The Web Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

The Web Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 1, 2022

Michael Gordon's "The Web" (1947) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new audio commentary by critic David Del Valle; Q&A session with Victoria Price; vintage radio adaptation; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

Small-time lawyer Bob Regan (Edmond O’Brien) rushes into the fancy office of wealthy businessman Andrew Colby (Vincent Price), interrupts what appears to be an important business meeting, and demands that his client is finally reimbursed a tiny sum of money. After Regan departs, Colby asks his secretary, Noel Faraday (Ella Raines), to get in touch with him and invite him to come to his house. Later that night, Colby offers Regan $5,000 to become his bodyguard while he deals with an unfriendly former business partner. Surprised but fully alert, Regan takes five seconds to ponder the offer and accepts. Colby then invites him to pick any gun he likes from his personal collection.

A few days later, Regan shoots and kills Colby’s former business partner, Leopold Kroner (Fritz Leiber). He does it in Colby’s home, in his office, where Kroner has threatened to put a bullet in his head. When Regan rushes in, he sees Colby ducking to protect himself, with Kroner next to him, and trying to fire his gun. It happens so quickly that later on Regan confesses to veteran Detective Damico (William Bendix) that he might have been lucky to save Colby’s life.

While pointing a gun at Regan and threatening to finish him off in his lousy apartment, Martha Kroner (Maria Palmer), the dead man’s daughter, offers a completely different version of the dramatic event from Colby’s office. She tells Regan that he was set up to kill her father and, while struggling to control her emotions, insists that Colby is the real villain. Regan then tricks the girl to surrender her gun and rather reluctantly decides to test her claim. He also asks Faraday to assist him, not realizing that she and Colby are a lot closer than they appear.

The original material for The Web came from a short story by Harry Kurnitz, which was adapted into a screenplay by William Bowers and Bertram Millhauser. (Kurnitz and Bowers both earned Oscar nominations for their work on different projects). The screenplay then landed on the desk of producer Jerry Bresler and he hired Michael Gordon to make a film of it, which later Universal International distributed.

The film that Gordon delivered has some notable noir qualities, which become particularly obvious during its second half, but is easier to profile as a crime melodrama. This is the main reason why the dark twists that precede its resolution feel rushed and even unnatural – Gordon pushes the film way too far into melodrama territory without reserving enough time (or proper material) to build up the type of ambience a conventional film noir requires. The end result is by no means disappointing, but it is very easy to tell that the balance isn’t very good.

The leads have good chemistry and because of it large parts of the film are very entertaining. Bendix, whose presence before the camera is limited, has some terrific contributions as well. In fact, his suspicious detective is the only character that appears convinced that it is his duty to impress in a conventional film noir.

Gordon relied on the services of cinematographer Irving Glassberg, whose credits include The Duel at Silver Creek, Bend of the River, Backlash, and The Tarnished Angels. While they shot the overwhelming majority of the film at Universal Studios, the opening sequence features some great authentic footage from old Manhattan.

The Web 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 Web arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

In the United States, The Web had its high-definition debut in 2021 via this release produced by Kino Lorber. This Region-B release is sourced from the same master that Universal supplied to Kino Lorber.

I mentioned in the review that is linked above that The Web can look better in high-definition and this remains the case. The current master has some areas where density fluctuations become quite obvious and affect delineation, clarity, and depth. You will notice them. On the other hand, this master is free of digital corrections -- like sharpening, contrast boosting, etc. -- so as far as I am concerned the visuals have a pretty good organic appearance. Yes, they can look slightly worn out at times, but this is not a serious problem for me because the film begins to look aged. It is not an ideal situation, but the film still looks like film. The grayscale is convincing too, though this is another area where minor fluctuations emerge and contribute to the fluctuations. Image stability is fine. So, the master replicates some limitations from the element that was used to prepare it, but the The Web still has a good organic appearance. My score is 3.75/5.00. (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 Web Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

If the audio is fully remastered there would be small but meaningful improvements in terms of overall stability, but the current lossless track still serves the film well. Clarity, in particular, is quite nice and as a result the dialog is very easy to follow. Dynamic balance is good, too.

The Web Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Image Gallery - a collection of original promotional materials for The Web.

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critic David Del Valle. There is a lot of information about the visual style and tone of The Web as well as the stars, their interactions before the camera, and their careers. As is usually the case with Mr. Valle's commentaries, there is quite a bit of 'bonus' information about related developments concerning the era in which the film was made, trends in American cinema and Hollywood, etc.

• Film Noir Festival Q&A with Victoria Price - the footage that is presented here was shot after a screening of The Web at Palm Springs on May 11, 2018. Writer/film historian Alan K. Rode introduces Victoria Price, daughter of Vincent Price, who discusses her father's illustrious career and some of the interesting choices he made that defined it. In English, not subtitled. (30 min).

• Lux Radio Theatre: The Web - this radio adaptation of The Web stars Ella Raines, Edmond O'Brien, and Vincent Price. It was originally broadcast on September 29, 1947. In English, not subtitled. (53 min).

• Skirmish on the Home Front (1944) - a short film produced by Paramount Pictures for the United States Government Office of War Information and distributed and exhibited as a public service by war activities committee-motion picture industry. Starring Alan Ladd, Betty Hutton, William Bendix, and Susan Hayward. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. (14 min).

• Book - a limited edition exclusive 120-page book with new essays by Iris Veysey, Jill Blake, Karen Hannsberry, Sabina Stent, Sergio Angelini and Walter Chaw, extensive archival articles and interviews, new writing on the various short films, and film credits.

The Web Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

In the United States, Michael Gordon's The Web was absent from the home video market for many years. It was last year that Kino Lorber finally produce a legit release of it. The Web is one of those hybrid film noirs that do a whole range of different things to impress, but not all of them work as intended. Though I still think that it is quite entertaining, it definitely does not belong among the genre's very best. This release is is included in Indicator/Powerhouse Films' six-disc box set Universal Noir #1. RECOMMENDED.