WB Film Noir Collection

[Deej]

Bought this little boxed-set from Amazon. It includes the following classic Noir films:

THE ASPHALT JUNGLE: I have every reason to like this film, and I want to, very badly. It stars two former Marines, Sterling Hayden(who kicked ass in THE KILLING), and James Whitmore(great in THEM!). It also stars Sam Jaffe( swell in GUNGA DIN). Directed by John Huston, it's a gritty heist/double cross flick. Great pedigree, but for some reason, I just can't get into it.  I have the same problem with the Huston/Bogart film BEAT THE DEVIL.Doesn't grab me, gonna have to work on that.

MURDER MY SWEET: This is the film that got me started on classic movies. I caught it on late night tv when I was twelve and have been hooked since. Dick Powell takes on the Philip Marlowe role in this version of FAREWELL, MY LOVELY. Despite his background as a crooning hoofer, Powell pulls it off very well. Great flick

OUT OF THE PAST: Robert Mitchum in his ultimate Noir role, gets dragged out of his cozy small town life, back into the seedy underworld he tried to escape. Mitchum, Kirk Douglas, and Jane Greer take turns double crossing each other for an hour and a half of Noir goodness.

THE SET-UP: Robert Ryan as an over the hill palooka who refuses to take a dive. Tense film plays out in real time. Film Noir gun moll, Audrey Totter plays Ryans long suffering wife. Low key but very good.

GUN CRAZY: John Dall, best remembered as one of the slightly fey killers in ROPE, or as the slightly fey Roman in Spartucus, here plays a slightly fey gun nut who takes it on the lamb with his equally nutty sharpshooter girlfriend(beard?). Peggy Cummins wears the pants as aforementioned girlfriend, who talks Dall into a life O' crime. The low budget only adds to the film's gritty feal. More exploitation than Noir, this is still prime late-nite viewing.



Post Edited (12-03-04 17:43)

[Scott]

Might check out Gun Crazy and Out of  the Past. How much for the set?

[Deej]

I picked up for about $40.00, from amazon.It's the 5 movie Warner Brothers collection. I'm sure they're each available individually, though.