|
Search DVDBeaver |
S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(aka 'Christ in Concrete')
directed by
Edward Dmytryk
UK 1949
|
In 1939, novelist Pietro di Donato wrote an incendiary novel called Christ in Concrete, a bestseller and Book of the Month selection about Italian-American immigrants working the construction trade in New York at the onset of the Great Depression. This work of hard-edged social criticism, filled with closely observed naturalist detail and gifted poetry, was turned into an extraordinary motion picture in 1949 by blacklisted filmmaker Edward Dmytryk. Part neorealist, part melodrama, part film noir, and it won top awards at festivals across Europe but was all but banned in the United States. Also known as “Give Us This Day” and “Salt To the Devil,” Christ in Concrete was suppressed, lost, and almost forgotten, but it remained Dmytryk’s personal favourite and became a holy grail to dedicated film fans.
***
For the oft-heavy-handed Edward Dmytryk this must be considered his greatest film. It is the closest representation of Italian neo-realism that I can think outside of that country's cinema. It is also perfect Film Noir.
This is the story of a simple yet hard-working bricklayer
(played memorably by Sam Wanamaker) who wants only the best for his new
family. He is enticed into a managerial position, essentially for the money,
but has to accept unsafe working conditions for the men under him. Unable to
emotionally bear the responsibility when one of his 'former' friends is
injured, he drifts further into a self-imposed exile and succumbs to the
charms of an old girlfriend. The naturalistic performances heighten the
empathetic impact of the all the characters especially the leading role. Truly
a classic of
Film Noir, caught up for years in the
political purgatory of cinema copyright. Folks this film is a bona-fide
masterpiece. |
out
of Book Cover
 |
Theatrical Release: December 20th, 1949
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Review: Image Entertainment / AllDay Ent. - Region 1 - NTSC
| DVD Box Cover |
|
CLICK to order from:
|
| Distribution | Image Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC | |
| Runtime | 1:54:44 | |
| Video | 1.33:1
Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.0 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
|
|
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
||
| Bitrate: |
|
|
| Audio | English (Dolby Digital 1.0) | |
| Subtitles | None | |
| Features |
Release Information: Edition Details: • Commentary
by Richard di Donato (son of the author), Norma Barzman (wife of
screenwriter Ben Barzman and author of The Red and the Blacklist), film
scholar Fred Gardaphe, and DVD producer David Kalat |
|
| Comments: |
I give you fair warning that this is a perfect example of a DVD that will drift Out-of-Print and fetch ridiculous prices on EBay. I wouldn't wait.
This is a dual sided DVD with the
extras (aside from the commentary) on Side B. The Box brags a new
digital transfer from original 35mm nitrate elements and an Isolated
music score. The image is stronger than most Image Entertainment
offerings - sharper than most- with a bit of haziness. I also LOVE the
cover. The audio is quite good, but all aside the film is the drawing
card. I wouldn't delay in picking this one up.
|
out of
Screen Captures
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| DVD Box Cover |
|
CLICK to order from:
|
| Distribution | Image Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC | |
Recommended Reading in Film Noir (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
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 |
Film Noir by Alain Silver |
Film Noir Guide: 745 Films of the Classic Era,
1940-1959 by Michael F. Keaney |
Detours and Lost Highways: A Map of Neo-Noir by Foster Hirsch |
More Than Night: Film Noir in Its Contexts by James Naremore |
CLICK PayPal logo to donate!
|
Gary Tooze
|
|
Thank You!
