Gumshoe Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

Gumshoe Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov June 29, 2018

Stephen Frears' "Gumshoe" (1971) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the disc include original trailers; vintage promotional materials; new video interviews with Stephen Frears and editor Charles Rees; and more. The release also arrives with a 40-page illustrated booklet featuring an essay by Robert Murphy, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and historic articles on the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Take the money. You're hired!

My reaction to Stephen Frears’ directorial debut, Gumshoe, was very similar to the one that I had after I had finished viewing Alan Rudolph’s Love at Large. I felt that the eccentricity that was channeled through it was so overwhelming that the narrative quite simply could not remain coherent.

Frears and his camera follow closely Eddie Ginley (Albert Finney), a disillusioned comedian who now makes ends meet as a bingo caller in a lousy club somewhere in the heart of Liverpool. He is in his early thirties, almost broke, and still a bachelor.

In a rare moment of inspiration, Ginley finally decides to redirect his life by placing a small advertisement in the local newspaper in which he pretends to be an experienced private eye. Shortly after, someone contacts him with a request to take on a complicated case that supposedly only a real pro can solve. Then, in a dark room at the Plaza Hotel, an obese man (George Silver) hands him an envelope with the picture of a young girl, a gun, and £1,000 in cash. Even though he does not fully understanding what is expected of him, Ginley then begins looking for the mysterious girl and attracts the attention of various strange characters, some of which make him realize that they are aware that he is an amateur and that they are not thrilled with his investigation. His already shaky relationship with his brother William (Frank Finlay) further deteriorates as well.

Here’s what Frears does in Gumshoe that makes it stand out: He borrows the sharp style and energy of the classic American film noirs that Humphrey Bogart appeared in but then deliberately points his camera at working-class Liverpool and refuses to avoid the ugly. So Gumshoe very quickly evolves into something of a kitchen sink film noir that has a special sense of humor.

Unfortunately, Frears also relies almost exclusively on Finney to hold the different parts of the narrative together, and the more his character learns about the job that he was hired to do, the less convincing the whole thing appears. For example, there are entire sequences where the focus of attention is strictly on the rhythmic exchanges between the private eye and the person that is before him that are completely meaningless. After the private eye’s brother emerges as a prominent player there are also very abrupt shifts in tone between different sequences which leave the impression that the film cannot decide if it is more effective as a parody or a conventional crime thriller.

Finney’s ability to deliver some timely jokes occasionally helps to hide the unevenness, but eventually it becomes crystal clear that too often the film is pulling in different directions at the same time. A better editing could have addressed some of the issues, but all things considered -- and especially the evolution of Frears’ work -- it is awfully difficult not to speculate that this project would have been best to emerge much later in the director’s career.

Gumshoe Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.67:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Stephen Frears's Gumshoe arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

The release is sourced from a remaster that was prepared by Sony Pictures. However, it is quite uneven and more often than not it gives the film a dated appearance. For example, there are plenty of density fluctuations that are not part of the original cinematography, and even a few obvious examples of flatness that is typically associated with the actual quality of the existing remaster. Also, there are a few sequences where color stability issues -- in the background there is light but very obvious color flutter. The good news is that even though there are limitations that a new master will undoubtedly eliminate the current master is free of digital anomalies, such as sharpening, and this does make a difference. Overall image stability is also very good. A few minor specks remain, but there are no distracting large debris, cuts, torn or warped frames to report. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Gumshoe Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

There are no technical issues to report. The dialog is very clean, stable, and easy to follow. Balance could be the only area where some minor improvements are possible, but at best they will be cosmetic improvements that will not affect the film's overall dynamic intensity. There are audio dropouts or digital distortions to report.

Gumshoe Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

NOTE: All of the supplemental features on this Blu-ray release are perfectly playable on North American Blu-ray players, including the PS3.

• Trailer - vintage theatrical trailer for Gumshoe. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• VHS Trailer - vintage VHS trailer for Gumshoe. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Image - large collection of production stills and promotional materials for Gumshoe. (1080p).

• Stephen Frears on 'Gumshoe' - in this brand new video interview, Stephen Frears recalls how Gumshoe was conceived, and discusses his interactions with Albert Finney during the shooting of the film as well as the qualities of his character, the film's narrative construction, some of cinematographer Chris Menges' lensing choices, the impact the film had on his career, etc. The interview was conducted for Indicator/Powerhosue Films in 2018. In English, not subtitled. (18 min, 1080p).

• Neville Smith on 'Gumshoe' - in this brand new video interview, writer Neville Smith recalls how he became involved with Gumshoe and discusses his interactions with Stephen Frears, the evolution of the script and the nature of the dialog (fast exchanges), the film's success at the box office, etc. The interview was conducted for Indicator/Powerhosue Films in 2018. In English, not subtitled. (16 min, 1080p).

• Producer Michael Medwin on 'Gumshoe' - in this brand new video interview, producer Michael Medwin quickly addresses Albert Finney's performance and the finale of Gumshoe. The interview was conducted for Indicator/Powerhosue Films in 2018. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080p).

• Editor Charles Rees on 'Gumshoe' - in this brand new video interview, producer editor Charles Rees explains how he was hired to work on Gumshoe, and discusses some of the editing choices he made after production had ended, the rhythm of the film and it affects its mood, his firing and the new edits that were done to clarify locations and straighten the drama, the quality of Neville Smith's script and the film's unique tone, etc. The interview was conducted for Indicator/Powerhosue Films in 2018. In English, not subtitled. (26 min, 1080p).

• Production Designer Michael Seymour on 'Gumshoe' - in this brand new video interview, production designer Michael Seymour quickly discusses his involvement with Gumshoe. The interview was conducted for Indicator/Powerhosue Films in 2018. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Actor Tom Kempinski on 'Gumshoe' - in this brand new video interview, actor Tom Kempinski quickly discusses the one short scene that he shot with Stephen Frears for Gumshoe. The interview was conducted for Indicator/Powerhosue Films in 2018. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080p).

• "The Burning" (1968) - presented here is Stephen Frears' first short film, The Burning, which was shot on location in Tangier. In English, with optional English subtitles. (32 min, 1080p).

• Booklet - 40-page illustrated booklet featuring Robert Murphy's essay "Bogart on The Mersey", an overview of contemporary critical responses, and historic articles on the film.

Gumshoe Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

An eccentric kitchen sink film noir with Albert Finney right in the middle of it playing an amateur private eye sounds like a great concept for a special project, and I think that Gumshoe would have turned out to be precisely that if Stephen Frears had directed it much later in his career. As it is I think that Gumshoe certainly manages to be different, but I can't agree that it is the great film that its admirers have argued it is. Indicator/Powerhouse Flims' recent release is sourced from a remaster that was prepared by Sony Pictures and also includes Frears' first short film, The Burning, plus some good new interviews, including one with the director and editor Charles Rees. If our review piques your interest, my advise would be the consider a rental first.