Film noir has had many influences. Long before the term was even coined, we had atmospheric studio-shot detective thrillers, whose characters gradually became more ambiguous, and whose locations started to take in the world outside (notably New York City). This collection showcases some classic examples.
In The Dark Mirror (1946), directed by Robert Siodmak (The Killers), a man is murdered and there’s an obvious suspect, but she has an identical twin sister (both played by Olivia de Havilland, Gone with the Wind), and one of them has a cast-iron alibi. The perfect crime? A psychologist with a specialist interest in twin psychology delves into the heart of the mystery, at considerable risk to himself. In Secret Beyond the Door (1947), Fritz Lang (The Big Heat) adapts the Bluebeard legend with a dash of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. Shortly after their marriage, Celia (Joan Bennett, Suspiria) begins to suspect her architect husband Mark (Michael Redgrave, Dead of Night) of having a secret past, and wonders about the reason behind multiple rooms in his self-designed home, one of which is kept permanently locked. In Abraham Polonsky’s Force of Evil (1948), an unscrupulous lawyer (John Garfield, The Postman Always Rings Twice) scents a personal fortune when he concocts a plan to merge New York City’s numbers rackets into a single powerful and unbreakable operation, but reckons without his brother, who’d rather stay independent. And in Joseph H. Lewis’ ultra-stylish The Big Combo (1955), Lieutenant Diamond (Cornel Wilde, The Naked Prey) is determined to bring down mob boss Mr Brown (Richard Conte, Thieves’ Highway). But Brown feels the same way, and is far less constrained by the law, leading to some wince-inducing set pieces (some involving a pre-stardom Lee Van Cleef).
This collection showcases many of the genre’s major names on both sides of the camera. In addition to the directing and acting talent mentioned above there are cinematographers Stanley Cortez (The Night of the Hunter) and John Alton (An American in Paris), composers Dmitri Tiomkin (High Noon) and Miklós Rósza (The Killers) and writers Nunnally Johnson (The Woman in the Window) and Philip Yordan (Johnny Guitar). It’s little wonder that directors such as Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino were so struck by them.
LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS:
• Limited Edition Dual Format Collection [2000 copies]
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentation of four film noir classics: The Dark Mirror (Robert Siodmak, 1946), Secret Beyond the Door (Fritz Lang, 1947), Force of Evil (Abraham Polonsky, 1948), and The Big Combo (Joseph H. Lewis, 1955)
• Commentaries on all films by leading scholars and critics Adrian Martin (on The Dark Mirror), Alan K. Rode (on Secret Beyond the Door), Glenn Kenny and Farran Smith Nehme (on Force of Evil), and Eddie Muller (on The Big Combo) • Noah Isenberg on The Dark Mirror, the author and scholar provides a detailed analysis of the film
• Noah Isenberg on The Dark Mirror, the author and scholar provides a detailed analysis of the film
• Barry Keith Grant on Secret Beyond the Door, the author and scholar introduces the film
• The House of Lang: A visual essay on Fritz Lang’s style by filmmaker David Cairns with a focus on his noir work
• Introduction to Force of Evil by Martin Scorsese
• An Autopsy on Capitalism: A visual essay on the production and reception of Force of Evil by Frank Krutnik, author of In a Lonely Street: Film noir, genre, masculinity
• Commentary on selected Force of Evil themes by Krutnik
• Geoff Andrew on The Big Combo, the critic and programmer offers an introduction to and analysis of the film
• Wagon Wheel Joe: A visual essay on director Joseph H. Lewis by filmmaker David Cairns
• The Big Combo original screenplay (BD/DVD-ROM content)
• Four radio plays, starring Olivia de Havilland and John Garfield among others
• Trailers
• Reversible sleeves featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Scott Saslow for all films
• Hardback book featuring new writing on all the films by noir experts and critics including Michael Brooke, Andrew Spicer, David Cairns and Tony Rayns, production stories, re-prints featuring Fritz Lang, Abraham Polonsky, Cornel Wilde, The Dark Mirror consultant Dr Mary Romm, contemporary reviews, and credits for all films, illustrated with original stills [Limited Edition Exclusive]
Four Film Noir Classics Vol 2 Limited Edition:
Tormented protagonists, sadistic villains, sublimated sex and murder most foul. Take a walk through the shadowy streets of Film Noir in these four atmospheric classics.
In The Suspect (1944) a genial shopkeeper, Philip Marshall, is constantly nagged by his shrewish wife, Cora, while secretly yearning for a pretty young stenographer. When Cora falls to her death the police are suspicious, and Marshall’s neighbour sees a chance for blackmail. A classic noir with an unusual Edwardian setting directed by Robert Siodmak (The Killers), and starring Charles Laughton (The Big Clock), Ella Raines (Phantom Lady) and Henry Daniell (The Body Snatcher). Meanwhile, The Sleeping City (1950) sees an undercover policeman investigating murder and narcotics racketeering at New York's Bellevue Hospital. Starring Richard Conte (Thieves’ Highway) and Coleen Gray (Nightmare Alley) this tense, semi-documentary thriller was shot entirely on location by director George Sherman. In Thunder on the Hill (1951) convicted murderer Valerie Carns is being transported for execution when a flood strands her and her guards at a convent hospital, where Sister Mary Bonaventure becomes convinced of Valerie’s innocence and sets out to find the real killer.
