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Film Noir Classic Collection
The ''Film Noir Classic Collection'' is a DVD collection ''film noir'' series released by Warner Home Video. Volume 1 was first released in 2004. Two volumes, 2 and 3, were published in 2006. Volume 5 of the series was published on July 13, 2010. Several of the films released as part of the collection were released for the first time on DVD, and are rare for film enthusiasts to find. '' Crime Wave'' was first released on DVD with Volume 4 of the ''Film Noir Classic Collection'', released in the summer of 2007. On Volume 4, ten films were released for the first time, instead of the five for each of the first three. Volumes Volume 1 (2004) *''The Asphalt Jungle'' (1950) *''Gun Crazy'' (1949) *''Murder, My Sweet'' (1944) *''Out of the Past'' (1947) *''The Set-Up'' (1949) Volume 2 (2006) *'' Born to Kill'' (1947) *''Clash by Night'' (1952) *''Crossfire'' (1947) *'' Dillinger'' (1945) *''The Narrow Margin'' (1952) Volume 3 (2006) *''Border Incident'' (1949) *''His Kind of Woman'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Film Noir
Film noir (; ) is a style of Cinema of the United States, Hollywood Crime film, crime dramas that emphasizes cynicism (contemporary), cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American film noir. Film noir of this era is associated with a low-key lighting, low-key, black-and-white visual style that has roots in German expressionist cinematography. Many of the prototypical stories and attitudes expressed in classic noir derive from the hardboiled school of crime fiction that emerged in the United States during the Great Depression, known as noir fiction. The term ''film noir'', French for "black film" (literal) or "dark film" (closer meaning), was first applied to Hollywood films by French critic Nino Frank in 1946, but was unrecognized by most American film industry professionals of that era. Frank is believed to have been inspired by the French literary publishing imprint Série noire, founded in 1945. Cinema hist ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Racket (1951 Film)
''The Racket'' is a 1951 black-and-white film noir drama directed by John Cromwell with uncredited directing help from Nicholas Ray, Tay Garnett, and Mel Ferrer. The production features Robert Mitchum, Lizabeth Scott, Robert Ryan, and William Conrad. Future '' Perry Mason'' regular cast members William Talman and Ray Collins appear in key roles. The film, a remake of the 1928 film '' The Racket'', is indirectly based on a play by Bartlett Cormack. ( Edward G. Robinson played the racketeer in the original Broadway production.) Plot The plot is very close to the original play and the 1928 movie. Racketeer and mobster Nick Scanlon has managed to buy several of the local government and law-enforcement officials of a large midwestern American city. However, he can't seem to touch the incorruptible police captain Tom McQuigg, who refuses all attempts at bribery. The city's prosecuting attorney, Welsh, and a state police detective, Turk, are crooked and make McQuigg's job as a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crime In The Streets
''Crime in the Streets'' is a 1956 American crime drama film about juvenile delinquency directed by Don Siegel and based on a television play written by Reginald Rose. The play first appeared as an episode of '' The Elgin Hour'' directed by Sidney Lumet before being remade as a feature film directed by Don Siegel. The film, starring James Whitmore and John Cassavetes, also featured actor Sal Mineo, who had previously appeared in '' Rebel Without a Cause''. From his role in ''Crime in the Streets'', Mineo earned a Hollywood nickname, "The Switchblade Kid". Malcolm Atterbury, Virginia Gregg, and future director Mark Rydell had prominent roles. Siegel adapted the play to a film by expanding some sequences but keeping much of the same cast. His credited dialogue coach on the film was Sam Peckinpah. Plot After a rumble between New York City street gangs, the Hornets and Dukes, a youth is taken captive and threatened with a zip gun by Lenny Daniels, one of the Hornets. The act is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cornered (1945 Film)
