Film-Noir Discussion/DVD Review Thread

[dave jenkins]

Thieves Market - Interesting and unusual plot. The main dish of the movie is sexy Valentina Cortese, in spite of her terrible hair-do which cannot hide her being miscast: in spite of that, no surprise Conte (very good in this movie) leaves insipid Barbara Lawrence for her. Cobb does his homework. 7\10

I think the U.S. title is Thieves Highway. I dislike Valentina Cortese (Mrs. Richard Baseheart at one point) and am more than a little annoyed that Barbara Lawrence was given such an unsympathetic part. Even with the awful personality transplant, I'd still take Barbara over Valentina any evening.

[titoli]

Even with the awful personality transplant, I'd still take Barbara over Valentina any evening.

Yeah, but it's the night I was referring to.

discussion continues here: http://www.fistful-of-leone.com/forums/index.php?topic=1822.msg135986#msg135986

[dave jenkins]

In the dark all cats are grey, what?

[titoli]

Yeah, sure.

[dave jenkins]

This Woman is Dangerous (1952) - 8/10. Warner delves into their archive and brings forth this Joan Crawford vehicle. Crawford is a gangster's moll who must chose between her psycho boyfriend (David Brian) and the new man in her life--the handsome eye surgeon who has restored her sight. And may the best man die! The main outline offers little of interest, but the film is full of several unexpected touches--a sudden detour to a woman's prison, a scene with a great child actress, the appearance, and then re-appearance, and then a re-re-appearance of a slimy PI--that a pleasant momentum is achieved, then sustained, right up to the thrilling climax. The ending goes soft, otherwise this would qualify as a great film noir. Still, it put me in the mood to revisit the other tough-as-nails Crawfords: Mildred Pierce, Possessed, Flamingo Road, and, still my favorite, The Damned Don't Cry.

[dave jenkins]

This is reported at HTF; the quote is supposed to be from DVDSavant:

I've received a report of a rumor that I believe is probably true: Sony is preparing a really terrific-sounding Noir boxed set, their first. It contains five great titles: Edward Dymtryk's The Sniper with Arthur Franz, Fritz Lang's The Big Heat with Glenn Ford and Gloria Grahame, Phil Karlson's Five Against the House with Kim Novak and Brian Keith, Don Siegel's The Lineup with Eli Wallach and Irving Lerner's Murder by Contract with Vince Edwards. Only The Big Heat has seen a previous release; all of them are gems.

Good news if true. I wonder, though, why Human Desire isn't in this set (it's been out in Japan for many months); and why re-release The Big Heat instead? Needless to say, many of us have been waiting for The Line-up, and although I've seen neither The Sniper nor Murder By Contract, their reputations make those titles highly desirable. I have seen Five Against The House, which is only so-so (but features an early Kim Novak appearance), but I won't squawk about having to get a copy of that along with the others. I hope this rumor pans out.

[cigar joe]

sounds great 

[T.H.]

Nightfall (1957) -  I can't decide if I enjoyed Brian Urlacher's, er, Aldo Ray's performance, or the casting decision. On one hand, it's a departure from the usual leading role in these films but Ray is such a meathead, even though if there's depth to his character/persona. I like him as an actor but I don't know about a leading man. Then again, it's interesting to see more of a regular joe as a lead, as opposed to the usual fast talking, slender, urban looking leads.





**********SPOILERS***********






The story is well-written, even if the ending is a little silly - it bothered me that they wouldn't bother bring guns to go back and look for the money. Another slight annoyance is in the opening moments that Bancroft would give Ray her real address, that doesn't seem logical, given the circumstances.

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I really like Tourneur (does he have any other non-Out of the Past noirs this good?) and a young Anne Bankcroft was a beautiful, enchanting lady I must say.

Overall, I liked this a lot, a solid 8.

discussion continues here: http://www.fistful-of-leone.com/forums/index.php?topic=1822.msg140423#msg140423

[dave jenkins]

Nightfall (1957)

Apparently, this is going to be part of an upcoming boxset from Sony being released in November. The films included, according to rumor, are: Pushover (1954), Nightfall (1957), The Brothers Rico (1957), City of Fear (1959), In a Lonely Place (1950).

[T.H.]

Apparently, this is going to be part of an upcoming boxset from Sony being released in November. The films included, according to rumor, are: Pushover (1954), Nightfall (1957), The Brothers Rico (1957), City of Fear (1959), In a Lonely Place (1950).

Good news, as this deserves a release. I haven't seen any of the others besides IaLP, a personal favorite.

Nightfall reviews continue here: http://www.fistful-of-leone.com/forums/index.php?topic=1822.msg144635#msg144635

[dave jenkins]

I've seen The Brothers Rico, a pretty good mob movie with Richard Conte. Hopefully, IALP will get a remastering (although it doesn't really need it).

[T.H.]

I doubt it because it seems like it's added in the package as the main selling point/the big name. I hope I'm wrong though.

[dave jenkins]

Ha! http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/jun/05/raymond-chandler-double-indemnity-cameo

[titoli]

Ha! http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/jun/05/raymond-chandler-double-indemnity-cameo

For the first time I have to thank you for a heads-up.

[dave jenkins]

For the first time I have to thank you for a heads-up.

Then your field of interests is too narrow.