Celebrated director Douglas Sirk is best known for his classic melodramas, but he made a number of noir thrillers and this is one of the best; starring Claudette Colbert (It Happened One Night) and Ann Blyth (Mildred Pierce). Finally, in Six Bridges to Cross (1955) streetwise delinquent Jerry Florea is shot and wounded by rookie policeman Eddie Gallagher while fleeing the scene of a robbery. Despite this, the two develop a friendship as Eddie and his wife take Jerry under their wing, trying to keep him on the straight and narrow. As an adult Jerry marries and seems to settle down, until an armoured security company across the street from him is robbed of two and a half million dollars. Directed by Joseph Pevney (Man of a Thousand Faces) the film stars Tony Curtis (Some Like it Hot), George Nalder (Robot Monster), Julie Adams (Creature from the Black Lagoon) and Sal Mineo (Rebel Without a Cause), with cinematography by the great William H. Daniels (The Naked City).
This showcase of lesser known noir classics features sterling performances from a host of screen greats, as well as taut direction, stunning cinematography, and superb screenwriting from the likes of Oscar Saul (A Streetcar Named Desire), Jo Eisinger (Gilda, Night and the City), Andrew Holt (In a Lonely Place) and Sydney Boehm (The Big Heat). Embrace the darkness with these hard-boiled genre gems.
Product Features:
- High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentations of all four films
- Original lossless mono audio on all films
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing on all films
- Audio commentaries by leading scholars and critics Farran Smith-Nehme (The Suspect), Imogen Sara Smith (The Sleeping City), Josh Nelson (Thunder on the Hill) and Samm Deighan (Six Bridges to Cross)
- It Had to be Done, a new interview in which author and scholar Alan K. Rode takes a detailed look at the life and work of Robert Siodmak director of The Suspect and other classic noirs
- The Real Deal, a new visual essay by author and critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas looking at realism and reality in The Sleeping City
- José Arroyo on Thunder on the Hill, a new appreciation by the esteemed film scholar and critic
- Style and Place, a new visual essay by film critic Jon Towlson examining the work of celebrated cinematographer William H. Daniels
- Vintage radio play versions of The Suspect and Thunder on the Hill starring Charles Laughton, Ella Raines, Claudette Colbert and Barbara Rush
- Theatrical Trailers
- Poster and stills galleries
- Reversible sleeves featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Scott Saslow
- Double-sided fold-out posters for each film featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Scott Saslow
- Hardback collector’s book featuring new writing on the films by film critics Kat Ellinger, Philip Kemp and Jon Towlson [Limited Edition Exclusive]
Four Film Noir Classics Vol 3 Limited Edition:
Vengeful army vets, ruthless organised criminals, and desperate parent-child psychodramas await you in these four classics from noir streets less travelled.
In Calcutta (1946), Neale (Alan Ladd, Shane), a cynical cargo pilot, investigates the murder of a close friend and finds himself falling into the arms of his late friend’s mysterious fiancée, Virginia (Gail Russell, The Uninvited). When he connects the murder to a ring of illicit jewellery-smugglers, he becomes their next target. Is Virginia as innocent and vulnerable as she seems? In Ride the Pink Horse (1947), Gagin (Robert Montgomery, Lady in the Lake), a surly former GI, goes after the crime boss who murdered his friend. His gambit: to put the screws to the gangster with the same extortion plot that got Gagin’s buddy killed. This time things have to end differently, right? In Outside the Law (1956), Johnny Salvo, (Ray Danton, The Longest Day), a convict paroled into military service, is called back stateside on a mission that could clear his record: get inside the counterfeiting racket that killed his army buddy. Not only is the assignment dangerous, but Salvo’s got to work for the cop who put him behind bars – his own estranged father. Finally, in The Female Animal (1958), a glamorous movie star (Hedy Lamarr, Samson and Delilah) and her alcoholic daughter (Jane Powell, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers) vie for the affections of a handsome young movie extra (George Nader, Robot Monster) who has entered their lives. When the older woman generously opens her lifestyle to the young man, his insecurities feed his ambivalence. When he ends up in the arms of her daughter, disaster looms.
This collection of noir’s neglected treasures doesn’t stick to the city streets: from smuggling contraband in the skies over Asia to drowning beneath the torrent of a Hollywood waterfall, the genre’s darkness lurks everywhere.
4-DISC LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentations of four films: Calcutta, Ride the Pink Horse, Outside the Law and The Female Animal
• Original lossless mono audio on all films
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing on all films
• Audio commentaries by leading scholars and critics Nick Pinkerton (Calcutta), Josh Nelson (Ride the Pink Horse), Richard Harland Smith (Outside the Law) and David Del Valle (The Female Animal)
• Brand new visual essay on Calcutta by critic Jon Towlson
• Brand new visual essays on Ride the Pink Horse and The Female Animal by author and critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
• Brand new visual essay on Outside the Law by author and producer Kat Ellinger
• Vintage radio play version of Ride the Pink Horse, starring Robert Montgomery, Wanda Hendrix and Thomas Gomez
• Theatrical trailers
• Image galleries
• Limited edition packaging with reversible sleeves featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Scott Saslow
• Double-sided fold-out posters for each film featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Scott Saslow
• Limited edition hardback collector’s book featuring new writing on the films by film critics Andrew Graves, Jon Towlson, Barry Forshaw and Nora MacIntyre