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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Samuel Fuller's Street of No Return" )

 

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/direct-chair/fuller.htm
France | Portugal 1989

 

Keith Carradine (Nashville, Southern Comfort, The Duellist) stars as a former pop star who has it all, until he fell in love with the wrong gangster's girl and had his throat cut for his sins. Now a drifter, he lives in a haze of amnesia, alcohol and misery, until one day, he rediscovers himself and a chance for vengeance. Legendary director Samuel Fuller's (The Naked Kiss, Pickup on South Street) final film is a raw, powerful and stylish masterpiece in the genre that he helped to define. Based on the classic crime-novel by David Goodis (Shoot the Piano Player), this brutal tale strikes with the impact of a hammer blow to the head (literally!). Fantoma is proud to present the U.S. premiere of this modern classic, from one of cinema's most original visionaries, in a special new edition.

***

Sam Fuller's last film as a director, made during his self-imposed European exile, stars Keith Carradine as once glamorous pop singer Michael, who has been reduced to a grizzled street bum scavenging for booze and food. The cause of his downfall was his affair with the beautiful Celia (Valentina Vargas), a mistress of ruthless crime boss Eddie (Marc de Jonge). The mobster punished the singer "where it hurts most" -- by slitting his throat and thus ruining his career. Years later, Michael crosses paths with Eddie and his thugs again and gets a chance for revenge.

Posters

Television Premiere: August 9th, 1989

 

Reviews                                                               More Reviews                                                       DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover

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Distribution

Fantoma

Region 0 - NTSC

Runtime 1:32:06
Video

1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 8.39 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 2.0 (English)
Subtitles None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Fantoma

Aspect Ratio:
Original - 1.78:1

Edition Details:
• Audio Commentary by Keith Carradine
Original 33 minute Behind the Scenes Documentary (32:23)
Text Interview with Samuel Fuller

• Trailer (1:01)
Liner Notes by Lee Server, Author of "Sam Fuller: Film is a Battleground"

DVD Release Date: July 29th, 2003
Keep Case

Chapters 10

 

 

 

Comments

Life can be so busy at times and I've had this DVD on my shelf for quite a while. Perhaps, mentally, I was hoping for a Blu-ray to come along but that doesn't appear to be in the cards at present. I loved Street of No Return and am flabbergasted at the low price, currently, on Amazon.

Fantoma have produced a wonderful DVD package for Sam Fuller's Street of No Return.  The director's last film has his fingerprints all over it - shadows, dialogue and a style that isn't easily duplicated. This was so much fun - making wish there was more from Samuel Fuller to enjoy. My pleasure was extended by seeing cameos in Street of No Return by, my friend, the lovely Christa Fuller (as a nurse), daughter Samantha (director of A Fuller Life) as an autograph-seeking fan and Sam himself - even as only a barking shadow!

The image quality, in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio is stupendous for SD. Housed on a dual-layered disc with a very high bitrate - detail is exceptional and there is frequent depth. Solid contrast supports the visuals which can look at shade greenish in the beginning and very minor edge-enhancement in a few scenes. Overall it looked very strong on my system as the screen captures should indicate.

The mono audio is decent supporting the score by Karl-Heinz Schäfer and there are no subtitles offered.

The supplements add massive value with a great commentary by Keith Carradine who discusses Fuller almost exclusively bringing up his mannerisms, cigar-chomping and factoids about the European production. I found it extremely rewarding - he is an intelligent and interesting commentator. There is also the 33-minute behind the scenes documentary; The Making of 'Street of No Return' from 2002 directed by Ian Hendrie, Derrick Scocchera with footage of Samuel Fuller and Keith Carradine. It's also educational about this production that was filmed on the dark streets of Lisbon in 1988. There is a 5-screen text Interview with Samuel Fuller plus a trailer. The package has a liner notes, 6-page leaflet with photos and an essay by Lee Server, Author of "Sam Fuller: Film is a Battleground".

It's shameful that I haven't reviewed this valuable disc until now. There is so much here to enjoy and for under $6 (the price at the writing of this review) that you should buy two of them! Our highest recommendation!  

  - Gary Tooze

 



 

DVD Menu
 

 


Screen Captures

 

 


 

 


 

 


 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 


Lovely Christa Fuller in the background as the nurse

 


Shadow on the wall is Samuel Fuller

 

 


 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


  Daughter Samantha Fuller (director of A Fuller Life)

 


DVD Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

Distribution

Fantoma

Region 0 - NTSC

 




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