Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Good Die Young Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov December 11, 2020

Lewis Gilbert's "The Good Die Young" (1954) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of the British Film Institute. The supplemental features on the disc include an archival Q&A session with the director; vintage production and promotional materials; and short films. Also included with the release is a 26-page illustrated booklet featuring writings on the film and technical credits. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

What's the idea with the guns? Thought you said no violence.

The narrator confirms what you have already figured out -- the four men in the car are about to do a job. You just don’t know yet what kind of a job.

The men begin arguing. One of them asks why they are using a stolen car. The driver, who might be their leader, appears to have broken multiple promises, but does not care. He has pulled out a box with guns and asked that each man picks one, even though he had assured them that they won’t need any. They all seem tense now, especially the tall man in the passenger seat.

The film abruptly jumps back in time.

In a firm in New York City, Joe (Richard Baseheart) tells his boss that he has to go to England to see his wife, Mary (Joan Collins). The boss isn’t thrilled with the idea. He reminds Joe that his position could have gone to another man, but the firm kept it for him while he was away fighting the war in Korea. Nevertheless, Joe buys a plane ticket and a day later meets Mary in London. She greets him with unexpected, beautiful news -- she is pregnant, but did not know how to tell him that they are going to have a baby. Visibly overwhelmed by the news, Joe tells Mary that he can’t wait to bring her back to America. He will help Mary pack tonight, and they can leave as soon as possible. However, an hour later Joe realizes that his plan won't work because her ill mother (Freda Jackson) has convinced her that it is her duty to stay in London and take care of her.

Mike (Stanley Baker) is a professional boxer who is ready to walk away from the business. He has told Angela (Rene Ray) that tonight is his last fight and intends to keep his promise. But a medic, who has known him for years, warns Mike not to fight because his right hand is broken. If he enters the ring something really, really bad can happen to him. Mike ignores him, wins his match, and then goes back to Angela determined to start a new life with her. A few days later, while looking for a new job at a local factory, fate changes his plan.

Eddie (John Ireland) is a U.S. military man who is stuck in a lousy relationship with Denise (Gloria Grahame). He wants her to be his wife, and when they settle down a mother, but she wants to be in the movies. After arriving in London, Eddie has discovered that Denise is seeing another actor who has convinced her that he can further her career. Because she has refused to terminate her ‘friendship’ with him, Eddie has started spending the majority of his time in a local pub.

Miles (Laurence Harvey) is a hopeless gambler who has married Eve (Margaret Leighton) for her money. Tonight, Miles has lost big and needs Eve to write him a check for a thousand pounds. Eve has to do it because Miles loves her and desperately needs the money. But tonight, Eve no longer cares. She wants Miles to end his bad habit and come with her to Kenya, where they can start from scratch. Annoyed by Eve’s rebellion, Miles uses his old tricks to melt her heart and have her sign the check for him, but at the end gets the same response -- choose between Kenya and an end of their relationship. With time running out, Miles then crafts a perfect plan that would solve his financial troubles and remove Eve out of his life. All he needs is a couple of reliable guys to help him execute it.

The film moves back to the present after the men meet numerous times in a local pub and, under the influence of alcohol, agree to become a team. But the plan Miles sells to his new ‘friends’ isn’t the plan he has crafted in his head.

Lewis Gilbert directs with great confidence, but it very much feels like Baseheart, Baker, Ireland, and Harvey choose how to manage their characters. They all look rough and awkward in very particular ways and quickly emerge as clueless amateurs who do not fully grasp the consequences of their actions, which of course is precisely what the film needs to appear legit. Even Harvey’s character, who is supposed to be a few steps ahead of everyone else, is a total amateur who does not see the big picture. He is just driven by the wrong kind of confidence that always turns men like him into entirely predictable torpedoes.

The female performances produce virtually all of the real issues throughout the film. Indeed, they tend to suppress the noirish atmosphere in favor of conventional melodrama that just does not feel right. Jackson is the worst offender, but Grahame looks uncharacteristically sterile as well.

The Good Die Young Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Good Die Young arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of the British Film Institute.

There are two versions of the film on the disc: Domestic Version (01:38:13) and Export Version (01.40.30). The film was restored in 2K from the original 35mm camera negative. The slightly longer Export Version was reconstructed using the OCN and portions of a longer 35mm duplicate negative that was made for export. The additional footage was scanned in 2K as well. I viewed the Export Version.

The film looks very healthy, including the extra footage which does have a few scratches and tiny marks. Delination and clarity, for instance, range from very good to excellent, and depth is just as pleasing. Some density fluctuations exist, but it is very obvious that they are part of the original cinematography. The grading job is convincing. A few areas look a tad pale, but the overall balance is still very, very nice. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Grain is nicely exposed and quite well distributed. Image stability is very good. So, this is a very fine organic presentation of The Good Die Young that ensures a lovely viewing experience. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

The Good Die Young 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.

The additional footage on the Export Version is the only place where the audio shows a tiny bit of age-related wear. There is nothing serious that will affect your viewing experience, all you will notice is a slightly thinner but edgy audio, with a bit of extremely light background hiss. The rest is fine. Clarity, sharpness, depth, and stability are very nice.

The Good Die Young Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• When Giants Fought - a silent short about 'professional boxing' and misunderstood romance directed by Harry B. Parkinson in 1926. With English intertitles and music. (31 min).

• Midnight Taxi - an all-night taxi driver describes London at night while driving clients and recalling a few memorable stories from the city's past. The short was directed by Norman Hemsley in 1946. In English, not subtitled. (18 min).

• Under Night Streets - a documentary about the various 'reconditioning boys' that maintain the London Underground each night when the trains stop running. The short was directed by Ralph Keene in 1958. Remastered. In English, not subtitled. (20 min).

• Not Like Any Other Director: Lewis Gilbert - presented here is a Q&A session with Lewis Gilbert in which he discusses his career and work, the manner in which television changed cinema, and the evolution of the British film industry. Michael Caine introduces the director. The Q&A session was held at the National Film Theatre in London in 1995. In English, not subtitled. (32 min).

• Image Gallery - a collection of production and promotional stills for The Good Die Young. Presented with music. (12 min).

• Booklet - 26-page illustrated booklet featuring writings on the film and technical credits.

The Good Die Young Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If 'kitchen sink' film noir was a legit genre and there was a respectable list that ranked its masterpieces, Lewis Gilbert's The Good Die Young probably would have been spotted somewhere near the top of it. It recreates quite well the special atmosphere the classic American film noirs are known for, but the drama that flourishes in it is distinctly British. Even though I did not think that its female characters were particularly convincing, I liked it a lot. This recent release from the British Film Institute is sourced from a solid restored 2K master and offers two versions of the film. I prefer the slightly longer Export Version. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.