Blu Ray Review: Film Noir Volume VII from Kino Lorber
Kino Lorber’s latest three-film set of film noir on blu ray offers are all films made into the 1950s that explore issues contemporary with that era. The immediate post-war era that offered some of the best noir films had passed and at the culture was changing as well. After 1955, it was television, rock and roll, and suburban neighborhoods. But the other, darker, subjects that made their way into dark cinema included communism, spies, and politics.
THE FEARMAKERS
This Jacques Tourneur indie, released through United Artists, is a breezily paced and compelling drama featuring Dana Andrews as a man who had been brainwashed as a POW, returning to his public relations job. He discovers his partner sold out the business and was later mysteriously killed. Upon further investigation, he finds that the business has been taken over by communist operatives who plan to manipulate opinion polls. Dick Foran, Veda Ann Borg, and Mel Torme also appear. Andrews is excellent as the suspicious, bewildered businessman, while Dick Foran is slimy brilliance as the crook who took over the business.
THE BOSS
This 1956 indie directed by Byron Haskin appears to be very little known, but deserves much better notoriety and appreciation. John Payne turns in one of the finest performances of his career as a World War One veteran who comes home and enters the world of political corruption, eventually becoming the most powerful man in town. A period piece, the film also features a riveting performance by Joe Flynn, best known for the bombastic comedy of TV’s McHale’s Navy some ten years later. Payne is all outrageousness and bluster, offering deeper levels of his acting talent than in perhaps any of his other films. Some argue this to be his best work, so it is unfortunate it is not as well known. This might be the strongest movie in the set.
CHICAGO CONFIDENTIAL
This 1957 noir indie features Brian Keith as a State’s Attorney against union thugs connected to a gambling ring that attempts to pin a murder rap on their union leader (Dick Foran) because he won’t cooperate. Keith strives to prove Foran’s innocence with the help of his fiancée Beverly Garland, who is also a co-worker. Based on the book co-written by the same team that penned New York Confidential, this is film is another strong drama about political corruption.
Each of the films in this set are dramas regarding political corruption that contain many noir elements. They are brand new 2k masters, and feature commentaries by the always welcome Alan K. Rode (The Boss) and Jason A. Ney (The Fearmakers).
Another excellent set of noir-based films from Kino Lorber, it can be ordered at this link:
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