I really like The Crooked Way, a frequently overlooked film noir, and wrote about it here back at the beginning of the year. The new Blu-ray (also available on DVD) has just been reviewed by DVD Beaver so I thought I’d take the opportunity to remind people of this classy little movie which may, hopefully, enjoy a higher profile with this new release.
Riding the High Country 
Ha! You have certainly beaten me to the draw here Colin.
I was just about to mention much of the following to the previous COMANCHE thread but
much of what I intended to say I might as well state here.
Yep! I too have just seen the DVD Beaver review and it’s obvious that the new Kino Blu Ray
is a marked improvement over the DVD.
It’s also interesting that the Kino release is NOT a restored version the Blu Ray does have
imperfections and neg damage.
This does not bother me at all,as I’m just glad to have this Noir classic in high-def.
Basically,what i’m saying is if the re-issue imprint does not have the budget for lengthy
restoration work I’m more than happy to put up with a few imperfections..to me it sort of gives
the viewing a more “Cinematic” feel…if that makes any sense at all…I’d be very interested to
know what others think.
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Yes, it’s very much an “as is” presentation, John. I think that’s understandable enough under the circumstances and not something that particularly troubles me either. The new issue does look like the contrast has been ramped up quite a bit, although I’d need to see the film in motion, as opposed to a few isolated screen captures, to decide whether or not that’s been applied excessively. Overall though, I think this represents a pretty significant upgrade.
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As an addition to what I said above I might state that I recently purchased the recent
Elephant France Blu Ray of FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN one of my all time
favorite horror movies. The opening six minutes for me are probably the greatest opening scenes
in the history of horror movies.
The Elephant Blu Ray is a wonderful transfer one of the most striking high def black & white
transfers that I have ever seen. I might add that Elephant have very user friendly menus
and no “forced” subtitles.
Again the Elephant Blu Ray is NOT a fully restored version there is quiet a bit of “sparkle” at
times and the occasional,albeit brief, signs of neg damage. This did not detract one bit from my
enjoyment of seeing this wonderful film in sparkling high def.
The Elephant Blu Ray of SON OF FRANKENSTEIN is virtually imperfection free and again is
stunning transfer.
Universal USA I understand are working on UNIVERSAL MONSTERS 2 a huge box set of all their
“second string” monster hits. At my time in life I’m not prepared to wait,and anyway I like to
“cherry pick” the titles I really want. Elephant have promised us DRACULA’S DAUGHTER,
SON OF DRACULA and HOUSE OF DRACULA early 2016 and if they are Blu Ray releases I
will certainly go for them. Basically,Elephant will issue Blu Ray’s of these films if Universal can
supply a new high def master.
Elephant in their now on-going Universal series have a whole raft of goodies for 2016 including
THIS ISLAND EARTH (more about that later) and at,last THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US
on Blu Ray.
I will be very interested to see,when the Universal Monsters 2 Box does finally arrive if
FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN will be a fully restored version…at any rate at the
moment I’m over the moon (or even howling at the moon :)) with the Elephant release.
SON OF FRANKENSTEIN is IMHO an expressionist masterpiece..those amazing sets and
jaw dropping production design look remarkable in high definition.
I see the later Universal horrors really as fairy tales for grown ups..so much style and wonderful
craftmanship.
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Yes, I saw a review of Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man on a French site, including some screen captures of the film, and it looks like a good package. I like the Universal horror films too but I’m prepared to wait and see what surfaces in the US or the UK.
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I must admit that I find DVD Beaver an essential source in making the decision to splash the cash
on forthcoming Blu Ray upgrades. They are very picky and that’s very good news for the potential
buyer.
There has been a whole intense debate over the recent German Ostalgica Blu Ray release
of THIS ISLAND EARTH and yours truly has been right in the thick of it!
Some folks seem to think it’s wonderful…I don’t.
To me the disc falls far short of Blu Ray’s of vintage Universal films presented by
German imprints like Explosive,Koch Media and Anolis.
Furthermore to me,the Ostaligica Blu Ray looks like an up-scaled DVD.
I wish that I had seen the DVD Beaver review before purchasing it…they are reviewing more and more Euro Blu Ray’s these days. At any rate,despite what others say I totally agree with the
DVD Beaver review who more or less give it a total thumbs down.
Also the menu on the Ostalgica Blu Ray is very user unfriendly and German subs suddenly
pop up despite having disabled on the menu. The only saving grace is that it was pretty cheap
to buy.
