​New Blu-rays a treat for film noir fans

It’s been a good period for film noir on Blu-ray this year, as the genre (or subgenre or style, depending on who is defining it) seems to be enjoying a renaissance of popularity, with its flawed anti-heroic characters, fashionably dark cynicism, and stylish low-key cinematography. A nice variety of titles both classic and obscure have been getting quality Blu-ray editions from several distributors, including Kino, Olive, Twilight Time, Criterion, Flicker Alley, and even Warner. Here are several that deserve wider recognition.

Otto Preminger was in his prime when he directed “Where the Sidewalk Ends” (1950), an excellent thriller starring Dana Andrews as a cop who’s basically a decent guy but has a temper and no qualms about treating criminal suspects quite violently until they cooperate. One day he goes too far and accidentally kills a suspect involved with a gangster he’s long been after, decides to cover it up, and later feels guilty when he starts to fall for the dead man’s estranged widow (Gene Tierney).

The script, partly the work of veteran screenwriter Ben Hecht, fleshes out the main characters with greater depth than many formula genre films. Joseph LeShelle’s striking black-and-white cinematography also adds a great deal.

Twilight Time’s Blu-ray has an excellent film-like HD transfer and good sound. Bonus features include a booklet, an isolated music score, an audio commentary by film noir expert Eddie Muller, and a trailer (in SD).

WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS on Blu-ray – Movie: A / Video: A+ / Audio: A / Extras: B

“Shield for Murder” (1954) would make a fitting second feature to double up with “Where the Sidewalk Ends.” Edmond O’Brien directs himself in this dark and violent noir about a long-time efficient police detective noted for abusing criminals.

He finally goes off the deep end and in order to get enough cash to leave the force and settle down with his girlfriend he kills a small-time crook carrying a payoff to a crime boss, steals the money, and tries to make it look like a standard “shot while trying to escape” scenario. He must see how long he can cover up his deed before his straight-arrow partner (John Agar) and the rest of the department figure out the truth. Things get complicated when he learns there was a witness. Carolyn Jones has an all-too-brief bit as a barfly.

Kino’s Blu-ray has generally good picture quality, but some shots look slightly soft. Audio is okay. The only bonus features are trailers for other noir features on Blu-ray from Kino.

SHIELD FOR MURDER on Blu-ray – Movie: B+ / Video: A- / Audio: A- / Extras: D+

“Try and Get Me” (1950) is a taut crime thriller directed by Cy Endfield, based on an actual case. It premiered under the title “The Sound of Fury” but was retitled for its general release.

Frank Lovejoy plays a nice guy struggling to support his pregnant wife and young son. He reluctantly teams up with a small-time hoodlum (Lloyd Bridges) to pull off some robberies so he can make ends meet, taking care not to let his wife know how he gets his money.

Unfortunately their exploits soon turn to kidnapping and murder, and their ultimate arrest leads to a tabloid-style journalist exploiting the story and sordid details to sell papers and rile up the public.

The film is well-acted, well-made, and packs a powerful social commentary along with its effective balance of tension, suspense, and action.

The HD transfer on Olive Films’ Blu-ray is excellent and the sound is fine. As usual for Olive, there are no bonus features except for a main and chapter menu although there are optional English captions.

TRY AND GET ME on Blu-ray – Movie: A / Video: A+ / Audio: A / Extras: F

John Payne, Evelyn Keyes, and Brad Dexter star in “99 River Street” (1953), a great little noir thriller whose complicated plot unfolds over the course of a single night with several unexpected twists along the way.

Payne is a former successful prizefighter who lost a bid for the championship and now drives a taxi for a living. This does not sit well with his wife (Peggie Castle), who gave up her showgirl career to marry him and hates being a housewife to a struggling cabbie with a short temper.

She plans to leave him for a sleazy jewel thief (Dexter) just as an old actress friend (Keyes) shows up to ask the ex-boxer for an emergency favor. Not long afterwards the wife shows up dead in his back seat, and the two team up to evade the police and solve the murder with the help of his taxi-dispatcher boss (Frank Faylen). They find themselves quickly getting caught up in the crooked and dangerous world that so casually disposed of the wife.

Payne is strong as the volatile yet vulnerable protagonist, and Keyes is obviously having a great time playing a so-so actress who must turn on and off various characterizations depending on the circumstances.

Directing (by Phil Karlson), cinematography, and editing are all first-rate.

Kino’s Blu-ray has fine picture quality and decent sound. Bonus features include a highly entertaining and information-packed commentary by Eddie Muller, and trailers to several other noir thrillers available on Blu-ray from Kino.

99 RIVER STREET on Blu-ray – Movie: A / Video: A / Audio: A- / Extras: C+