Blu Ray Review: FILM NOIR: THE DARK SIDE OF CINEMA VOL VI

Kino Lober’s sixth three-film blu ray set of Universal studios post war noir dramas contains new 2K masters of each movie, and strong commentaries to enhance the experience by expanding one’s knowledge of each film. The following titles are contained in this set:

SINGAPORE

Fred MacMurray is an American diamond smuggler in wartime Singapore, about to marry a beautiful woman (Ava Gardner). He loses her during an air raid, and presumes she has perished. Returning to Singapore five years later, he sees the woman but discovers she is not only married but has no memory of him. Her memory only goes back as far as when she woke up in a prison camp hospital after the air raid, and remembers nothing before that. Intrigued, she tries to explore the past she’s forgotten, and the smuggler attempts to help her, much to her husband’s chagrin. Slowly paced, but effective, and with fine performances from a cast that also includes Thomas Gomez and Richard Haydn, while Spring Byington and Porter Hall add a comical cuteness as addle-brained American tourists. Kino’s blu ray is a new 2K Master and features excellent commentary track by two of the best: Kat Ellinger and Lee Gambin.

JOHNNY STOOL PIGEON

Howard Duff plays a narcotics agent who enlists a criminal he sent to Alcatraz (Dan Duryea) to infiltrate a gang and uncover a heroin smuggling ring. Director William Castle would later dismiss this film as “pedestrian,” but Johnny Stool Pigeon is a very absorbing crime drama with good performances by its strong cast. While Duff is sufficiently grounded and stern as the detective, Duryea steals the film with his powerful take on the title character. It reminds one that while he never achieved top level stardom, Dan Duryea was a dependable and versatile actor who was exceptional in roles like this. Shelley Winters was just coming into her own after a few years of bit roles, and resonates strongly in this drama, as does a young Tony Curtis in only his third movie. Kino’s blu ray is a new 2K Master and features a top-drawer commentary track by Jason A. Ney.

THE RAGING TIDE

Unusual, impressive noir drama with Richard Conte gunning down a rival at the outset of the movie then flees to his alibi (Shelley Winters), only she isn’t home. He hides out aboard a boat on a wharf, and is discovered by its father-and-son owners when it goes out on a fishing expedition. Secure in the protection it gives him, the criminal remains on the boat and ends up connecting with the life of a fisherman. Meanwhile, his girl is confronted by a detective (Stephen McNally) questioning her about her connection to the criminal. The film then parallels the criminal’s romance and the father-son dynamic in which he also gets involved. The Raging Tide is layered without being convoluted and is sustained well by George Sherman’s assured direction and a strong cast’s committed performances. Kino’s blu ray is a new 2K Master and features an impressively thorough and informative commentary by David Del Valle and Miles Hunter.

The 3-film blu ray set is available for purchase at this link: FILM NOIR VI