I am holding out for the 2016 Elephant release of this classic Sci Fi which should,I hope
be from a new high def master supplied by Universal.
Colin,
I don’t know if you saw the recent DVD Beaver review of the new Blu Ray of BROKEN LANCE.
Interestingly,DVD Beaver seemed to prefer the UK DVD release in terms of picture quality.
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John, I didn’t like the look of that edition of This Island Earth one bit either, and I’ve heard a few people, quite justifiably in my opinion, complain about it.
As for Broken Lance, I’ve seen the review and I think it looks like it’s had a liberal dose of the teal treatment applied, as is the case with a lot of 20th Century Fox sourced material. I can’t say it’s exactly to my taste.
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Kino Lorber are doing right by John Payne fans at the moment Phil Karlson’s wonderful
99 RIVER STREET is forthcoming on Blu Ray.
They also have Andre De Toth’s not quiet so wonderful HIDDEN FEAR in the pipeline as well.
The MGM MOD release of Byron Haskin’s very fine THE BOSS looked like it needed major
restoration work so the jury’s out on that one at this time.
Karlson,s equally fine KANSAS CITY CONFIDENTIAL has had a very impressive DVD release
(not the abysmal bootleg versions floating around) but I guess I’d still go for the upgrade should
it surface at some point.
With Colin’s previous piece on COMANCHE that leaves very few vintage United Artists Westerns
not available on DVD or Blu Ray.
Our friend Laura mentioned that Lesley Selander’s fierce THE YELLOW TOMAHAWK is due
to be shown on TCM (USA)
This will,I guess,be the black and white version that has been floating around for years.
I understand a color neg does exist and it will be great if Kino Lorber can arrange a color
transfer of this excellent “combat” Western.
The other United Artists Fifties Western that seems to have literally vanished is JOHNNY CONCHO
starring Frank Sinatra. This little known film must have some “rights issues” attached to it
especially as it’s a Sinatra picture.
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Good to see Payne’s films getting a bit of attention, and it would be great if more of them got similar treatment.
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Yes, “JOHNNY CONCHO” is one western from that rich period that I have never seen.
I am also delighted these fine John Payne noirs are getting high-def releases. “HIDDEN FEAR” is another one I have never seen (yet!).
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Those are unfamiliar to me too, but I hope they don’t remain so forever.
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Excellent – still need to catch up with this!
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It will be worth it – much to enjoy in this movie.
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Thanks chum
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I don’t normally post this kind of stuff but I like the film and it never hurts to draw a bit more attention its way.
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I think it is a very good idea – you should do more!
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Perhaps, we’ll see.
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Further to my previous comments about most vintage United Artists Westerns being generally
available;there are several key Noirs that I would love to see Kino-Lorber give the high-def
treatment.
As i mentioned previously,THE BOSS needs a “restored” version.
Dalton Trumbo’s allegorical,Kafkaesque,-fable set in “Anytown USA” should be given a
decent restoration-possibly by The Film Noir Foundation.
The MGM MOD release was very poor.
There are two other key Noirs that come to mind-firstly Mark Stevens’ TIMETABLE which
many Noir buffs rate higher than his impressive CRY VENGEANCE.
The “off air” copies I have seen look to be in pretty good shape.
Everybody’s sweetheart Felicia Farr is again a “bad gal” in this one but not as bad as the
evil nurse she played in the abrasive BIG HOUSE USA.
These two early roles are a far cry from the characters Felicia played in later films.
Secondly Victor Saville’s THE LONG WAIT is an excellent Noir,most strikingly shot by Franz
Planer-providing one can overlook the often rampant misogny-after all it is a Spillane tale.
The film’s treatment of the Peggie Castle character is downright nasty,by anyone’s standards.
Despite this the film is involving and impressive.
All those films were released by United Artists and I hope at least two of them are on Kino’s
list of possible future releases.
I am very excited about Kino’s forthcoming release of SHIELD FOR MURDER a Noir that I
have never seen and always wanted too.I like films about corrupt cops and with Edmond O
Brien starring and co-directing this bodes very well.
Interestingly,DVD BEAVER has just reviewed RTHC favourite DAY OF THE OUTLAW and the
new Blu Ray gets a very positive review. I still have reservations about the dreadful artwork
but the film does seem to have been given the treatment that it deserves.
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Yes, Day of the Outlaw looks nice judging from those screen captures – my copy has yet to ship but I’m looking forward to it keenly.
And count me in as another who’s excited by the news of the forthcoming Shield for Murder.
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