Comments

A real gift in 2012 to any film noir fan is this 5-film set from Sony Pictures and Turner Classic Movies, sold exclusively at Turner Classic Movies store and Movies Unlimited. Three of the films make their DVD debut - The Mob has been released in Spain and Tight Spot is available in Japan and UK. Three new to DVD films are real gems with Joseph H. Lewis' My Name Is Julia Ross with Nina Foch, Richard Quine's Drive a Crooked Road with Mickey Rooney and Paul Wendkos' The Burglar with Dan Duryea and Jayne Mansfield (the film was filmed in 1955, but wasn't released until 1957, after she became a star at Fox, see The Jayne Mansfield Collection HERE). Each film features an excellent progressive transfer with nearly no scratches and very good contrast. Compare the captures below for Tight Spot to the Japanese release from 2004 and you can see the issues in aspect ratio (the Japanese transfer is a little squeezed from the top) and the image is brightened. The new transfer feels more film-like. The mono sound on each disc is adequate. Unfortunately, no subtitles or closed captioning is provided. Each disc includes a trailer for the feature film and a set of various galleries - stills, posters, lobby cards. Drive a Crooked Road and The Burglar also include a brief introduction by Martin Scorsese. A highly recommended release for any film noir aficionado.

NOTE: Due to a production error on the outer packaging of the Film Noir III set, the description for THE MOB on the back cover of the slipcase is incorrect. This is only on the slipcase and the discs inside are fine and unaffected. Turner Classic Movies store and Movies Unlimited delayed the release until February 14 to correct this mistake. For those who already got the order, Movies Unlimited offers a new slipcase shipped free of charge.

  - Gregory Meshman