WB Film Noir Collection V.5: 7/13/10
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Re: WB Film Noir Collection V.5: 7/13/10
Wasn't even expecting another set so thats pretty awesome. But not even some commentaries? That is a disappointment.
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Re: WB Film Noir Collection V.5: 7/13/10
From Classic Flix:
I'm especially looking forward to more Mann.
Unlike previous Noir sets, this one is thin on bonus features with only 2 theatrical trailers. And while the usual Spanish and/or French subtitles are missing from this release, English subtitles are included.
Cornered (1945, 102 min.)
From England to continental Europe to Buenos Aires, ex-RCAF pilot Dick Powell stalks the Nazi collaborator who murdered his bride. But one fact constantly surfaces during his quest: no one can describe the mysterious man. Joining Powell in the film shadows are the director and other key talent behind Murder, My Sweet of the year before.
Desperate (1947, 73 min.)
Desperate is the first of seven atmospheric noirs directed by Anthony Mann. Steve Brodie is a postwar every man who accepts what he thinks is an honest trucking job, only to find he’s the driver in a botched heist that puts Brodie and his bride (Audrey Long) on the run from the cops and the cons who planned the job (including chief thug Raymond Burr).
The Phoenix City Story (1955, 100 min.)
Corruption, brutality and vice plagued Phenix City, Alabama, for 100 years, so who would dare to change it? Based on real-life events and filmed on location in what was called Sin City USA, director Phil Karlson’s semi-documentary tells the jolting tale of those who risked their lives to bring the burg’s syndicate of thugs and murderers to justice.
Dial 1119 (1950, 75 min.)
An asylum inmate escapes to the city, where he takes hostages at a local dive, guns down a bar employee and warns authorities his captives will be next if the doctor whose testimony first put him away doesn’t arrive within the hour. A bit of casting irony goes with the movie’s then-novel use of TV news coverage: actors Marshall Thompson, William Conrad, Keefe Brasselle and Leon Ames would have significant career ventures in television.
Armored Car Robbery (1950, 68 min.)
Richard Fleischer directs this brute-force milestone about a deadly heist and the battle of wits and firepower between a fugitive gangster (William Talman) and his stripper moll (Adele Jergens) and a bulldog cop (Charles McGraw), out to avenge his partner’s death, who uses hidden microphones, lab work and his own well-honed instincts to close the net.
Crime in the Streets (1956, 91 min.)
Following a turf rumble with a rival group, a street gang leader (John Cassavetes) tells his gang to do what they’ve never done before: kill a snitch. Reginald Rose wrote and Don Siegel directs a jazz-riffing screen version of a tale first seen on TV and co-starring James Whitmore and Sal Mineo.
Deadline at Dawn (1946, 83 min.)
A gangster’s sister lies dead. All clues point to sailor Bill Williams as the murderer. Slated to depart for duty at dawn, the swabbie, aided by good-hearted dime-a-dancer Susan Hayward and affable cabbie Paul Lukas, has mere hours to prove his innocence. The tangy Clifford Odets script is based on a novel by William Irish (pseudonym of Cornell Woolrich).
Backfire (1950, 91 min.)
Vincent Sherman directs this gripping yarn about recovering war veteran Gordon MacRae’s quest to prove pal Edmond O’Brien innocent of murder. Aiding him is his resourceful nurse Virginia Mayo. And a secretive doctor, a lively undertaker, a desperate gambler, a dying witness and a haunting Viennese melody all lead them to a shocking climax.
Cornered (1945, 102 min.)
From England to continental Europe to Buenos Aires, ex-RCAF pilot Dick Powell stalks the Nazi collaborator who murdered his bride. But one fact constantly surfaces during his quest: no one can describe the mysterious man. Joining Powell in the film shadows are the director and other key talent behind Murder, My Sweet of the year before.
Desperate (1947, 73 min.)
Desperate is the first of seven atmospheric noirs directed by Anthony Mann. Steve Brodie is a postwar every man who accepts what he thinks is an honest trucking job, only to find he’s the driver in a botched heist that puts Brodie and his bride (Audrey Long) on the run from the cops and the cons who planned the job (including chief thug Raymond Burr).
