Film Noir Classics Collections 1 [DVD] [1950] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

Mark Pearce

at 6:46 pm

Review by Mark Pearce for Film Noir Classics Collections 1 [DVD] [1950] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Rating: (5 / 5)
Fantastic set of film noir puts together five of the very best.

The Asphalt Jungle(1950)The birth of the heist movie,much imitated and easily John Huston’s best film.Good location work,nice ensemble playing(Sam Jaffe is a standout as the criminal mastermind)and spot Marilyn Monroe in her first major role.

Gun Crazy(1949)Along with the original Narrow Margin, Joe Lewis’ brilliant killers on the lam can stake a claim to being the definitive B movie.John Dall and especially Peggy Cummins are riveting as the gun fixated duo who leave a trail of destruction in their wake.

Muder my Sweet(1944)Song and dance man Dick Powell scores a bullseye as Philip Marlowe in this handsome adaptation of Raymond Chandler’s Farewell My Lovely.Look out for Mike Mazurki as “the” Moose Malloy and Claire Trevor as Velma.

Out of the Past(1947)Possibly the definitive film noir has Robert Mitchum in over his head as the private investigator trying to track down runaway Jane Greer for her controlling patron Kirk Douglas while attempting to work out just who is double crossing who.Dialogue,mood and look are all in this wonderful film.

The Set Up(1949)Technically Robert Wise’s boxing drama has familiar noir motifs- lighting, mood etc but what sets this apart is Robert Ryan suitably noble and tragic performance as the over the hill boxer who has just too much pride to take a fall and consequently pays for it.

Fantastic Value