Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Clash by Night Blu-ray Movie Review

Rough waters ahead.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III May 3, 2023

Based on Clifford Odets' 1941 play, Fritz Lang's Clash by Night is a big-screen production with performances to match, where almost each and every key character aims for the back row. It's a soapy but entertaining affair that's famous for having one of Marilyn Monroe's first major dramatic roles, with the biggest surprise being that she's not the weak link in the chain here. Though fraught with too much melodrama for its own good, the film's memorable characters and ace cinematography make Clash by Night a watchable production that warrants another look on Blu-ray.

Leading with an unusual but effective documentary-style sequence that tours the fishing town of Monterey, California (which was reportedly shot before principal filming began), Clash by Night soon introduces its closest thing to a main character: Mae Doyle (Barbara Stanwyck), who's back after a long absence and a legal battle that left her penniless. Emotionally guarded but physically resigned, she soon reunites with her controlling brother Joe (Keith Andes), who's currently dating sweet young Peggy (Marilyn Monroe) while they both work in the fishing trade along with amiable but brutish Jerry D'Amato (Paul Douglas). Also along for this emotional roller coaster is Jerry's old friend Earl Pfeiffer (Robert Ryan), an unhappily married movie theater projectionist who Mae immediately dislikes.

Predictably, there are rough waters ahead: Mae soon begins a reluctant relationship with Jerry for loveless security, Earl leaves his wife and puts the moves on Mae, Joe's controlling behavior somehow doesn't drive away Peggy, and more of melodrama's greatest hits. Clash by Night is mostly concerned with the inner workings of this tangled character web: their (mis)treatment of each other, trust and betrayal, soapy twists and turns, and a overall bitter attitude towards the human condition. Truly "good" characters are few and far between, and the ones that deserve happiness often don't get it. Lang's skilled direction keeps things moving at a good clip and the cinematography of Nicholas Musuraca is a delight, and its five main actors are able to separate good performances from their mostly unlikable characters.

Perhaps the weakest of the bunch (or at least the one who upsets Clash by Night's emotional imbalance for the worse) is Paul Douglas: it's regularly implied that Jerry is a kind and caring man but even his actions are mostly driven by raw aggression, including a few red-flag outbursts that only get more repetitive as his fragile relationship with unhappy Mae falls apart in the second half. I understand that such a character all but requires the dictionary definition of a "big lug", but Douglas plays the character closer to a caveman than a gentle giant pushed to the edge. Had a more nuanced take on Jerry helped to anchor their one-sided relationship, more sympathy could have been generated in critical moments... and that includes the film's conclusion, which ring a little hollow due to his sudden change of heart.

Regardless of such flaws, Clash by Night still works well enough as a rough character study polished to a visual shine, and that end of the deal is supported greatly by Warner Archive's stunning new Blu-ray. Led by another absolutely top-tier restoration of its beautiful source material -- which includes a new lossless audio track -- this is a solid package flanked by a couple of DVD-era bonus features that should appeal to fans of the cast and director.

Clash by Night Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Warner Archive's new 1080p transfer of Clash by Night is sourced from a recent 4K scan of the original camera negative which, around these parts, usually translates to a perfect 5/5 rating. Indeed, this is impressive work on all fronts, with immensely strong image detail and an overall razor-sharp appearance that preserves the film's original texture by way of noticeable film grain. Of course, many of its native strengths are due to the outstanding cinematography of Nicholas Musuraca, whose impressive body of work included such films as Cat People and Out of the Past before he transitioned to full-time television work in the mid-1950s. His visuals are supported very strongly here from start to finish, from the impressive documentary-style opening that introduces Monterey to a foggy, foreboding night that closes the film. Black levels reach nice and deep, whites pop nicely without blooming -- take a look at the screenshot below for an idea of the crisp contrast handling on display here -- and a full range of gradients can be seen with no signs of obvious boosting or compression artifacts such as banding, posterization, or macro blocking. It's simply more great work from the reliably-solid Warner Archive, and easily the best that Clash by Night has ever looked on home video.

Clash by Night Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Likewise, the DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track benefits from Clash by Night's new restoration, enjoying a largely rich sonic palette that wrings about as much detail as possible from the source material without compromising its roots. Conversations (mostly arguments, really) are crystal clear and background effects are handled well, with more than enough room for prolific RKO composer Roy Webb's dramatic original score. No obvious signs of damage or other wear and tear could be heard along the way, aside from trace levels of hiss during a few exchanges. But for a 70+ year-old mono track with very little flair, this is a remarkably clean and crisp effort that's worth praising.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during the main feature only.

Clash by Night Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a keepcase with poster-themed cover art and no inserts. The bonus features are ported over from previous home video releases dating all the way back to Warner Bros.' 2005 DVD.

• Audio Commentary - Although listed as a joint track with film historian Peter Bogdonavich and director Fritz Lang, astute readers may realize that the latter participant died while Gerald Ford was President. In reality this is a largely solo commentary with Bogdonavich but contains audio clips from his 1965 interview with the director, giving this session a vague Q&A vibe that, under the circumstances, is kind of neat. Topics of interest include the original play and changes to this adaptation, its casting for the big screen (including Marilyn Monroe's first real dramatic role), Alfred Hayes' screenplay, Cliffotd Odets' other works, the opening "documentary" sequence, its economic visuals, and more. There are several gaps of silence and a few stretches of on-screen narration but this is still a largely engaging track that's worth a listen for die-hard fans of the film.

• Theatrical Trailer (2:25) - This vintage promotional piece can also be seen here.

Clash by Night Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Fritz Lang's Clash by Night is an interesting little character piece that, while clearly entertaining from a base-level perspective, is more than a little overcooked. Yet the largely strong performances at its core, as well as excellent noir-tinted cinematography, give it a certain edge that elevates the whole production above water. Warner Archive's new Blu-ray offers a a top-tier restoration and a few DVD-era bonus features, including a commentary that kinda-sorta involves the director. It's a solid package, but one recommended more for die-hard fans than newcomers.