generally only produces a limited number of each title (3K) and only a handful of their titles have ever had a re-issue run (none of the 3D ones)