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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
Shadows, Lies, and Private Eyes - The Film Noir Collection, Vol. 1
directed by
John Huston, Joseph H. Lewis, Edward Dmytryk, Jacques Tourneur and Robert Wise
USA 1944 -
1950
The Asphalt Jungle Gun Crazy Murder My Sweet Out of the Past The Set-Up
The Asphalt Jungle DVD compared to Blu-ray HERE
Gun Crazy DVD compared to Blu-ray HERE
Murder, My Sweet DVDs compared to Blu-ray HERE
Out of the Past DVD compared to Blu-ray HERE
The Set-up DVD compared to Blu-ray HERE
out
of
DVD Review: Warner Home Video Boxset - Region 1 - NTSC
CLICK logo to order
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Distribution | Warner - Region 1 - NTSC |
Audio | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) |
Subtitles | English, Spanish, French, None |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Warner Home Video
Aspect Ratio: Edition Details: |
Comments: |
Each
individual release here is strong with good transfers, original mono
audio and all have commentaries. The jewel in the crown might be
considered to be
The Asphalt Jungle,
both in terms of film and image quality which runs only a small
notch behind a Criterion release (ex. "The
Killers").
Although all films in the boxset have something worthy to offer.
Super contrast, sharp, tight and solid black levels. Next for
quality, I would say
Out of the Past
is another strong example of a well-done transfer, particularly the
shadow detail. Gun
Crazy (another
excellent film) and
The Set-up are a
less sharp, but quite acceptable. They can tend to look inferior by
direct comparison.
Murder My Sweet
is another fine transfer with film grain showing through and solid
contrast. The menus are all wonderful, capturing the graphic
portrayal of many of the film posters of the era. The menus are
unanimated if that is of importance to you. Audio is original and I
heard no crackles or fluctuations. It seemed quite consistent and
clear. I listened only briefly to some of the commentaries but
intend on immersing myself contently in the near future. Being
picky, I suppose we could have requested further extras although
lets remember that often being labeled as "B" pictures (not all) the
appeal is extremely genre-specific (atmosphere) and hence there is
often nothing more available from that period. The Huston
introduction ( for
The Asphalt Jungle
) is an exception
proving the rule. Warner has come through very well here and
as this is Volume 1, we are left with baited breath for Volume 2
etc. I expect they will keep the same standard. Great job Warner !
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Recommended Reading in Film Noir (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
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Film Noir: An Encyclopedia Reference to the
American Style by Alain Silver, Elizabeth Ward |
The Dark Side of the Screen: Film Noir by Foster Hirsch |
Somewhere in the Night: Film Noir and the American City by Nicholas Christopher |
Film Noir Reader 4 : The Crucial Films and
Themes (Film Noir Reader) by Alain Silver |
The Art of Noir: The Posters and Graphics from
the Classic Era of Film Noir by Eddie Muller |
The Little Black and White Book of Film Noir:
Quotations from Films of the 40's and 50's by Peg Thompson, Saeko Usukawa |
Detours and Lost Highways: A Map of Neo-Noir by Foster Hirsch |
More Than Night: Film Noir in Its Contexts by James Naremore |
The Asphalt Jungle DVD compared to Blu-ray HERE
directed by John Huston
USA 1950
Theatrical Release: May 23rd, 1950 - USA
'Doc' Riedenschneider (Sam
Jaffe) is a legendary crime 'mastermind'. He has just been released from
prison. He has a new scheme for a million-dollar burglary. He enlists
safecracker Louis (Anthony Caruso), reinforcer Dix Handley (Sterling
Hayden), experienced driver Gus (recognize James Whitmore) and financial
backing by Emmerich (Louis Calhern). Staffing is a problem for
legitimate business as well as the nefarious types and a smooth heist
becomes fraught with an accumulation of errors that spiral out of
control. What the viewer sees is a masterpiece of the "noir" genre with
subtle reference to a disaffected urban underground community.![]() ![]() |
Posters
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Cover and Individual purchase link |
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Runtime | 1:52:04 |
Video |
1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Chapters : 32 |
Bitrate:
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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DVD Menus
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Gun Crazy DVD compared to Blu-ray HERE
directed by Joseph H. Lewis
USA 1949
(aka "Deadly is the Female")
Theatrical Release: December 1st, 1949 - USA
Even as a child, Bart
Tare (John Dall) always loved firearms. After a brief stint in the
military, his friends take him to a carnival, where he spies his
perfect girl, Annie (Peggy Cummins). She is a sharp-shooter (of
course) who similarly loves guns. It seems a coupling made in heaven
until Annie becomes disenchanted with the lack of money. Like Bonnie