The Phoenix City Story (1955, 100 min.)
Corruption, brutality and vice plagued Phenix City, Alabama, for 100 years, so who would dare to change it? Based on real-life events and filmed on location in what was called Sin City USA, director Phil Karlson’s semi-documentary tells the jolting tale of those who risked their lives to bring the burg’s syndicate of thugs and murderers to justice.
Dial 1119 (1950, 75 min.)
An asylum inmate escapes to the city, where he takes hostages at a local dive, guns down a bar employee and warns authorities his captives will be next if the doctor whose testimony first put him away doesn’t arrive within the hour. A bit of casting irony goes with the movie’s then-novel use of TV news coverage: actors Marshall Thompson, William Conrad, Keefe Brasselle and Leon Ames would have significant career ventures in television.
Armored Car Robbery (1950, 68 min.)
Richard Fleischer directs this brute-force milestone about a deadly heist and the battle of wits and firepower between a fugitive gangster (William Talman) and his stripper moll (Adele Jergens) and a bulldog cop (Charles McGraw), out to avenge his partner’s death, who uses hidden microphones, lab work and his own well-honed instincts to close the net.
Crime in the Streets (1956, 91 min.)
Following a turf rumble with a rival group, a street gang leader (John Cassavetes) tells his gang to do what they’ve never done before: kill a snitch. Reginald Rose wrote and Don Siegel directs a jazz-riffing screen version of a tale first seen on TV and co-starring James Whitmore and Sal Mineo.
Deadline at Dawn (1946, 83 min.)
A gangster’s sister lies dead. All clues point to sailor Bill Williams as the murderer. Slated to depart for duty at dawn, the swabbie, aided by good-hearted dime-a-dancer Susan Hayward and affable cabbie Paul Lukas, has mere hours to prove his innocence. The tangy Clifford Odets script is based on a novel by William Irish (pseudonym of Cornell Woolrich).
Backfire (1950, 91 min.)
Vincent Sherman directs this gripping yarn about recovering war veteran Gordon MacRae’s quest to prove pal Edmond O’Brien innocent of murder. Aiding him is his resourceful nurse Virginia Mayo. And a secretive doctor, a lively undertaker, a desperate gambler, a dying witness and a haunting Viennese melody all lead them to a shocking climax.
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Re: WB Film Noir Collection V.5: 7/13/10
not to go too much off topic, but I am seeing a trend (especially in the BD area, but also in SD), where there are less bonus features than in the past.
It is almost like they are saying (and this is purely my personal subjective opinion) "physical media is short lived. let's stop putting too much extra stuff into this format"
In fact, this is one of the main reasons I haven't gone blu yet. Paying more $ for less features don't make sense to me..
Sorry if this is OTT, but I thought it was related... somewhat...
It is almost like they are saying (and this is purely my personal subjective opinion) "physical media is short lived. let's stop putting too much extra stuff into this format"
In fact, this is one of the main reasons I haven't gone blu yet. Paying more $ for less features don't make sense to me..
Sorry if this is OTT, but I thought it was related... somewhat...
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Re: WB Film Noir Collection V.5: 7/13/10
I'm pleasantly surprised Warner is putting these out as a box set instead of on the Archive. Frankly, they're pretty much the equivalent of a number of titles that have already come out on the Archive. My guess is that Warner is testing the waters to see if there still is a market for box sets like this that retail in the $30-40 range.
If this does well, expect some similar packages in the future, possibly even the ones Warner is currently selling on the Archive as "unofficial" box sets like the Barker and Scott Tarzan films.
If it doesn't..... it could be a long time before we see a similar release.
If this does well, expect some similar packages in the future, possibly even the ones Warner is currently selling on the Archive as "unofficial" box sets like the Barker and Scott Tarzan films.
If it doesn't..... it could be a long time before we see a similar release.
