The Turning Point Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Turning Point Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 17, 2022

William Dieterle's "The Turning Point" (1952) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by film noir expert Alan K. Rode; exclusive new program featuring critic Barry Forshaw; and vintage trailer for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

It is unclear why the big midwestern city remains unnamed because it is extremely easy to conclude that it is Chicago. In the early 1950s, when William Dieterle directed The Turning Point, the mafia ran the place exactly as the film reveals -- pretty much everyone that was of some importance was on its payroll. So, the decision to shoot The Turning Point across Los Angeles is quite odd.

Determined to bring down the city’s biggest criminal organization, special prosecutor John Conroy (Edmond O’Brien) offers his father, Matt (Tom Tully), a veteran detective with an impeccable reputation, to head his investigative operation. However, much to Conroy’s surprise, his father immediately turns down the job and walks away. Later, after much soul-searching, he softens his stance and promises to think about it. Meanwhile, after learning about the job offer, Jerry McKibbon (William Holden), a childhood friend of Conroy and quite possibly one of the best reporters in the city, discovers that the old man has an excellent reason to avoid the work of his son -- for years, he has been on the payroll of Neil Eichelberger (Ed Begley), the man running the criminal organization. When McKibbon reveals to him that he knows about his shady past, the old man agrees to cooperate and acquire crucial documents that will help his son put Eichelberger behind bars and permanently close his shady business. Completely unaware of the arrangement between McKibbon and his father, Conroy begins prosecuting Eichelberger and gradually reveals how over the years he has corrupted the city. Initially, Eichelberger feels confident that the top lawyers representing him will clear his name, but when his goons inform him that the old man has double-crossed him, he panics and decides to take care of the drama the old-fashioned way. Shortly after, a famous mafia hitman arrives in the city.

The original material for The Turning Point came from Horace McCoy, whose short story "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" was made into a film by Gordon Douglas a few years earlier and features James Cagney’s final great gangster role. This material was then turned into a screenplay by writer and producer Warren Duff, who nearly two decades earlier worked on another famous film that had Cagney playing a gangster, Angels with Dirty Faces. However, the true inspiration behind The Turning Point was the work of the Kefauver Committee in the early 1950s, which put the spotlight on the mafia’s involvement with interstate commerce and gained unprecedented national attention.

The drama and politics of The Turning Point are nicely balanced but the messages that emerge from them do not feel even remotely significant because all rephrase what was already a well-known fact of life -- the mafia had become so powerful that it had started controlling the people that were supposed to fight it. The actions of McKibbon, Conroy, and his compromised father simply visualize how this fight would be staged in the real world and is most likely to affect the parties that are involved in it.

The acting is solid but does not excite. Holden’s cynicism occasionally charges the film with an authentic raw energy that should have shaped its identity, but it is not enough to erase the feeling that the drama is staged and tightly controlled. This is precisely why the crucial twists are rather underwhelming as well.

The film’s greatest strength is the excellent use of authentic locations from Los Angeles, like Bunker Hill and Sunset Boulevard. Director of photography Lionel Lindon does not overemphasize the personality of these locations and yet the film had a terrific period ambience. However, as mentioned above, referencing Los Angeles as a midwestern city feels more than a bit odd.

It is worth noting that the film does not have a traditional music score. It uses various organic sounds and noises to enhance the drama.

The Turning Point Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Turning Point arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment.

This release is sourced from an exclusive new 4K master that was prepared at Paramount Pictures. In case you are wondering, this is the same master the folks at Kino Lorber worked with to produce this release of The Turning Point in the United States.

I don't have any new comments to add about the quality of the 4K makeover. I think that the entire film has a very attractive organic appearance. However, it has not been fully restored, which means that some minor fluctuations and small image surface imperfections remain. For example, there are some extremely small weaving effects towards the end of the film that pop up in darker areas. Will you notice them? Probably not. But if you do, they will not affect your viewing experience. There are small density fluctuations as well, but most are actually inherited. The grayscale is very good. This release is nicely encoded too, though it will probably be difficult to point out specific areas that look better here even if you have the Kino Lorber release because of the nature of the master. The bottom line is this: The Turning Point looks solid on Blu-ray. (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 Turning Point Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The same extremely light background hiss that I addressed in our review of Kino Lorber's release of The Turning Point is present on this lossless track as well. Obviously, this means that it is inherited from the 4K master. You do not have to worry about it at all. It is not damaging or distracting, and I doubt most viewers will notice its presence. Dynamic intensity is modest, but The Turning Point does not even have a conventional music soundtrack.

The Turning Point Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - this new audio commentary was recorded by film noir expert Alan K. Rode. It is a predictably very well-researched commentary with an overwhelming amount of information about the various locations in downtown Los Angeles where The Turning Point was shot, how some of these locations have changed, the findings of the Kefauver Committee in the early 1950s and their relation to the film, William Dieterle's career, the casting choices, etc.

• Barry Forshaw on "The Turning Point" - in this exclusive new program, critic discusses the unique qualities of The Turning Point and the socio-political climate in America at the time when it was conceived. In English, not subtitled. (20 min).

• Trailer - a vintage trailer for The Turning Point. In English, without optional English subtitles. (2 min).

The Turning Point Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Turning Point exists for the exact same reason The Valachi Papers does. These films come from different eras and depict different events, but their main goal was to capitalize on the public's interest in the real drama that defined them. Both films are entertaining, but they are not time capsules with historical value. Via Vision Entertainment's release is sourced from a good recent 4K master that was prepared by the folks at Paramount Pictures and features a predictably excellent new audio commentary by film noir expert Alan K. Rode. It is included in Essential Film Noir - Collection 3, a four-disc box set. RECOMMENDED.