ADDITION: Signal One - Region 'B' Blu-ray (August 2017): 20th Century Fox offered a decent Blu-ray back in 2013 and the Signal One offers the same authentically heavy image - not much difference but I do think the UK transfer has a slight edge. It doesn't show the same, marginal, waxiness when I zoom-in. Probably not a deal-breaker for most, but for the more discerning or for those who project - they might also notice.

Audio goes linear PCM 1.0 channel (24-bit) in original English and supports the film as well as Fox's DTS-HD Master. The Alfred Newman (Heaven Can Wait, Man Hunt, Cry of the City, The Diary of Anne Frank, Bus Stop, Blood and Sand, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Song of Bernadette) score works very well with the darkness, shadows and desperation of the storyline. It sounds authentic in the uncompressed and dialogue is clear and consistent. The Blu-ray disc is region 'B'-locked.

We get the same, excellent, Ursini and Alain Silver commentary, a stills gallery and trailer but lose the two, good, documentaries found on the Fox Blu-ray.

This is a solid Noir and B-locked audiences should own this Signal One Blu-ray in their library. Great cover!

ADDITION: Fox Region 'A' Blu-ray - (March 2013) - The new Fox 1080P of Panic in the Streets retains the thick appearance. Of all the Fox Film Noir DVDs - this always looked the heaviest - and this same presentation has moved to the Blu-ray. Like the SD, it looks muddy and gritty - which I can only presume is accurate. DNR? - It doesn't look like that to me. The visuals are dark, contrast is rich but you won't find any pristine crispness in the detail. There is a shade more information on the sides and maybe a bit less in the tip and bottom. The image quality is consistent and many will appreciate the denser textures. It is totally suitable to the black cinema.

Alfred Newman's score sounds wonderful via the lossless DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel. He is one of the best Noir film composers and it has suspenseful depth and presence via the uncompressed. There are optional subtitles on the region 'A"-locked disc.

We get two new extras along with the excellent 2005 Ursini and Silver commentary by authors and historians James Ursini and Alain Silver. There is a good documentary by Jeanne Begley entitled Jack Palance From Grit to Grace. It runs almost 45 minutes and has input from many of his co-performers (Billy Crystal, Edward James Olmos, Anthony Quinn, Widmark etc.) and was originally on TV's 'Biography' program from 2001. There is another or equal length called Richard Widmark: Strength of Character by Victoria Price also from Biography - but a year earlier. It has Karl Malden, Eddie Muller, Sidney Poitier, Robert Wagner and others discussing the actors strengths. There is also a theatrical trailer.

The commentary and new 1.5 hours worth of video supplements - add to the film-like appearance of the Blu-ray and mark this as a must-own for fan of Film Noir and/or Kazan.

***

ON THE DVD: Again, just shy of sharp, this release has a bit of softness. Funny, If I reviewed this a year ago I would be more overjoyed, but I think we have been spoilt lately with so many devastating Warner and Criterion releases. I don't see any heavy manipulation, it IS HD-sourced, so I shouldn't be complaining too much. Commentary is adequate. A decent job by Fox on an exquisite film noir.    

Gary W. Tooze