Outside the Law Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Outside the Law Blu-ray Movie Review

A must-see silent-era classic.

Outside the Law (1920) is an impressive silent-era classic featuring a double-bill performance by the great Lon Chaney (The Phantom of the Opera, The Hunchback of Notre Dame). The film is an early classic in the gangster genre and one that challenged the conventions of the genre. Featuring a good story and great silent-era performances, Outside the Law is a must-see.

Molly Madden (Priscilla Dean) is a skilled jewel thief who is furious with the framing of her father for murder by the ruthless gangster Black Mike Sylva (Lon Chaney). Deciding to seek revenge through means of a double-cross, Molly works with safecracker Dapper Bill Ballard (Wheeler Oakman) to enact a plot against Black Mile Sylva for his actions against her father. During the turbulent path of events, Chang Lo (E. Alyn Warren) provides Confucian teachings while Ah Wing (Lon Chaney) adds heroism to the story. Can Molly succeed in her revenge?

One of the most impressive elements of the production is the double-role performance by Lon Chaney. Portraying both the gangster villain Black Mike Sylva and the Chinese hero Ah Wing, Outside the Law gave the iconic Hollywood legend plenty to work with. It was a rare opportunity for the performer to expand their roles even further. The end results are impressive as the film has withstood the test of time.

An impressive cinematic accomplishment.

The music score by Anton Sanko (The Half of It, Fractured) is a great musical accompaniment to the presentation. The music enhanced the drama and action of the film considerably. There was a strong sense of rhythm throughout the entire production.

The cinematography by William Fildew (The Great Secret, Reggie Mixes In) is ahead of it's time. The black and white cinematography is enormously impressive and detailed. The shadowy style is well fitted for film noir and was a perfect match to the gangster components in the story. An impressive effort by Fildew.

Given the age of the production, the art direction by Elmer Sheeley (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, White Tiger) is exquisite. There is something magical about the set designs. The production quality manages to feel large-budget. For a film of the era, circa 1920, the results hold up quite well.

Co-written and directed by Tod Browning (Dracula, Freaks), who collaborated with screenwriter Lucien Hubbard (The Mysterious Island, The Star Witness), Outside the Law is a well-directed cinematic classic that explores the gangster underworld and the life of a jewel thief. The film manages to entertain from beginning to end. Worth a watch.

Outside the Law Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, Outside the Law is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.33:1 full frame. The 4K restoration of the film was conducted by Universal Pictures. The footage used for the restoration efforts was sourced from a 35mm print of the film (provided by the Library of Congress). The 4K scan also utilized restorative services by NBCUniversal. The picture-quality is largely impressive for the bulk of the presentation.

There were so many moments where the scan seemed downright exceptional to behold given the age and condition of the materials. Unfortunately, the scan still shows some age: around the 1:05:00 mark the picture-quality seems to degrade significantly. There are some brief moments where the footage appears warped and obscured (though still watchable).

Screenshot #20 showcases a worst-case example of these fleeting moments of print damage towards the end of the film. Even so, the transfer is largely remarkable to watch with this new 4K scan and most viewers should consider it to be a revelatory restoration. This was a strong effort by Universal to preserve the feature-film.

Outside the Law Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Blu-ray release features a DTS HD Master Audio 2.0 soundtrack. The lossless audio is remarkable: the crisp music score is invigorating and breathtaking. The music brings the production to life with outstanding clarity throughout. There is a sense that the score brings a unique energy and charm to experiencing the film. The silent presentation (with English intertitles) is significantly enhanced by the music. A top-notch effort.

Outside the Law Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by Film Historian Anthony Slide

Alternate Ending (HD, 10:06) as previously attached to a 16mm print created for a 1926 re-release of the feature-film. The sequence features alternate takes and the final scene is different from what is featured during the original theatrical cut.

Footage Comparison (HD, 9:00) showcases a side-by-side comparison of the 35mm restoration footage and the alternate 16mm presentation. The footage comparison shows a striking difference in quality as the restored version shows significant more depth, detail, and overall clarity (with better black levels). A good side-by-side for those interested in film preservation and restoration efforts.

Outside the Law Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Outside the Law holds up as an impressive silent-era gem. The production quality is fantastic. The dual performances by Lon Chaney are remarkable. The Blu-ray release features a new 4K restoration of the film (as prepared by Universal Pictures). Although the print quality is not perfect, the 4K scan looks quite remarkable for a film that is 100 years old. Kino Lorber has assembled a strong release. Recommended.