The Burglar Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

The Burglar Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov January 4, 2024

Paul Wendkos' "The Burglar" (1957) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films. The supplemental features on the release include archival introduction to the film by Marty Scorsese and vintage trailer. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Seasoned burglar Nat Harbin (Dan Duryea) and his two associates, Baylock (Peter Capell) and Dohmer (Mickey Slaughnessy), quickly identify their latest target, a wealthy medium, and then break into her home. A couple of patrolling cops slow them down a bit, but once Harbin masterfully dispatches them into the thick shadows of the night, they resume their work. Shortly after, Harbin easily cracks open the target’s safe and steals her precious diamond necklace. In a lousy hotel somewhere in Philadelphia, Harbin and his two associates then reunite with Gladden (Jayne Mansfield), a stunning beauty who has been following them around for some time. Harbin has been taking care of Gladden after promising her late father, who used to be his former boss and best friend, that he would protect her for as long as possible.

While waiting for things to cool off, Harbin repeatedly clashes with Baylock, who wants the diamond necklace turned into cash so that he can get on the first ship heading to South America. As the temperature in the hotel room continues to rise, Harbin then repeatedly warns Dohmer, who has been drinking excessively to numb his anxiety, to stay away from Gladden. Eventually, after realizing that he can no longer fully control his associates, Harbin sends Gladden to Atlantic City with instructions to wait there until he trades the diamond necklace for cash and the crew can split.

But Harbin’s plan quickly begins to fall apart when the crooked cop Charlie (Stewart Bradley) and his partner Della (Martha Vickers), who have been tracking down the burglars for some time, make a play for the stolen diamond necklace, too.

In an archival program that is included on this release, Marty Scorsese introduces Paul Wendkos’ film and highlights two very interesting details. The first is that The Burglar is based on an excellent novel by the great American writer David Goodis, whose writings have inspired several classic and cult films. Two of these films were made on the other side of the Atlantic by French directors -- Shoot the Pianist and The Moon in the Gutter. The second is that The Burglar legitimized Mansfield in Hollywood and landed her a studio contract, though it was released two years after it was finished and Mansfield had become a star.

Scorsese highlights these details because they reveal why The Burglar is a very good film. Goodis, who was born and raised in Philadelphia, adapted his novel and worked closely with Wendkos, who was also born and raised in Philadelphia, which is where a large portion of The Burglar was shot. Virtually all great film noirs very effectively preserve the authentic appearance and pulse of the environment where their characters emerge, which Goodis and Wendkos ensured The Burglar can do as best as possible, too. Despite having a small part and being surrounded by terrific character actors, Mansfield leaves a lasting impression as well. However, it is not because she is a lonely star amongst the rest of the supporting actors. Mansfield leaves a lasting impression by matching the quality of the performances around her. In other words, the leads and the supporting actors in The Burglar are equally impressive.

Something else that The Burglar does very well is despair. It is everywhere -- in the words that are uttered by the burglars and the other shady characters that follow them around, the looks they exchange, the casual shots and carefully framed panoramic vistas that emerge as it becomes increasingly obvious that Harbin’s plan is not going to work. It is a classic film noir quality, but not all classic film noirs do despair as well as The Burglar does.

The Burglar is one of four films in Imprint Films’ Essential Film Noir - Collection 5, a four-disc box set. The other three films are: Island of Doomed Men, The Red Menace, and 13 West Street.

The Burglar Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Burglar arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films.

A little over a decade ago, Sony Pictures remastered various classic film noirs and released them in a couple of big DVD box sets. From what I can tell, the master that was used to produce this Blu-ray release is the same one that was used to prepare the DVD release of The Burglar that is included in the Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics III box set. While some areas can be improved, I think that the overall quality of the presentation is very good. What areas can be improved? In a few spots, density levels can be better. Select darker areas can reveal better nuances, too. Contrast can be managed more convincingly as well. But the rest is either good or very good. For example, there are no traces of problematic digital corrections, so delineation, clarity, and depth are always very pleasing. Image stability is very good. The entire film is free of annoying age-related imperfections as well. So, while there is some room for meaningful improvements, I think that The Burglar looks very good in high-definition. (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).

The Burglar 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 did not encounter any serious age-related imperfections to report in our review. All exchanges were very clear, sharp, and easy to follow. Stability was good, too. The dynamic soundtrack produces plenty of excellent contrasts as well. The upper register, where older films typically reveal weakness, was very solid.

The Burglar Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Introduction - presented here is an archival introduction to The Burglar by Marty Scorsese. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage U.S. trailer for The Burglar. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

The Burglar Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Marty Scorsese states that Dan Duryea's best performance might be in The Burglar. It is difficult for me to agree because Duryea is outstanding in a couple of other films, like Black Angel, but his performance in The Burglar is indeed quite special. I am a little surprised that someone like Nicolas Winding Refn has not attempted to remake The Burglar because its story, characters, and atmosphere are perfect for a contemporary neo-noir thriller. Then again, why remake a film that is already done right? This release is included in Imprint Films' Essential Film Noir - Collection 5, a four-disc box set. The other three films in it are: Island of Doomed Men, The Red Menace, and 13 West Street. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.