NOTE: Witness to Murder is on Radiance Blu-ray in their World Noir Vol. #1 reviewed / compared HERE

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (November 2022): Kino have transferred a new 'French Noir Collection' to Blu-ray consisting of three films; Speaking of Murder (Le rouge est mis) from 1957, Back to the Wall (Le dos au mur) from 1958 and Witness in the City (Un témoin dans la ville) from 1959 - housed on a two dual-layered Blu-rays. with Speaking of Murder on its own, first Blu-ray, and the other two films sharing a second disc. It is stated that "All three films were restored in 2K". The 1080P image quality is quite good for all three films. Witness in the City can be a shade dark (muddy) but there is solid contrast in the other two, smatterings of grain, damage free and all three HD presentations appear film-like without digitization or compressions issues.

NOTE: We have added 116 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono tracks (24-bit) in the original French language. There is a variety of, generally underplayed, aggression that comes through flat with modest bass. Speaking of Murder had a score by Denis Kieffer (Les assassins du dimanche.) On Back to the Wall the score was credited to Richard Cornu (Le crime du Bouif) and on Witness in the City the score was by Barney Wilen (his first film composition but he worked as a tenor sax musician on Elevator to the Gallows.) It's pleasingly jazzy, often performed by his Quintet. The films music is fairly subtle but helps establish dark moods felt through the presentation. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers only some, French-language film trailers - two of which are for Speaking of Murder and Back to the Wall. The package does have reversible cover art (see above.)

Kino's new 'French Noir Collection' on Blu-ray is highly anticipated by 'dark cinema' and French film fans - not to mention those keen on icons Jeanne Moreau, Jean Gabin and Lino Ventura. We already know the French are fearless in exploring humanity's dark side - often through a lens of crime-infused Noir with directors like Jean-Pierre Melville, Julien Duvivier, Jean Renoir, Henri-Georges Clouzot, Jacques Arnaud, Jacques Becker, Louis Malle, François Truffaut, Jacques Deray, Claude Sautet, Costa-Gavras etc. in films like Pépé le Moko, Port of Shadows, La Bête Humaine, Le Corbeau, Le Jour Se Leve, Panique, Casque d'Or, Touchez Pas Au Grisbi, Le Trou, Bob Le Flambeur, Rififi, Elevator to the Gallows, Purple Noon, Shoot the Piano Player, Classe Tous Risques, The Sicilian Clan, Le Cercle Rouge, Max and the Junkmen, Le Deuxième Souffle, Le Doulos, Le Samouraï, Army of Shadows and A Cop to name a few. Two of the films in Kino's 'French Noir Collection' are directed by Édouard Molinaro who was best known for his comedies, but this cinema is quite dark with the filmmaker's entries dealing with vengeful, scheming, husbands cheated on by their adulterous wives. Both of these films are excellent. In the other, Speaking of Murder, ruthless Louis the Blond (Jean Gabin) manages a gang of criminals fronted by his legitimate businesses, until trust issues set in. These are wonderful efforts with mood-enhancing black and white cinematography, desperate criminal elements, and jealousy-damaged husbands. I hope Kino do as many volumes as they are for their Noir Dark Side Blu-ray sets. Hopefully commentaries will also be included. Absolutely recommended!   

Gary Tooze