''Cornered'' is a 1945 American mystery thriller film noir starring Dick Powell and directed by Edward Dmytryk. This is the second teaming of Powell and Dmytryk (after '' Murder, My Sweet''). The screenplay was written by John Paxton with uncredited help from Ben Hecht. Plot After the end of World War II, a former POW, Canadian RCAF flyer Laurence Gerard, returns to France to discover who ordered the killing of his bride of only 20 days, she, being a member of the French Resistance. His father-in-law Étienne Rougon identifies Vichy collaborator Marcel Jarnac. He supposedly died in 1943, but Rougon has strong doubts. Jarnac was careful about maintaining his anonymity and the police have no description of him. But his own associate compiled a dossier on him; Gerard finds a burned fragment of it, and an envelope addressed to Madame Jarnac. From this he manages to track the widow to Buenos Aires. When he arrives Gerard is met by Melchior Incza, a stranger who appears to know ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Backfire (1950 Film)
''Backfire'' is a 1950 American film noir crime film directed by Vincent Sherman starring Virginia Mayo and Gordon MacRae, with Edmond O'Brien, Dane Clark, and Viveca Lindfors in support. The film was written by Larry Marcus, Ben Roberts and Ivan Goff. Goff and Roberts would go on to write '' White Heat'' the following year, a film that also stars O'Brien and Mayo. Although ''Backfire'' was completed in October 1948, it was not released until January 1950. Plot In November 1948, Bob Corey is an American soldier badly wounded at the end of World War II who is undergoing a number of surgical operations on his spine at the Birmingham General Army Hospital in Van Nuys, California. He is tended by a nurse, Julie Benson, and they have fallen in love. Corey's military pal Steve Connolly arrives to discuss plans for the ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona that they plan to purchase and operate together when Corey is out of the hospital. The two men pool their G.I. benefits (totaling $40,00 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Armored Car Robbery
''Armored Car Robbery'' is a 1950 American film noir starring Charles McGraw, Adele Jergens, and William Talman. Directed by Richard Fleischer, ''Armored Car Robbery'' is a heist movie, which tells the story of a well-planned robbery of cash from an armored car when it stops at a sports stadium. The theft goes awry and a tough Los Angeles cop sets off in determined pursuit of the culprits. Plot In Los Angeles criminal mastermind Dave Purvis devises a scheme to rob an armored car on its last pickup of the day. He recruits scuffling Benny McBride, who brings in fellow low-level professional crooks Al Mapes and Ace Foster to complete the gang. Benny needs money to feed his hopeless plan to win his wife Yvonne back, a gorgeous blonde stripteaser who lost interest in him and is seeing another man. Unbeknownst to him, it is Purvis. The robbery at minor league Wrigley Field begins as planned but goes wrong when a passing police patrol car intervenes. Purvis kills one of its off ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Where Danger Lives
''Where Danger Lives'' is a 1950 American film noir thriller directed by John Farrow and starring Robert Mitchum, Faith Domergue and Claude Rains. Plot Dr. Jeff Cameron treats a mentally disturbed attempted suicide victim. She signs herself out of the hospital, but sends a telegram inviting him to meet her. To his surprise, he finds she lives in a mansion. He breaks a date with his nurse girlfriend Julie because he is worried Margo may try to commit suicide again. The doctor falls in love with Margo, and they begin to see one another. Told she is flying to Nassau with her aged father the next day, a tipsy Jeff shows up unannounced and boldly tells Frederick Lannington that he is in love with the man's daughter. Lannington informs him that Margo is his wife. A stunned Jeff leaves despite Margo's pleas. When he hears a scream, he returns and finds her holding an earring ripped from her ear. Jeff decides to get involved in the domestic dispute. Lannington beats Jeff with a firepl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
They Live By Night
''They Live by Night'' is a 1948 American film noir directed by Nicholas Ray in his directorial debut and starring Cathy O'Donnell and Farley Granger. Based on Edward Anderson's Depression-era novel '' Thieves Like Us'', the film follows a young fugitive who falls in love with a woman and attempts to begin a life with her. The film opened theatrically in London in August 1948 under the title ''The Twisted Road'' and was released in the United States by RKO Radio Pictures as ''They Live by Night'' in November 1949. Although the film received favorable reviews from film critics, it was a box-office failure, losing the studio $445,000 (equivalent to $ in ). Although the film is widely considered as the prototype for the "couple on the run" genre and the forerunner to '' Bonnie and Clyde'' (1967), the story was first depicted in Fritz Lang's 1937 film '' You Only Live Once'', starring Henry Fonda and Sylvia Sidney. Director Jim Jarmusch cites the film as one of the influences ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tension (film)
