6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Vic Barron (Mark Stevens), a former San Francisco detective is released from prison after three years for crimes he didn't commit. His wife and child were blown up in a car bomb meant for him, leaving him physically and emotionally scarred for life. he was framed as a dirty cop and lost his job. now he's out crying vengeance against all those responsible. After run-ins with his old partner, Lt. Pat Ryan (Don Haggerty) and mafia strong-arm, the psychotic Roxie Davis (Skip Homeier), the killer's trail leads him to the isolated and picturesque city of Ketchikan, Alaska, where he meets tavern owner Peggy Harding (Martha Hyer), who's fascinated by the soft-spoken, but volcanic Vic. Stylishly directed by the film's star Mark Stevens (Time Table).
Starring: Martha Hyer, Mark Stevens, Skip Homeier, Douglas Kennedy, John DoucetteFilm-Noir | 100% |
Drama | 37% |
Crime | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono (48kHz, 16-bit)
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Have any films or television shows been shot in your home town? If so, you know the vicarious excitement of recognizing various locations, an excitement that can almost turn to wonder if the film or show is from a long time ago and you can marvel at the changes that have occurred since the filming happened. I have to wonder if there are some seasoned citizens in the relatively tiny fishing village of Ketchikan, Alaska, who might see Cry Vengeance, which was partially filmed there in 1954, and marvel at how much or how little their town has changed in the interim. The Alaska setting is one of the more interesting elements of this 1954 noir-esque outing, one which posits a wrongly accused and imprisoned former policeman (played by the film’s director, Mark Stevens) who finally gets out of the joint and embarks on a mad dash to get revenge on those who ruined his life, which in this case included killing his wife and child and leaving him physically (and no doubt emotionally) scarred in the process. Cry Vengeance at times plays a bit like a low rent version of The Big Heat, and in fact the two make for fascinating companion pieces and together would provide a really interesting home theater double feature. It’s actually not hard to imagine Stevens and/or co-scenarists Warren Douglas and George Bricker having seen The Big Heat and then deciding to put their own spin on a cop caught up in a world of criminals, with the cop’s family being the unexpected victims of a bomb meant for the cop himself. While there’s little doubt that The Big Heat is the more viscerally exciting film, Cry Vengeance is a surprisingly taught little thriller that benefits from some excellent performances (even if it seems like some of them are carbon copied from The Big Heat itself) and the unusual location work in Alaska, certainly one of the last places most people would think of for a noir to take place in.
Cry Vengeance is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Olive Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. Aside from some very minor damage and some occasional stock footage, the elements here are in rather good condition. The black and white photography tends to vary, if only slightly, between the location work and more controlled studio bound footage, with the latter looking incrementally sharper and with better definition and contrast. Grain is quite heavy at times in this presentation but is never overwhelming.
Cry Vengeance has a perfectly serviceable DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track that features very clear dialogue, good ambient environmental effects (it sounds like some of the film was recorded live on some of the locations), as well as a nice moody score by Paul Dunlap. Fidelity is very good, with no damage, overbearing hiss or drop outs to report. Dynamic range is fairly flat, occasionally punctuated by gunshots.
No supplements are offered on this Blu-ray disc.
Cry Vengeance has a lot going for it, including an unusual setting, some great characters and a nice setup. The film tends to lose steam once those pieces are all in place, though, and the second half of the film indulges in a bit too much heartstring pulling, as well as the supposed salvation of Vic as he comes to realize vengeance isn't all it's cracked up to be. (That doesn't stop him from killing at least one person, it should be stated.) The film is very well performed by a game cast and Stevens acquits himself more than commendably as a director. This Blu-ray features nice looking video and sounding audio and comes Recommended.
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