Slightly Scarlet - Rhonda Fleming

directed by Allan Dwan
USA 1956

Based on a novel by James M Cain, this big-city corruption chronicle is a smart example of Dwan's '50s output, a film noir that just happens to be in colour and SuperScope. Gang leader Payne meeting his comeuppance when he tangles with sisters Fleming and Dahl, the former the mayor's innocent secretary, the latter a dangerous kleptomaniac. (Martin Scorsese, incidentally, has tipped his cap to Dwan and acknowledged him as an influence.

Excerpt from TimeOut located HERE

Made when the prolific Dwan was 70, this complicated adaptation of Cain's Lovely Counterfeit was slightly unusual for RKO and for the director in being a noir movie which is shot in wide screen and in colour. But it is still an enjoyable crime-romance, boasting remarkable credits, including a perfect B-list cast headed by Payne as a hoodlum who meets his match when two sisters react to his attempts to smear a would-be Mayor. His secretary (Fleming) falls for the hood, while the boozy sister (Dahl) adopts a less orthodox response.

Excerpt from Channel 4 located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: February 29th, 1956

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

DVD Comparison:

VCI - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Carlotta (Allan Dwan Coffret) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Screenbound - Region 0 - PAL

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the VCI Review!

1) VCI - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT .

2) Carlotta (Allan Dwan Coffret) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE

3) Screenbound - Region 0 - PAL RIGHT

DVD Box Covers

Distribution	VCI Region 1 - NTSC	Carlotta Films Region 2 - PAL	Screenbound Region 0 - PAL
Runtime	1:34:00	1:34:09	1:35:03
Video	1:78 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 7.15 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.85:1 Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 7.51 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.85:1 Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 7.51 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate VCI
Bitrate Carlotta
Bitrate Screenbound
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles	None	French, None	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: VCI Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1:78 Edition Details: • Commentary with Max Collins • Photo Gallery • James Cain bio (scrolling text) • James Cain Book Gallery • Theatrical Trailer • James Cain Trailers: Postman Always Ring Twice and Double Indemnity DVD Release Date: March 26th, 2002 Keepcase Chapters 18	Release Information: Studio: Carlotta Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1:85 Edition Details: • Interview with A. Dwan par Peter Bogdanovich (9 mn) • Au secours de Cain (28 mn) with la participation de Robert Blees, scénariste de Deux rouquines dans la bagarre. - Bandes-Annonces Package in the Allan Dwan Boxset reviewed HERE DVD Release Date: November 19th, 2009 Slim Transparent Keep case Chapters 19	Release Information: Studio: Screenbound Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Edition Details: • None DVD Release Date: September 18th, 2017 Keepcase Chapters 8

Comments

ADDED Screenbound - September 17: Yeah... ummm... no. Cropped, hazy, interlaced, unconverted PAL->NTSC, no extras... I just have to figure out why my software says it runs a minute longer.

What about we get this essential Noir on Blu-ray? Anyone?

***

ADDED Carlotta Boxset edition - DECEMBER 09: It's easy to see that the Carlotta edition in their Allan Dwan Boxset is superior to the VCI that appears to have come from an unconverted PAL source. The Carlotta doesn't have the ghosting/combing deficiencies - and while not a perfect image the French editions has far more clarity. Damage marks, like extensive vertical scratches, seem much less prevalent - although do exist. the Carlotta is slightly pictureboxed with a slim black border circumventing the frame - marginally limiting the horizontal resolution.

We lose Max Collins commentary but gain some interesting tidbits with Bogdanovich talking with Dwan (audio only) and 1/2 hour with Robert Blees - both in English. As the Carlotta release can only be got in the Allan Dwan boxset - you also get 6 other films by the director - fully reviewed HERE.

Gary W. Tooze

***

ON THE VCI: Slightly Scarlet was adapted from James M. Cain's novel Love's Lovely Counterfeit and while it may not be as classic as troika of 1940's adaptations (The Postman Always Rings Twice, Double Indemnity, Mildred Pierce), the film is old good campy fun. The image quality is acceptable for what it is - a budget release from a small studio. It's anamorphic and has a good color, although it was not transferred in HD (capture 4) and the print itself is marred by occasional lines (capture 5) and print damage (capture 7). The sound is good, but unfortunately it is not subtitled. Extras include a very informative commentary by author and filmmaker Max Allan Collins, 2 galleries of stills from the film and Cain's book covers, a theatrical trailer for the film in a pretty bad shape and trailers for 2 other films based on Cain's novels. Considering the very low price of this disc, we highly recommend.