#16
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Re: WB Film Noir Collection V.5: 7/13/10
I'm pleasantly surprised Warner is putting these out as a box set instead of on the Archive. Frankly, they're pretty much the equivalent of a number of titles that have already come out on the Archive. My guess is that Warner is testing the waters to see if there still is a market for box sets like this that retail in the $30-40 range.
If this does well, expect some similar packages in the future, possibly even the ones Warner is currently selling on the Archive as "unofficial" box sets like the Barker and Scott Tarzan films.
If it doesn't..... it could be a long time before we see a similar release.
If this does well, expect some similar packages in the future, possibly even the ones Warner is currently selling on the Archive as "unofficial" box sets like the Barker and Scott Tarzan films.
If it doesn't..... it could be a long time before we see a similar release.
Like I speculated in one of the half dozen current threads about made on demand: Stuff that restoration/prep had already begun on before launching the archive, they'll go ahead and finish, and press. The rest goes to the archive.
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Re: WB Film Noir Collection V.5: 7/13/10
My guess these are pressed because they are restored. Takes a long time to restore eight films and this may have been planned and restoration began at least a year before the archive.
Like I speculated in one of the half dozen current threads about made on demand: Stuff that restoration/prep had already begun on before launching the archive, they'll go ahead and finish, and press. The rest goes to the archive.
Like I speculated in one of the half dozen current threads about made on demand: Stuff that restoration/prep had already begun on before launching the archive, they'll go ahead and finish, and press. The rest goes to the archive.
Here's the link to a site that discussed this in 2001 (so it took Warner a looong time to get around to doing this):
http://www.picking.com/vitaphone53.html
As far as I know, this is the only Archive title to date that's been remastered. When you look up a typical title, it doesn't say that and in fact, when you look them up on the WB site it specifically says: "This film has been manufactured from the best-quality video master currently available and has not been remastered or restored specifically for this DVD and Digital Download release." From what I've heard, the picture and sound quality of a number of the other Archive titles from the 20s and early 30s is mediocre at best (but probably the best we'll ever see unless someone is willing to spend big bucks).
So even though Warner put money into remastering Mammy, they still felt (and I'm sure they were right) that there would be little demand so they released in on the Archive. There's probably other titles like that.
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Re: WB Film Noir Collection V.5: 7/13/10
My guess these are pressed because they are restored. Takes a long time to restore eight films and this may have been planned and restoration began at least a year before the archive.
Like I speculated in one of the half dozen current threads about made on demand: Stuff that restoration/prep had already begun on before launching the archive, they'll go ahead and finish, and press. The rest goes to the archive.
Like I speculated in one of the half dozen current threads about made on demand: Stuff that restoration/prep had already begun on before launching the archive, they'll go ahead and finish, and press. The rest goes to the archive.
#19
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Re: WB Film Noir Collection V.5: 7/13/10
In the recent HTF chat the WB rep said something to the effect of "the quality people have come to expect from Warner Home Video", which implies to me they won't press something unless it's been cleaned up the best they can get it. Although some of the older 60s saturday morning stuff looks a little rough.
#20
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Re: WB Film Noir Collection V.5: 7/13/10
DVD Beaver review
The screencaps look quite good, though it's obviously a pity about the lack of extras - not even trailers on most of 'em! I wonder if this will end up being the last pressed DVD box from WB.
The screencaps look quite good, though it's obviously a pity about the lack of extras - not even trailers on most of 'em! I wonder if this will end up being the last pressed DVD box from WB.
#21
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Re: WB Film Noir Collection V.5: 7/13/10
I'm just happy this is coming out on pressed DVDs. The only one I've seen is Deadline at Dawn. I've wanted to see The Phenix City Story, Armored Car Robbery and Cornered for a long time, and the other titles sound interesting, especially Desperate.
#23
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Re: WB Film Noir Collection V.5: 7/13/10
I don't mind, but are people gonna be pissed about the packaging? Not only are there two movies per disc, it's a digipack with all the discs in there together like a TV show set.
Last edited by slop101; 07-08-10 at 11:34 AM.
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Re: WB Film Noir Collection V.5: 7/13/10
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Re: WB Film Noir Collection V.5: 7/13/10
Yep, back in the days when packaged DVD was king.