The Film Noir Thread! Gats, dames, and cheap hooch welcome.

[Ian Jane]

I've seen it and will definitely upgrade to Blu once it's out. Agreed that it's a pretty fantastic piece of work.

[Andrew Monroe]

Olive's got Plunder Road slated for Sept. 24 on Blu-ray.

"Plunder Road is a one-of-a-kind film noir beautifully shot in scope by the great cinematographer Ernest Haller (Gone with the Wind, Mildred Pierce). On a dark rainy night, five men stage a well-planned U.S. Mint train robbery and walk away with ten million in gold bullion. To throw the cops off the track, the gang split up the massive haul into three concealed truckloads and go off to three different directions hoping for a perfect getaway. No big stars, just a great cast of character-actor greats; Gene Raymond, Wayne Morris, Elisha Cook Jr., Stafford Repp and Steven Ritch. Soap opera legend Jeanne Cooper (The Young and the Restless) co-stars as Raymond's gun moll. Wonderfully directed by cult favorite, Hubert Cornfield (The Night of the Following Day). "

Don't know much about it at all but it's got an interesting cast.

I've never seen it either, Ian, but it gets a pretty remarkable review in the Film Noir Encyclopedia - memorable final line of it: "The final shot, pulling back from the freeway clogged with vehicles underscores the fatally noir statement of the film even as it abandons its characters to existential oblivion." It'll be a day one purchase for me, needless to say. Here's the cover:



If you've never seen THE HITCH-HIKER, I can't recommend that highly enough. It's one of those tough-as-nails noirs that you never forget. Bill and I used to rave about it at AVM.

[Ian Jane]

Olive's got Plunder Road slated for Sept. 24 on Blu-ray.

"Plunder Road is a one-of-a-kind film noir beautifully shot in scope by the great cinematographer Ernest Haller (Gone with the Wind, Mildred Pierce). On a dark rainy night, five men stage a well-planned U.S. Mint train robbery and walk away with ten million in gold bullion. To throw the cops off the track, the gang split up the massive haul into three concealed truckloads and go off to three different directions hoping for a perfect getaway. No big stars, just a great cast of character-actor greats; Gene Raymond, Wayne Morris, Elisha Cook Jr., Stafford Repp and Steven Ritch. Soap opera legend Jeanne Cooper (The Young and the Restless) co-stars as Raymond's gun moll. Wonderfully directed by cult favorite, Hubert Cornfield (The Night of the Following Day). "

Don't know much about it at all but it's got an interesting cast.

[Andrew Monroe]

Been a bit of a dry spell for noir release news but here's a bit of cheer I saw at the BAN forums -

"Some cool news out today: Kino will be releasing a new blu-ray edition of Orson Welles' The Stranger (1946) on October 15. It's going to be a brand-new transfer from a restored Library of Congress 35mm print. Special features include:

Audio commentary from filmmaker / historian / curator Bret Wood
Original Nazi concentration and prison camp footage (both featured in the final film) from filmmaker George Stevens
Original Theatrical Trailer

Also, perhaps even more surprising, on the same day, Kino will be releasing a blu-ray of The Hitch-Hiker (1953), which will also be a brand-new transfer, also taken from a restored Library of Congress 35mm print."


That's some unexpected good news about THE HITCH-HIKER in particular, I certainly never expected to see that on BD! Outstanding Ida Lupino-directed noir with another unhinged looney from William Talman (with a really creepy dead eye) and Edmond O'Brien and Frank Lovejoy are always dependable.

I like THE STRANGER but I'm pretty happy with the MGM dvd, will wait for reviews on that.

[Andrew Monroe]

Glad they finally confirmed THE BIG COMBO, it's been rumored for a few months.

I wish Olive would release I WALK ALONE (1948), I watched my TCM copy again not long ago. In addition to the killer combo of Lancaster/Douglas and Lizabeth Scott, it has perennial tough guys Marc Lawrence and Mike Mazurki in support; and, surprisingly, eurocult regular Georges Rigaud.

[Richard--W]

A restored THE BIG COMBO will be enthusiastically received everywhere. Slated for September 24. A definite purchase in October.

[Ian Jane]

About damn time someone got to this one.

"Restored by UCLA Film & Television Archive in association with the Film Foundation. Restoration funding provided by The Film Foundation.

Newly re-mastered in HD by Olive Films and Ignite Films."

[Horace Cordier]

The Film Noir Thread! Gats, dames, and cheap hooch welcome.

Olive just announced THE BIG COMBO on Blu-ray.com.

Yes!

[Richard--W]

Nancy Travis, hell yes.

New noirs? Try AFTER DARK MY SWEET, THE GRIFTERS, THE HOT SPOT and MIAMI BLUES. 1990 was one helluva year for neo-noir. INTERNAL AFFAIRS was the icing on the cake.

NAKED TANGO (1991) remains an under-rated noir, shot in Buenos Aires.

[Andrew Monroe]

Yeah, I liked INTERNAL AFFAIRS quite a bit myself. Nancy Travis was pretty damn sexy in it.

Glad you enjoyed CRASHOUT, Horace. It's cool to still be able to discover new noirs (to me at least) at this late date.

[Richard--W]

It's a favorite modern noir of mine, too. It's a slow-burn that takes it's time to build in tension and suspense, and the actors juice it. This is the only film Richard Gere made in which he convinces me.

[Horace Cordier]

The Film Noir Thread! Gats, dames, and cheap hooch welcome.

Amazon is accepting pre-orders for INTERNAL AFFAIRS (1990) blu, a memorable neo-noir from Mike Figgis:

http://www.amazon.com/Internal-Affai...=pd_sim_mov_97

Release date October 8.

That ones a career highlight for Gere and has a string Andy Garcia performance. The scene where Garcia loses it and starts abusing and screaming at his wife in Spanish is something else.

[Richard--W]

Amazon is accepting pre-orders for INTERNAL AFFAIRS (1990) blu, a memorable neo-noir from Mike Figgis:

http://www.amazon.com/Internal-Affai...=pd_sim_mov_97

Release date October 8.

[Horace Cordier]

The Film Noir Thread! Gats, dames, and cheap hooch welcome.

Just watched CRASHOUT and I concur with Andrew. First rate entertainment. I love Arthur Kennedy here - "Whatsa matter fellows, the club breaking up?" and Luther Adler is a hoot in a small role as a legend-in-his-own-mind ladies man. And Bendix makes for a great thug.

Great hard boiled period crime!

[Richard--W]

Thanks for the report on CRASHOUT! a film totally unknown to me. I may get it eventually.

A friend is sending me the color film noir DESERT FURY (1948).

Walter Hill's neo-noir THE DRIVER (1978) goes up for pre-order this afternoon at 4 est at Screen Archives / Twilight Time. Release date July 28. If it looks half as good as HARD TIMES we're in for a treat.