7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A night club owner becomes infatuated with a torch singer and frames his best friend/manager for embezzlement when the chanteuse falls in love with him.
Starring: Ida Lupino, Cornel Wilde, Celeste Holm, Richard Widmark, O.Z. WhiteheadFilm-Noir | 100% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Romance | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.34:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit)
None
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
1948’s “Road House” gives the love triangle routine a solid kick to the face, delivering a noir-ish vibe to romantic unrest that eventually transforms into actual physical threat. It’s a bold display of hostilities starring Ida Lupino, Cornel Wilde, and Richard Widmark, and a movie that, after introductions are made, escalates convincingly, with director Jean Negulesco (“Daddy Long Legs”) generating an engrossing sense of danger and betrayal punctuated with musical performances to sell the festive atmosphere of the titular location.
The AVC encoded image (1.34:1 aspect ratio) presentation brings out a clear, clean viewing experience for "Road House," which showcases satisfactory detail when surveying costuming choices, thespian close-ups, and textured sets, bringing out the particulars of the frame. Cinematographic balance is preserved, managing sharp whites and deep blacks, offering comfortable delineation. Source is in good shape, with mild speckling and scratching, and the occasional single-frame blotch. Grain is fine and filmic.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix shows encouraging life despite its age. While a faint amount of hiss is detected, dramatic power remains, giving heft to snappy dialogue exchanges and escalating passion. Scoring and performance sequences retain acceptable instrumentation and presence.
"Road House" is a spirited movie, even slipping into brawling mode once patrons begin crossing the line, forcing Pete to knock some sense into inebriated goons. Eventually, the feature graduates to more stylized suspense, with gun play and chases dominating he last act. It works because of performances, which are terrific, and creative achievements, including impressive art direction and costuming. "Road House" has attitude, visual appeal, and a real interest in providing cheap thrills, making it one of the better examples of the genre. It also wins the distinction of being the second most violent film I've seen where bowling plays a major part in the story.
1946
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Warner Archive Collection
1947
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The Sound of Fury
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Warner Archive Collection
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Warner Archive Collection
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Warner Archive Collection
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Warner Archive Collection
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