7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A mentally unstable man, who has been kept in isolation for years, escapes and causes trouble for his identical twin brother.
Starring: Albert Dekker, Susan Hayward, Harry Carey, Frances Farmer, Gordon Jones (I)Film-Noir | 100% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.37:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 16-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
While Among the Living has long been cited as a kind of early proto-noir, the film's ultimate interest may be more in terms of its fascinating casting than for its admittedly creepy if underdeveloped story or even its sometimes quite impressive style. The film is a showcase of sorts for Albert Dekker, who portrays twins, one upright, one a homicidal maniac. Susan Hayward is also on hand in an early role as a kind of floozy the crazy brother interacts with in a performance that brought her considerable notice, and western film regular Harry Carey appears as a local doctor with a secret or two. But the main interest for some cult film fans may be the presence of Frances Farmer in one of her last screen appearances before her emotional troubles temporarily ended her career. Farmer was nearing the end of her short but dramatic first stint in Hollywood in 1941, though there were still potential lifelines that were being offered to her, whether or not she wanted to accept them. Despite making it completely clear that she preferred acting on stage to being a "movie star", she had dutifully returned to Los Angeles in 1940 and made two relatively high profile films, South of Pago Pago, which opened at Radio City Music Hall, and Flowing Gold, which reunited her with her Group Theatre collaborator John Garfield, and in 1941 she embarked on a new strategy of increased availability to the press, as evidenced by a whole series of publicity photos the Paramount team put out, including a set of Farmer pretty much offering the "leg art" she had despised in her earlier career, albeit cloaked now in the perceived respectability of pictures showing Farmer doing exercises. She was renting a gorgeous home in Santa Monica that neighbored the palatial mansion of Dolores Del Rio and Cedric Gibbons, and there are quite a few industry news reports in publications like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter documenting her attempts to get a kind of touring theatrical troupe together that would perform for the armed forces that were already amassing in what was increasingly becoming apparent was going to be a global calamity that the United States could not avoid. And, despite all the issues that had arisen between Farmer and Paramount, there were also news items documenting that the studio had renewed its option on Farmer for another multi-year run, this even though Farmer had earlier negotiated a quasi-release that required her presence in Los Angeles for only three months out of every year (so that she could pursue theatrical options elsewhere).
Among the Living is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.37:1. If you want to know how serious of a collector I am, this film was well nigh impossible to find in the pre-internet days, and I spent a really questionable amount of dough to get a copy, which was obviously sourced off of a 16mm dupe and was filled with scratches and splices galore. Suffice it to say, despite some manifest issues (discussed in a moment), this is a major step up and really offers substantial improvement from any other version of this film I've personally seen. There is still abundant damage to be spotted, including some fairly large scratches and nicks, but the most recurrent issue is slight frame instability and some noticeable warping. While contrast is generally secure, there are some very noticeable brightness fluctuations where blacks can kind of phase in and out of milky territory (pay attention to the first scene where Paul is introduced for one clear example). If you can get past those issues, this presentation is surprisingly strong for such a little known cult item. Detail levels on things like fabrics are typically very good to excellent. Grain resolves naturally throughout and I noticed no major compression issues.
Among the Living features a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track that can't quite overcome the boxy sounding recording technologies of the day, which are probably exacerbated a bit by the condition of whatever element was utilized. Scoring can sound a bit brash and strident, but dialogue and effects are rendered without any major issues. Optional English subtitles are available.
Among the Living generates considerable uneasiness as Paul starts marauding through the town of Raden, and Dekker makes the most of the opportunity to play two totally different characters (much as Farmer had done herself in 1936 in what many consider to be her best film, Come and Get It). The film is also notable for its very distinctive style, which should appeal to noir fans. Interestingly, the film was shot in the summer of 1941 and Variety reviewed it in September (mentioning how little Farmer had to do and how she was "wasted"), but for one reason or another it didn't receive wide release until just a few days after Pearl Harbor, which may have put the kibosh on big box office returns. It's been one of the more difficult cult films to get a decent copy of, and while this release has some issues in the video department in particular, it's head and shoulders above any other version I've personally seen. Recommended.
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