Film-Noir Discussion/DVD Review Thread

[XhcnoirX]

One Way Street (1950): James Mason double-crosses criminal Dan Duryea and his gang out of 200K of stolen money, and sets off to Mexico City with Duryea's moll Märta Torén. But their plane crashes and they end up in a small Mexican town, where Mason becomes the local doctor. Realizing they could be happy there, they head back to LA to square things and return the money to Duryea... That's not a great idea you say? Mason is already way ahead of you. Still, it's a bad bad bad idea.

Director Hugo Fregonese's first American movie shows some signs of a potential minor noir gem with a great opening act and a pretty good closing act. Did I already mention Duryea's gang includes noir stalwarts William Conrad and an uncredited Jack Elam? Unfortunately the slow middle part in the Mexican town is predictable melodrama and also takes up most of this movie's run-time. Not even Mason can save that part, altho some of the minor Mexican characters are decent. Watch this for the opening act, then fast-forward through the middle part and then press 'play' again when they head back to LA. Despite the middle part, it's still a 6+/10 for me.

[moorman]

One Way Street (1950): James Mason double-crosses criminal Dan Duryea and his gang out of 200K of stolen money, and sets off to Mexico City with Duryea's moll Märta Torén. But their plane crashes and they end up in a small Mexican town, where Mason becomes the local doctor. Realizing they could be happy there, they head back to LA to square things and return the money to Duryea... That's not a great idea you say? Mason is already way ahead of you. Still, it's a bad bad bad idea.

Director Hugo Fregonese's first American movie shows some signs of a potential minor noir gem with a great opening act and a pretty good closing act. Did I already mention Duryea's gang includes noir stalwarts William Conrad and an uncredited Jack Elam? Unfortunately the slow middle part in the Mexican town is predictable melodrama and also takes up most of this movie's run-time. Not even Mason can save that part, altho some of the minor Mexican characters are decent. Watch this for the opening act, then fast-forward through the middle part and then press 'play' again when they head back to LA. Despite the middle part, it's still a 6+/10 for me.

James Mason and Dan Duryea. This should be pretty good. Gonna give it a watch...

[cigar joe]

I've never seen this one, let me know if you find a free source.

[XhcnoirX]

I've never seen this one, let me know if you find a free source.

Ah yes, sorry! I found it on yt a while ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRA2m-1RVxY

[cigar joe]

Ah yes, sorry! I found it on yt a while ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRA2m-1RVxY

Thanks

[dave jenkins]

Great premise. And what a cast!

[dave jenkins]

Beaver on the available DVD versions of Desert Fury: http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews39/desert_fury.htm

Kino Lorber have confirmed that they are planning to release on Blu-ray Lewis Allen's film Desert Fury (1947), starring Lizabeth Scott, Burt Lancaster, John Hodiak, Wendell Corey, and Mary Astor. The release is expected to arrive on the market later this year.

[T.H.]

As one of the few fans (assuming) of Desert Fury, I'll have to buy the blu on day one. The 3-strip technicolor should look amazing.

It's sort of the Twin Peaks of the 40's it's an odd, but fascinating movie which is admittedly aided by its lush colors/visuals.

Thanks for posting that info.

[dave jenkins]

Just saw Desert Fury (1947) at the Seattle Noir Festival. It's actually in Technicolor, so there will be those who argue against it being a true noir (not me, life is too short). What a cast: Lizabeth Scott, Mary Astor, Burt Lancaster, John Hodiak, and Wendell Corey. Hodiak is a gambler, Corey his muscle: they've been together so long they're like a married couple. So, tension mounts when it seems Scott will come between them. Then there are problems between Scott and her mother (Astor); and why won't Scott give nice-guy sheriff Lancaster the time of day? This is actually one of those films that is better now than when it was made because there is so much in it that is unintentionally funny. One of those so-bad-it's-good experiences. Wendell Corey, with his deadpan delivery, steals the show. I laughed a lot. 

In anticipation of the coming Blu, I rewatched this on an Australian DVD I own. I like this film better and better with every viewing. The Technicolor is, of course, incendiary. What really works, though, is the dialog. Every character has so much attitude there are invisible walls surrounding them, walls made with words. Nobody gives an inch. Scott and Astor, playing daughter and mother, square off in every scene they're in together. Scott and Lancaster fence whenever they meet. Scott and Hodiak are always out to out-snark each other, and that becomes the basis of their relationship. Then there are the amazing exchanges between Hodiak and Corey--and they're supposed to be best friends! Well, you need something in a crime film where there's no action until the final 5 minutes. I hope the Blu does justice to the visuals, but if not, I'll skip it and keep the DVD for the dialog. Call it Banter Noir, CJ!

[dave jenkins]

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=23916
I have actually never seen this title, so I'm pretty keen. Sterling Hayden! Gloria Grahame!

[cigar joe]

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=23916
I have actually never seen this title, so I'm pretty keen. Sterling Hayden! Gloria Grahame!

I like it, Gloria at the top of her allure, a blu would be nice.

[dave jenkins]

I wish l liked this title more, but it's nice the restoration and transfer are good: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Man-Who-Cheated-Himself-Blu-ray/208262/#Review

[XhcnoirX]

From https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=24200:
Arrow Academy has announced two new titles for Blu-ray release: Joseph H. Lewis' So Dark the Night (1946) and My Name Is Julia Ross (1945).

Neither are top-tier noir classics, but both are good noir(-ish) thrillers in their own right. And Arrow will release them both in the UK as well as the US. Already pre-ordered them both.

Thankfully they come with reversible covers, the new covers are pretty mediocre IMHO.

[dave jenkins]

I can't tell what this is exactly, but there are some good titles sprinkled among the nine: https://www.amazon.com/Noir-Archive-Volume-1-1944-1954-Blu-ray/dp/B07KZ4MW2C?

[T.H.]

I can't tell what this is exactly, but there are some good titles sprinkled among the nine: https://www.amazon.com/Noir-Archive-Volume-1-1944-1954-Blu-ray/dp/B07KZ4MW2C?

Here's all the info:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Noir-Archive-Volume-1-1944-1954-Blu-ray/226593/

711 Ocean Drive (1950) is a hidden gem and Escape in the Fog (1945) only has appeal to Boetticher completionists.

The Black Book aka Reign of Terror (1949) is directed by Anthony Mann, so that's great that another prime era Mann movie is released on bluray.