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(aka "This Is Dynamite!" or "Un hombre acusa")

 

directed by William Dieterle
USA 1952

 

NOTE: Compared to Imprint's Essential Film Noir Collection 3 Blu-ray package with The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946), No Man Of Her Own (1950), The Turning Point (1952) and The Desperate Hours (1955) reviewed HERE

The Kino Blu-ray of The Turning Point is compared HERE

 

A fast-paced film noir competently directed by William Dieterle from a taut script by Warren Duff. It's based on Horace McCoy's novel "Storm in the City" and inspired by the Kefauver Committee hearings. In an unnamed big city in the Midwest (the location shots were filmed in Los Angeles), honest political lawyer John Conroy (Edmond O'Brien) has been chosen to head an investigation of widespread corruption. Conroy targets the syndicate run by trucking and money lending tycoon Eichelberger (Ed Begley, Sr.), as the responsible party for all the vice and racketeering. Helping Conroy is his society girlfriend Amanda Waycross (Alexis Smith). Conroy's longtime friend, Jerry McKibbon, a cynical investigative reporter for the Chronicle, doesn't think Conroy is tough enough to handle this almost impossible assignment. Jerry also tells him "Sometimes someone has to pay an exorbitant price to uphold the majesty of the law."

[...]

The story indicates how widespread is the city corruption and how brutally violent is the syndicate, caring little about human life. It was a hard-boiled entertaining crime story that is skeptical if idealistic politicians alone can clean up the dirt in a big city.

Excerpt of review from Dennis Schwartz for Ozus' World Movie Reviews located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: 15 November 1952 (USA)

Reviews                                                                       More Reviews                                                                DVD Reviews

 

DVD Review: Llamentol - Region 2 - PAL

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Review!

DVD Box Cover

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Distribution

Llamentol

Region 2 - PAL
Runtime 1:21:48 (4% PAL Speedup)
Video

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 6.18 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate

Audio Dolby Digital Mono 2.0 (English, Spanish Dub)
Subtitles Spanish, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Llamentol

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
� None

DVD Release Date: February 26th, 2016
Keep case

Chapters 8

 

 

 

Comments NOTE: Compared to Imprint's Essential Film Noir Collection 3 Blu-ray package with The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946), No Man Of Her Own (1950), The Turning Point (1952) and The Desperate Hours (1955) reviewed HERE

The Kino Blu-ray of The Turning Point is compared HERE

The Turning Point is an essential film noir that was influenced by Kefauver Committee of early 1950's, just like many exposé crime films that followed the hearings - The Captive City, Hoodlum Empire, The Phenix City Story, etc. What distinguishes this title from all the others is a masterful direction by William Dieterle (The Devil and Daniel Webster, Portrait of Jennie) and all-star cast featuring William Holden (post-Sunset Blvd. and Born Yesterday, pre-Stalag 17 and Sabrina) and Edmond O'Brien (D.O.A., Shield for Murder). Alexis Smith (Split Second, Whiplash) co-stars as a love interest for both men and Ed Begley Sr. (Odds Against Tomorrow, The Dunwich Horror) steals the movie as an oily crime boss.

The Turning Point was one of Paramount titles announced for a blu-ray release by Olive Films back in 2011, but, unfortunately, it was cancelled due to poor film elements provided by the studio. The film is still missing in region 1 on home video, but it was released on DVD in Italy in 2015 followed by this Spanish DVD from Llamentol and Cinema International Media S.L. The single-layered interlaced disc does not look good, especially when seen in motion. The video-sourced transfer looks soft and muddy, but contrast is well-balanced and unlike some public domain releases, the disc is watchable, with many reservations. The original English mono audio is serviceable, with a few pops and clicks - the PAL speed-up was pronounced to my ears although I usually never notice it. Unlike releases from Vértice Cine, the Spanish subtitles here are optional and can be disabled when English audio is selected. A Spanish dub is included. There are no extras and the film is divided into 8 chapters. While the film is a prime example of exposé noir and can be easily recommended, the DVD itself is poor and we are still hoping for better edition on home video in HD from Paramount sourced materials.

  - Gregory Meshman

 

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Distribution

Llamentol

Region 2 - PAL

 

 



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