and Clyde they begin traveling across the country supporting
themselves with armed robberies. Annie shows her true colors and
Bart is trapped; divided by his love and his morals. Often described
as "Lovers-on-the-lam story formulated into a poetic American
tragedy". This is a another prime example of classic 'noir' and has
themes running much deeper than most in the genre. Some might
recognize Russ Tamblyn (West Side Story) as the young Bart.![]() ![]() |
Posters
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Cover and Individual purchase link |
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Runtime | 1:27:00 |
Video |
1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Chapters : 25 |
Bitrate:
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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directed by Edward Dmytryk
USA 1944
(aka "Farewell My Lovely" )
Murder, My Sweet DVDs compared to Blu-ray HERE
Theatrical Release: 18 December 1944 (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Adapted from the Raymond Chandler novel 'Farewell, My Lovely', was
renamed for the American market (assuming filmgoers might mistake it for
the musical also starring singer Dick Powell). Private eye Philip
Marlowe (Powell) is hired by Moose Malloy (Mike Mizurki). Moose has just
been 'up the river' and is now seeking his former girlfriend, Velma, who
has not been seen since his 7 year stint in prison. What Marlowe finds
is that each lead he follows up confuses the case further and lies
compound lies with an eventual discovery of larcenous activity including
bribery, perjury and theft. Director Dymtryk with a low budget did a
remarkable job in transferring the book to the screen. Powell would seem
an odd-ball choice but it all seems to work in the end. ![]() ![]() |
Posters
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Cover and Individual purchase link |
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CLICK logo to order
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Runtime | 1:35:18 |
Video |
1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Chapters : 25 |
Bitrate:
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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USA 1947
Out of the Past DVD compared to
Blu-ray HERE
Theatrical Release: November 13th, 1947
Jeff Bailey (Robert Mitchum), seems
to be an average non-consequential, small-town type with a
Joe-job, but his mysterious past is soon revealed prior to a
meeting with nefarious gambler Whit Sterling (young Kirk
Douglas). En route he details to his girlfriend the story, seen
to us as an intriguing flashback. In a previous existence, Jeff
was a private detective hired by Sterling to find his mistress
Kathie (Jane Greer). She had shot Whit stealing his $40,000 in
the process. He traced her to Acapulco and falls for her
big-time. Whit's rendezvous is an obvious trap. Mitchum is
subtle and touching as lover ala tough guy. Director Tourneur is
the master of turning something from nothing. Pure 'noir' at its
best.
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Posters
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Cover and Individual purchase link |
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CLICK logo to order
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Runtime | 1:36:36 |
Video |
1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Chapters : 27 |
Bitrate:
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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directed by Robert Wise
USA 1949
Theatrical Release: 29 March 1949 (New York City, New York)
Past-his-prime
boxer, Bill 'Stoker' Thompson (Robert Ryan), is sure he can
still win, although his beautiful wife Julie (Audrey Totter - hubba hubba) begs with him to hang up the gloves. His pragmatic
manager Tiny (George Tobias) is sure he will lose his last match
so he takes money for a "dive" from a tough gambler, Little Boy
(Alan Baxter), but doesn't feel its necessary to tell Stoker.
Suspense builds when Stoker is coming on in the fight hoping to
beat Tiger Nelson (Hal Baylor). But what will happen to him and
Tiny should he win? Director Robert Wise shows himself as one of
Hollywood's most versatile and talented directors (West Side
Story to Star Trek). Much comes alive with this film including
the delusion of youthful dreams which can shatter in an instant.![]() ![]() |
The Set-up DVD compared to Blu-ray HERE
Posters
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Cover and Individual purchase link |
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CLICK logo to order
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Runtime | 1:12:24 |
Video |
1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Chapters : 20 |
Bitrate:
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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DVD Menus
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Screen Captures
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CLICK logo to order
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Distribution | Warner - Region 1 - NTSC |