Film Noir Classics Collection 2 [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

Mark Pearce

at 3:41 am

Review by Mark Pearce for Film Noir Classics Collection 2 [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Rating: (4 / 5)
Another good boxset from Warners.Pretty disgraceful that there is yet to be a reg 2 but there you go.

Contains the following:Born to Kill(1947)Lawrence Tierney and Claire Trevor in excellent noir from Robert Wise.Tierney is the bad boy that Trevor just can’t stay away from.Usual noir staples ensue with a vivid and seedy feeling to the whole proceedings.

Clash by Night(1952)Juicy noir from Fritz Lang with Barbara Stanwyck on top form here as good time girl who settles to married life with Jerry(Paul Douglas) while trying not to become ensnared by Earl(Robert Ryan).Tart dialogue and snappy direction by Lang even if he does at times lay the symbolism on with a trowel.Marilyn Monroe does well in small role.

Crossfire(1947)Dmytryk’s anti-semitic noir has surprisingly not aged that well.Robert Young’s overly mannered performance as the police officer in charge of a murder investigation seems to slow down the movie down when it needs energising but Robert’s Ryan and Mitchum offer excellent support and the ending is pretty tense.

Dillinger(1945)Lightning paced noir has Lawrence Tierney well cast as Public Enemy No 1.Snappy dialogue and excellent interplay between the characters make this a treat.

Narrow Margin(1952)The best of the bunch and the B movie of the 1950’s.Charles McGraw is superb as the cop determined to protect a state’s witness from contract assassins aboard a train.Terrifically suspenseful with some dazzling camerawork to boot. A classic.