7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A doctor and a policeman in New Orleans have only 48 hours to locate a killer infected with pneumonic plague.
Starring: Richard Widmark, Paul Douglas (I), Barbara Bel Geddes, Jack Palance, Zero MostelFilm-Noir | 100% |
Drama | 5% |
Crime | Insignificant |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.41:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH, French, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Four years before his heavyweight union drama On the Waterfront, director Elia Kazan made an entirely different kind of film set down by the docks. 1950's Panic in the Streets is one part cops 'n criminals mystery and one part disease outbreak thriller, a gritty—and underrated—little noir that may lack the Big Issue social consciousness of Kazan's most famous films, but is a sterling example of the director's command of tone, pacing, and mise-en-scene. Shot on location in New Orleans, Panic in the Streets shows Kazan transitioning from his earlier, theater-style staging to an almost documentarian realism—authentic settings, authentic non-actor extras, long fly-on-the-wall takes—albeit dramatically heightened with the moody black and white cinematography typical of post-war noir. Given its keen balance of human relational elements and procedural genre conventions, it wouldn't be surprising if Steven Soderbergh studied the film before making 2011's Contagion, which seems like a direct cinematic descendant, both featuring smart professionals struggling to do their jobs while contending with bureaucratic resistance and the stress of their personal lives.
While not the best available transfer of an Elia Kazan film on Blu-ray—that honor goes to Criterion's simply perfect treatment of On the Waterfront—Panic in the Streets boasts a 1080p/AVC-encoded presentation that's far better than the movie has ever looked on home video. Barring a few errant white specks and one or two instances of light flickering, the print is in impeccable condition, with no overt scratches, hairs, or larger bits of debris. Always important for a black and white film, the contrast balance is also excellent; much of the film takes place at night, so it's crucial that blacks don't crush shadow detail—they don't—while highlights remain crisp but never overblown. My lone reservation is that the image seems a little soft. Don't get me wrong; there's no doubt you're looking at a high definition picture, with increased detail in facial features and wool suits and hair, but I suspect the picture could be sharper. The culprit here—and I might be wrong—is the ever-so-slight attenuation of film grain. This is no DNR disaster, but it looks to me like there has been some smoothing, resulting in grain that sometimes looks more patchy than consistent and full-bodied. This is a minor complaint, though, and from a normal viewing distance it doesn't even visually register. Don't Panic in the Streets— the film, for the most part, looks wonderful.
Fox's Blu-ray release features a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio mono track that suits the film just fine. There are no pops, crackles, hisses, or thumps here, and the mix has a decent sense of dynamic heft for a movie of this vintage, with none of the tinniness you sometimes expect from mid-century sound design. Alfred Newman's score, in particular, sounds wonderful, with big brassy horns in the intro that fade into slinkier jazz for the remainder of the film. Most crucially, dialogue is always easy to understand. No issues here whatsoever. The disc includes optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles in crisp white lettering.
One of Elia Kazan's most overlooked films—perhaps because it lacks the social significance of his best-known works—Panic in the Streets is an engaging epidemic thriller with noir overtones, shot on location in New Orleans' grimier quarters. If it's not quite as frantic as its title suggests, the film is about as tightly made as a movie can be, with excellent camerawork, fine performances, and a story that balances the professional and personal. It's well worth your time if you're interested in film noir or classic Hollywood genre pictures in general. 20th Century Fox's Blu-ray release does the movie justice—the included audio commentary is especially recommended—so I see no reason not to pick this one up and pass it around to your friends like a cold.
Warner Archive Collection
1951
1951
Special Edition
1946
1950
1954
1956
1954
1957
1950
1947
1944
1954
1948
Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
1950
Indicator Series | Limited Edition
1949
1947
Warner Archive Collection
1953
4K Restoration
1948
1955
1949