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

ADDITION: Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - January 19': Short story - Shout! Factory has a less robust transfer and shows less grain looking a bit filtered. Otherwise not poor - just not as good as the Arrow with its luscious texture. Audio is DTS-HD Master (24-bit) and sounds as good if maybe better at the low end. Shout! have optional gaudy yellow subtitles (see sample). They tack on a decent commentary from Mitchell and Rode that isn't in-depth but covers a lot of minutia of the production and stars. There is also a poor quality trailer and some lovely 8x10 stills in a slideshow gallery. I'd stick with the Arrow and buy that one if you aren't region-locked and can get it at a decent price (like right now). The UK Blu-ray edition is the best available but this Shout! Factory has value for the competent Noir and new commentary.  

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ADDITION: Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - September 16': There was a postal delay in my receiving this and The Blue Dahlia but I am overjoyed to have them, finally, in my possession. Aside from a shift pixel here and there the new Arrow 1080P matches up, almost exactly, with the German Koch - who were first out of the Blu-ray-gate with this essential Noir title. The Arrow is only single-layered and the bitrate a bit lower but it still shows the wonderful grain and impressive contrast that fans hope for. I see no framing disparity. I doubt many would distinguish between the two on their systems. I'm very pleased with the video presentation.

Arrow go with an authentically flat linear PCM mono track - 24-bit (as opposed to Koch's 16-bit.) The higher-end might be a shade crisper than the Koch and the bass a little less intense. The score, credited to Victor Young (Three Faces West, The Sun Shines Bright, Johnny Guitar, China Gate etc.), and Walter Scharf (Hans Christian Andersen, The Geisha Boy, Rock-a-Bye Baby) sound tight and buoyant in this addictive Noir. There are optional English subtitles (see sample below) and the Blu-ray is region 'B'-locked.

I look forward to including the the audio commentary by crime fiction and film expert Barry Forshaw. There is a new, 24-minute, visual essay on the film by Alastair Phillips, co-author of 100 Film Noirs and It was very rewarding. We get another rare 1946 half-hour radio dramatization - this time The Glass Key by The Screen Guild Theater, starring Alan Ladd, Marjorie Reynolds and Gene Kelly. It's very atmospheric. There is an original theatrical trailer and extensive gallery of vintage stills and promotional materials plus the package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tonci Zonjic.

NOTE: There is a link between The Coen brothers Miller's Crossing and The Glass Key (thanks Anthony!) as identified in Wikipedia "Miller's Crossing contains references to many gangster films and film noir. Many situations, characters. and dialogue are derived from the work of Dashiell Hammett, particularly his 1931 novel The Glass Key. There are some parallels between the two stories, and many scenes and lines are culled directly from this novel. In particular, the relationship between Tom and Leo in the film mirrors the relationship between Ned Beaumont and Paul Madvig, the principal characters of the Hammett novel."

The equal video, improved audio and supplements make the case for an Arrow Blu-ray purchase. This is one I will cherish and revisit often. Another stellar package from Arrow and we whole-heartedly recommend! I hope they do more Noir, soon!

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