Hollywood Story Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Hollywood Story Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 21, 2021

William Castle's "Hollywood Story" (1951) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include exclusive new audio commentary by professor and film scholar Jason A. Ney; new interview with critic Kim Newman; archival interview with actress Julie Adams; and archival interview with film noir expert Eddie Muller. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

It is quite a stretch to speculate that William Castle shot Hollywood Story to offer a plausible reconstruction of the events that preceded the unsolved murder of director William Desmond Taylor. It was simply a smart marketing move to have the film highlight a few known details that had been previously reported by the press.

Successful producer Larry O’Brien (Richard Conte) lands in LA determined to build an independent movie empire that can compete with the big Hollywood studios. He quickly becomes the owner of a large property where many of the great directors from the silent era used to work and then begins searching for a great story that can be made into a film. Soon after, he learns about the unsolved murder of a well-known director who spent plenty of time on his new property and decides to do a film about him. While researching the director’s past, O’Brien faces unexpected resistance by some of his partners and eventually someone even tries to put a bullet in his head. However, the odd developments further solidify his conviction that he is on the right track and strengthen his desire to begin working on the film as quickly as possible.

Castle and cinematographer Carl E. Guthrie worked hard to make the most of the modest budget they were given to shoot Hollywood Story. This is by no means a weakness that hurts the film’s integrity, it is simply something that becomes impossible to deny as Conte’s character begins to dig deep into the troubled past of the murdered director. Also, Frederick Kohner and Fred Brady’s screenplay reveals rough parts that would have been addressed if the producers of Hollywood Story were on a mission to deliver a big film filling the gaps in Taylor’s unsolved murder case. These rough parts are easier to cite as a legit weakness that should have been avoided, but only if Hollywood Story is viewed as an unconvincing authoritative film about Taylor’s murder case.

The type of film that the producers of Hollywood Story funded and had delivered to them was essentially a B-picture with a noirish identity. Indeed, aside from the replication of the love triangle that apparently produced the deadly drama, there isn’t much else in the findings of Conte’s character that can be taken seriously. In fact, some of the embellishments are so outlandish that one could rather successfully argue that no one was ever focused on the facts. (Rupert Julian’s silent classic The Phantom of the Opera somehow ends up being one of the murdered director’s hits).

And yet, Hollywood Story works quite well. It is primarily because Conte and a few of the supporting actors -- Fred Clark, Henry Hull, and Julie Adams -- legitimize their characters with solid performances of the kind that are typically present in much bigger productions. In other words, while the drama cannot be taken seriously, the performances create the impression that the intent was in fact to do a fine job rearranging the scattered pieces of an apparently complex puzzle.

Guthrie’s camerawork is easier to describe as efficient rather than good, but it is nevertheless quite effective. When the killer reemerges, there is some quite stylish footage that provides the film with its noirish ambience.

Hollywood Story Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.36:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Hollywood Story arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment.

The master that was used to source the release isn't new. However, despite some minor limitations, I think that it is quite good. What are these limitations? Well, the grain has a slightly powedery appearance that is a bit uneven as well. In some daylight footage, highlights are not as nicely balanced as they could and should be. On the other hand, darker footage reveals surprisingly good shadow definition, though this is another area where minor adjustments can be made. The rest is typically good or very good. For example, delineation can be quite strong. Depth is pleasing as well, though a superior grain structure will introduce plenty of meaningful improvements. I like the grayscale. Image stability is very good. (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).

Hollywood Story 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.

I thought that the lossless track was very solid. I assume that when the current master was prepared it was properly transferred and someone made sure that age-related anomalies are eliminated. I am unsure if any meaningful improvements can be made to have it sound even better. Some cosmetic work could be done if the film is fully restored in the future, but I think that the basics will remain the same.

Hollywood Story Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - in this exclusive new commentary, professor and film scholar Jason A. Ney offers a wonderful analysis of Hollywood Story and discusses many of the key locations where it was shot, the era in which the film was completed, the studio system and the unsolved murder of director William Desmond Taylor. It it is a very good commentary.

• Interview with Kim Newman - in this exclusive new video interview, critic Kim Newman discusses the real story that inspired Hollywood Story, the careers and leagacies of some of the people that made the film, the era in which the film emerged and the evolution of film noir. In English, not subtitled. (17 min).

• Julie Adams on "Hollywood Story" - in this archival interview, Julie Adams recalls what it was like to play Sally Rousseau and interact with some of the other stars that made Hollywood Story with her (including the silent era stars that quickly pop up before the camera). There are some interesting comments about Old Hollywood as well. In English, not subtitled. (6 min).

• Eddie Muller on "Hollywood Story" - in this archival interview, film noir expert quickly addresses the conception of Hollywood Story as well as the some of the key pieces of the puzzle that inspired the film. In English, not subtitled. (5 min).

Hollywood Story Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

While there isn't an 'official' story that reveals exactly how director William Desmond Taylor died, the real story is almost complete. A few minor details are still missing, but a good case can be made that they are largely insignificant. I don't think that the real story is properly reconstructed in William Castle's film -- film noir expert Eddie Muller believes that precisely the opposite is true -- and I remain unconvinced that an attempt to do so was ever its objective. But the murder mystery that is at the heart of the film is still quite intriguing, plus Richard Conte is in top form and for once playing a good guy. Via Vision Entertainment's release is sourced from an old but nice master, and as usual features a strong selection of exclusive new and archival bonus features. It is included in its recent Essential Film Noir - Collection 2 four-disc box set. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.