Deadly Dames: Film Noir Collector’s Set [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

J. Lovins

at 7:14 am

Review by J. Lovins for Deadly Dames: Film Noir Collector’s Set [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Rating: (5 / 5)
VCI Entertainment and Kit Parker Films present “DEADLY DAMES FILM NOIR COLLECTOR’S SET” — (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) — Of all the Dames in the City, you had to run into these three — you knew they were trouble the moment you laid eyes on them — now sit back, watch and enjoy as they fight their way to the bottom — Slightly Scarlet, Naked Kiss and Blonde Ice, sure to keep you in suspense with every waiting moment to thrill or kill you.

Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe Hollywood crime dramas that set their protagonists in a world perceived as inherently corrupt and unsympathetic — Hollywood’s classic film noir period is generally regarded as stretching from the early 1940s to the late 1950s — Film noir of this era is associated with a low-key black-and-white visual style that has roots in German Expressionist cinematography, while many of the prototypical stories and much of the attitude of classic noir derive from the hard boiled school of crime fiction that emerged in the United States during the Depression — the term film noir (French for “black film”), first applied to Hollywood movies by French critic Nino Frank in 1946, was unknown to most of the American filmmakers and actors while they were creating the classic film noirs — the canon of film noir was defined in retrospect by film historians and critics; many of those involved in the making of film noir later professed to be unaware at the time of having created a distinctive type of film.

“SLIGHTLY SCARLET” (Released: 29 February 1956) (99 mins/Color) — story line and plot, Driven by blind ambition, fast talking publicity man Ben Grace (John Payne) finds a way to smear the reputation of “reform” mayoral candidate Frank Jansen (Kent Taylor) — Payne can do this as Jansen’s red haired girlfriend, June (Rhonda Fleming), with her man hungry kleptomaniac sister, Dorothy (Arlene Dahl), who just so happens to be a convict out on parole — The success of the film rests upon the performance of the two female leads, Rhonda Fleiming and Arlene Dahl, especially the latter, whose acting was way beyond what I expected and almost carries the film, the ending of which might be a bit surprising — A tad slow in spots, ‘Slightly Scarlet’ nevertheless is a pretty entertaining film.

“NAKED KISS” (Released: 29 October 1964) (93 mins/B&W) — story line and plot, to forget her past, Kelly (Constance Towers), a prostitute who tires of her city syndicate, looking for a job she arrives in the small town of Grantville and starts work at the Children’s Orthopedic Hospital as a nurse’s aid — she is caught up in a romantic whirl, There, she meets Griff (Anthony Eisley), the police captain of the town, with whom she spends a romantic afternoon, who wants her for what she used to be, but wait there’s his best friend, the town’s millionaire — will Kelly find happiness in Grant (Michael Dante), her fiancé and Griff’s partner, but she will be the witness of a shocking event that will threaten this happiness and even her mental health.

“BLONDE ICE” (Released: 24 July 1948) (74 mins/B&W) — story line and plot has Coldly beautiful Leslie Brooks is well cast as Claire Cummings Hanneman, who happily goes about marrying rich men so that she can kill them, get their money, and move on to her next victim — It’s a bizarre little film noir, which must have seemed even more bizarre in the days when most films wouldn’t touch a story about a woman who is so totally ruthless in getting what she wants — Robert Paige, as the man who really loves her but can’t overlook her hobby, was in the latter stages of his career when this poverty row noir was made — The supporting cast does a good job also — my favorite being Russ Vincent who plays Blackie Talon, the sleazy flyer/blackmailer, who just about steals every scene he appears in.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

1. Commentary by Jay Fenton, Film Restoration Consultant

2. Bonus Film Noir TV Episode – “Into the Night”

3. Bonus `Soundie’ – “Satan Wear A Satin Dress”

4. Photo Gallery

5. Bonus Film Noir Trailers

6. Video Interview with Jay Fenton on Film Restoration, Edgar Ulmer/A Fascinating Possibility, Liner Notes written by Jay Fenton

7. Bios

8. Trailers

9. Scene Selections

10.Slightly Scarlet – Anamorphic Widescreen Enhanced for 16×9 monitors/Commentary by Award Winning mystery writer and filmmaker Max Allan Collins

11.Original Theatrical Trailer – Naked Kiss

12.Interviews with Michael Dante and Krista Fuller

Hats off to VCI Entertainment President Robert A. Blair, for the wonderful restored versions featuring some of the best classic film noir — order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on DVD — if you enjoyed this title, why not check out VCI Entertainment where they are experts in releasing long forgotten films and treasures to the collector.

Total Time: 266 mins on DVD ~ VCI Entertainment ~ (8/28/2007)