Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

The Case Against Brooklyn Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman October 22, 2019

Note: This film is available as part of Noir Archive Volume 3: 1956-1960.

Kit Parker Films and Mill Creek Entertainment continue their deep dive into what might be thought of as the substratum of film noir with this third collection culled from the Columbia catalog. The fact that this latest offering supposedly spans the years of 1956 through 1960 may give some indication of just how deep this particular dive is, since many film fans will probably (rightly or wrongly) feel like the late fifties and first year of the sixties are decidedly past the heyday of film noir. (That "supposedly" is in the previous sentence because the earliest actual release date for the films in this set seems to actually be 1957, not 1956, which perhaps makes my point even better.) Still, as with the first two collections, there are some really interesting films in this set, and genre aficionados will most likely find at least a few titles in this set, including some more British productions, that may well spark interest.

For an overview of the previous two releases in this series, please click on the following review links (which, like this one, will contain links of their own pointing to reviews of the individual films in the set):

Noir Archive Volume 1: 1944-1954 Blu- ray review

Noir Archive Volume 2: 1954-1956 Blu- ray review

While The Case Against Brooklyn is a screed of sorts seeking to identify and rout out police corruption, the first thing that actually struck me about the film was: television. This 1958 opus was based on a muckraking article by journalist Ed Reid, and it posits Darren McGavin as a rookie cop named Pete Harris who goes undercover to see if he can ferret out members (including Thin Blue Line types) of a gambling ring, an effort meant to stave off reports that the police aren’t willing to police their own. But what’s kind of interesting about the film, at least subtextually, is how television enters the story and drives it along at certain points. It’s almost as if the filmmakers were at least subliminally conceding that their efforts to stave off competition in the form of the “small screen” had resolutely failed. There’s no typical femme fatale in this film, with Pete (initially) enjoying a happy home life with his wife Jane (Peggy McCay), but some shadowy interest of sorts is provided courtesy of a woman named Lil (Maggie Hayes), whose history is entwined with the gambling ring.

The Case Against Brooklyn Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Case Against Brooklyn is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Kit Parker Films and Mill Creek Entertainment with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. This is another largely pleasing looking transfer, one with generally consistent contrast and a naturally resolving grain field. Detail levels are generally very good to excellent throughout as well, offering precise renderings on elements like fabrics in costumes and props. There's a bit of noticeable wobble during the credits, and there are occasional downturns in clarity (an early example is the scene introducing Warren Stevens). A late interrogation sequence has a bit of passing crush where black suits tend to become one with the shadowy backgrounds. My score is 3.75.

The Case Against Brooklyn Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Case Against Brooklyn features a DTS-HD Master Audio Mono mix which can sound slightly boxy at times, especially with regard to certain sound effects like a big explosion that is a major plot point late in the film, but which provides capable support for dialogue and score (including a kind of weird rock 'n' roll tune that is pretty much just shoehorned into a scene with McGavin and Hayes at a restaurant). There are no issues with dropouts or other damage.

The Case Against Brooklyn Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

None of the three discs in this set feature any supplements.

The Case Against Brooklyn Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Case Against Brooklyn is surprisingly gritty at times, especially within the context of the late fifties era, a time when cops were typically lionized and almost inherently viewed as heroes. The film never really completely attains its obvious attempts at what might be thought of as a kind of verité ambience, but it's often tough and violent, and it features some excellent performances. Technical merits are generally strong for those considering a purchase.