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The Ultimate Film Noir Collection - released May 2

posted 19 years ago by jewellrunner
9 replies | jump to latest

Is anyone familiar with the DVD collection metioned in the subject line of my post? It's to be released on May 2 and includes the movie who's board I am posint on. I am just wondering if anyone has heard whether or not this collection includes quality versions of the films. It's at Amazon.com for $14.99 and includes 10 movies. That's a heck of a deal, but I'm worried about the old saying "You get what you pay for." If anyone has heard a review on this collection or knows that the movies are of a watchable quality. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Reviews http://www.rottentomatoes.com/vine/journal_view.php?journalid=195926&view=public

[–] Roarke 19 years ago

They're watchable, but don't expect a Criterion-level image or anything. And for some goofy reason whoever put it out insisted on putting a little "THE ULTIMATE FILM NOIR COLLECTION" logo on the lower right portion of the screen throughout the movie. I guess it's so you won't confuse their DVDs of public domain movies with somebody else's.

So yeah, it's a get what you pay for situation, but these old noirs you watch more for plot than aesthetics. Or at least I do.

[–] Jake_Fratelli 19 years ago

And for some goofy reason whoever put it out insisted on putting a little "THE ULTIMATE FILM NOIR COLLECTION" logo on the lower right portion of the screen throughout the movie. I guess it's so you won't confuse their DVDs of public domain movies with somebody else's.

Actually, it's so other PD companies won't reuse their transfer.

But you might as well splurge for the Kino edition, the only one made from a decent source (though even it's not perfect). It also comes with a good commentary.

*/\*Goonies never say die!*/\*

[–] sheywhat 16 years ago

"And for some goofy reason whoever put it out insisted on putting a little "THE ULTIMATE FILM NOIR COLLECTION" logo on the lower right portion of the screen throughout the movie"

Not to sound spoiled (which, of course, means that this will sound spoiled and probably is, lol), but a constant logo on the screen would/will keep me from buying whatever said product has such. It's why I can't stand watching movies on AMC or any number of other basic cable channels that leave their channel image on screen throughout. It seems as insulting and inconsiderate as it is annoying.

"Man, I wonder who Josey Wales is gonna shoot first? And does he know he's on AMC while he's gunning them down? I sure do. In fact, I can't forget that he's on AMC. It's right there in the corner of the screen. All the phuking time!"

"All deaths are sudden/
and quickly beyond our reach"- the end to one of my poems

[–] Ethereal-Cloud 13 years ago

I loaned this box-set from my library so I don't have room to complain, but I will anyway. The audio quality is really rough on these DVD's and the video tends to be washed out, it's not a black & white movie, it's more of a gray and two day old snow looking white. The watermark on the screen is annoying but just like the LED on your tv, your brain blocks it out after 10 minutes. I just wish Passport Video would have put a little effort into cleaning up these issues before release.

P.S. The movies are well worth watching though.

[–] steve-stalzle 13 years ago

The Kino release is a remaster of this classic film. No more crappy sound and picture! It looks almost brand new!

[–] hbrix 19 years ago

FYI, the DVD version of Lang's SCARLET STREET that Kino International (www.kino.com) put out last fall is from a Library of Congress archive print and is far and away the best quality video edition of it that I've ever seen.

[–] T-aerial 19 years ago

Read the ulimate review: http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCompare2/scralettstreet.htm

[–] jim6263 15 years ago

The one I have, from an "archival print," which is quite prisitne but apparently not restored, was one of five in "5 Killer Noir Classics" by Questor, Inc., P.O. Box 11345, Chicago, IL 60601.

[–] JackBluegrass 12 years ago

The Netflix DVD of Scarlet Street I've just watched was an Alpha Video Distributors (ALP3101D) product. DVD evidently made years ago.

The picture and sound quality range from average to poor from scene to scene. There are obvious frames missing. Netflix must have paid very little for each DVD.

From comments above, it looks like the Kino DVD of this classic movie is the one to buy.

Stupid! I never called you stupid! To call you stupid would be an insult to stupid people!