Gunman in the Streets - Simone Signoret

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Time Running Out" or "Le traqué" or "Gangster at Bay")

directed by Frank Tuttle
1950

This 1950 suspense classic has been restored from the original 35mm fine grain masters with 7 censored shots reinstated for the first time since its release. Also known as "Gangster at Bay" and "Time Running Out," this gripping film noir boasts an all-star pedigree: director Frank Tuttle (This Gun For Hire, The Glass Key), stars Simone Signoret (Diabolique, Room at the Top) and Dane Clark (The Glass Key, Destination Tokyo), producer Victor Pahlen (Edgar Ulmer's "Pirates of Capri"), and cinematographer Eugen Schufftan (Ulmer's "Bluebeard," "Eyes Without a Face," "The Hustler"), filmed on location in Paris with a brilliant musical score by Joe Hajos. This film was remade in 1975 as "La Traque." Dane Clark plays an escaped gangster struggling to flee Paris as the police dragnet closes around him, with his former lover Simone Signoret caught in the crossfire.

***

The title is a misnomer, on at least two counts. First, a title like "Gunman in the Streets" tends to inspire images of a madman rampaging down public thoroughfares, brandishing a rifle and cutting down innocent victims at random. But what we have here instead is a man-on-the-run drama: Dane Clark plays Eddy Roback, a high-profile gangster who has escaped from police custody, and is now attempting to elude a city-wide dragnet, flee town (postwar Paris), and ultimately escape the country. For much of the film, Roback is shown hiding in back rooms, or ensconced in the shadowy back seats of taxi cabs; he is largely seen anywhere but "in the streets."

Excerpt of review from Marcus at Film Noir of the Week located HERE

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Theatrical Release: 13 December 1950 (Paris)

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DVD Review: All Day Entertainment, Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Review!

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	All Day Entertainment, Image Entertainment Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime	1:28:15
Video	1.31:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.49 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	Dolby Digital Mono (English)
Subtitles	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: All Day Entertainment, Image Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1.31:1 Edition Details: • Promotional artwork gallery • Notes on the making and re-discovery of the film • Censored Clips (0:10) DVD Release Date: January 15th, 2002 Keep Case Chapters 20

Comments

The unfortunate current state of home video business is such that, besides majors moving to made-on-demand and store-exclusives model, some of the minor companies keep going out of business and their excellent DVD releases are going out of print and cost big money on Amazon Marketplace. Such is the case with David Kalat's company Allday Entertainment and this lost gem of a noir called Gunman in the Streets. I had a chance to snatch up a used copy from Amazon Marketplace for a decent price and feel the money were well spent, especially since no one knows if this film will get another release anytime soon.

Simone Signoret shines in this French-made thriller, directed by This Gun for Hire and Suspense director Frank Tuttle. There is also a French-language version from a different director, but same cast. The DVD release, despite dating from 2002, is very good quality. It was sourced from a 35 mm fine grain with a few scenes, edited out from UK version, taken from a lesser print, but nevertheless, the film is its complete glory (fourth capture is taken from this previously censored scene). There are some marks on the print, but overall the progressive transfer is in very good shape. The mono soundtrack is fine, with an excellent score by Joe Hajos coming through wonderfully. There are a few extras, with a gallery and some notes on the film by David Kalat, plus above-mentioned censored clips presented in a 10-second clip. One wishes a French version was included as well, but we still recommend this release until all of it is sold out.

- Gregory Meshman

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