''Tension'' is a 1949 American crime film noir directed by John Berry, and written by Allen Rivkin, based on a story written by John D. Klorer. It stars Richard Basehart, Audrey Totter, Cyd Charisse and Barry Sullivan. The film features an early score from composer Andre Previn. Some of his themes and cues were reused in later MGM productions such as ''Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958 film),'' ''Designing Woman'' and ''North by Northwest''. The careers of the director and supporting actor Lloyd Gough later suffered from blacklisting. Plot Police Lieutenant Collier Bonnabel of the homicide division explains to the camera that he solved cases by applying pressure to suspects until they snap under the tension. He then cites a murder case involving Warren Quimby. In flashback, the bespectacled Quimby, night manager of a drugstore, is married to Claire, who lives with him above the store and is openly unfaithful to him. She leaves him for rich Barney Deager. Quimby goes to Deager's ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Side Street (1950 Film)
''Side Street'' is a 1949 American film noir/police procedural starring Farley Granger and Cathy O'Donnell. Directed by Anthony Mann, the picture was filmed on location throughout New York City and culminated in one of the first modern car chases. Part of the story is set in the vicinity of the long-demolished Third Avenue El, a favorite location of the films made in the city during that era. Granger and O’Donnell were paired for the second and last time; their earlier film was the noted noir '' They Live by Night'' (1948). Plot Joe Norson lives with his wife and her parents in New York City; he has lost his gas station job and found work as a part-time mail carrier. Because he wants the best for his pregnant wife Ellen, Joe rationalizes stealing what he thinks is $200 from a lawyer's office on his route. He discovers that he has actually stolen $30,000 from Victor Backett, a corrupt attorney. Backett has framed wealthy broker/patsy Emil Lorrison in a sex scandal, then extor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mystery Street
''Mystery Street'' is a 1950 American black-and-white film noir featuring Ricardo Montalbán, Sally Forrest, Bruce Bennett, Elsa Lanchester, and Marshall Thompson. Produced by MGM, it was directed by John Sturges with cinematography by John Alton. The film was shot on location in Boston and Cape Cod; according to one critic, it was "the first commercial feature to be predominantly shot" on location in Boston. Also featured are Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts and Harvard Yard in nearby Cambridge. According to Frances Glessner Lee biographer Bruce Goldfarb, the story of the death of Irene Perry, in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, in 1940, as suggested by Glessner Lee (creator of The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death), was the basis of the film. The story earned Leonard Spigelgass a nomination as Best Story for the 1951 Academy Awards. Plot Brassy blonde B-girl Vivian phones the married man she has been dating and tells him she's "in trouble". When he fa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Illegal (1955 Film)
''Illegal'' is a 1955 American film noir directed by Lewis Allen. It stars Edward G. Robinson, Nina Foch, Hugh Marlowe and Jayne Mansfield. It is the third film adaptation of the 1929 play "The Mouthpiece" by Frank J. Collins, following '' The Mouthpiece'' and '' The Man Who Talked Too Much''. Plot Victor Scott is a district attorney with a spectacular courtroom style. He acknowledges having risen from the slums and needing to win every case. He is assisted by attorney Ellen Miles, who is not quite as relentless, but is devoted to her D.A. boss. They have had a long relationship: in the past, Scott was encouraged and mentored by Ellen's own father, who, on his deathbed, got Scott to promise to protect Ellen. It is hinted Ellen would have welcomed a romantic relationship, but instead Scott encourages her to marry a co-worker, Ray Borden. Scott prosecutes a sensational murder case (that of Gloria Benson, whose murder opens the film) and the jury hands down a guilty verdict. The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
