Columbia Noir #2 Blu-ray
HomeColumbia Noir #2 Blu-ray
Posted November 13, 2020 06:29 PM by Webmaster
British distributors Indicator/Powerhouse Films have announced that they will release on Blu-ray Columbia Noir #2 (1947-1958). The six-disc box set will be available for purchase on February 15.
Description: Our second Columbia Noir box set takes a dive once more into the studio's archives and the world of film noir – a world of undercover detectives (The Mob) and emotionless hitmen (Murder by Contract), a world where film is inspired by real-life criminal activities (Tight Spot, based loosely on Virginia Hill's testimony against Bugsy Siegel) and real-life criminal activities are inspired by film (711 Ocean Drive, which attracted the unwanted attention of mobsters), and a world where Glenn Ford finds himself unwittingly embroiled in murder – twice (Framed, Affair in Trinidad).
All six films are presented for the first time on Blu-ray in the UK, with The Mob, Tight Spot and Murder by Contract making their world Blu-ray premieres. This stunning collection includes newly recorded commentaries on each film, assorted bonus materials, including six short films starring the Three Stooges, lampooning the tropes and themes of the features, a 120-page book, and is strictly limited to 6,000 numbered units.
CONTENT:
Framed (1947)
Synopsis: Truck driver Mike Lambert (Glenn Ford) is a down-and-out mining engineer searching for a job. When his rig breaks down in a small town, he happens upon Paula Craig (Janis Carter), a venomous seductress. When Craig's boyfriend, Steve Price (Barry Sullivan), robs a bank, they intend to frame Lambert, but Craig murders Price, takes the money and convinces Lambert that he killed Price in a blackout. Lambert is ready to skip town, until he learns a friend is set to take the fall. Directed by Richard Wallace.
711 Ocean Drive (1950)
Synopsis: Mal Granger (Edmond O'Brien) is a telephone repairman with a passion for horse betting. He puts his electronics expertise to work assisting gangster Vince Walters (Barry Kelly) in expanding his illegal racing wire, and, when Walters is murdered, Granger takes over the operation. However, Granger's growing success is soon threatened by both Larry Mason (Donald Porter), an East Coast mobster who wants in on the action, and Lieutenant Pete Wright (Howard St. John), who's after Granger for murder. Directed by Joseph M. Newman.
The Mob (1951)
Synopsis: After witnessing what appears to be a police officer shooting a man in cold blood, detective Johnny Damico (Broderick Crawford) decides to go undercover. Tracing the murder victim to a waterfront crime ring, Damico poses as longshoreman Tim Flynn, and infiltrates the corrupt New York dockworkers union. There he meets union toughs Joe Castro (Ernest Borgnine) and Gunner (Neville Brand), who eventually lead him to crime kingpin Blackie Clegg (Matt Crowley). Directed by Robert Parrish.
Affair in Trinidad (1952)
Synopsis: When nightclub performer Chris Emery (Rita Hayworth) discovers that her husband has been murdered, she resolves to help the police find his killer. Soon she is caught between two men -- her late husband's friend Max Fabian (Alexander Scourby) and her brother-in-law, Steve (Glenn Ford), who begins his own investigation into his sibling's death. As evidence begins to point to Max as the killer, Chris finds herself in an increasingly dangerous situation. Directed by Vincent Sherman.
Tight Spot (1955)
Synopsis: Model Sherry Conley (Ginger Rogers) is offered a chance to get out of jail in return for testifying against mobster Benjamin Costain (Lorne Greene). She is taken to a hotel room to hide until it is time for her testimony, and a romance begins to blossom between the superficially hard-boiled Sherry and police officer Vince Striker (Brian Keith). With time before the trial running out, Costain will stop at nothing to kill her before she can reach the witness stand. Directed by Phil Karlson.
Murder by Contract (1958)
Synopsis: When a hit man fails to carry through with the execution of a star witness, he finds himself marked for murder. Starring Vince Edwards, Phillip Pine, Herschel Bernardi, Caprice Toriel, and Michael Granger. Directed by Irving Lerner.
SPECIAL FEATURES AND TECHNICAL SPECS:
Description: Our second Columbia Noir box set takes a dive once more into the studio's archives and the world of film noir – a world of undercover detectives (The Mob) and emotionless hitmen (Murder by Contract), a world where film is inspired by real-life criminal activities (Tight Spot, based loosely on Virginia Hill's testimony against Bugsy Siegel) and real-life criminal activities are inspired by film (711 Ocean Drive, which attracted the unwanted attention of mobsters), and a world where Glenn Ford finds himself unwittingly embroiled in murder – twice (Framed, Affair in Trinidad).
All six films are presented for the first time on Blu-ray in the UK, with The Mob, Tight Spot and Murder by Contract making their world Blu-ray premieres. This stunning collection includes newly recorded commentaries on each film, assorted bonus materials, including six short films starring the Three Stooges, lampooning the tropes and themes of the features, a 120-page book, and is strictly limited to 6,000 numbered units.
CONTENT:
Framed (1947)
Synopsis: Truck driver Mike Lambert (Glenn Ford) is a down-and-out mining engineer searching for a job. When his rig breaks down in a small town, he happens upon Paula Craig (Janis Carter), a venomous seductress. When Craig's boyfriend, Steve Price (Barry Sullivan), robs a bank, they intend to frame Lambert, but Craig murders Price, takes the money and convinces Lambert that he killed Price in a blackout. Lambert is ready to skip town, until he learns a friend is set to take the fall. Directed by Richard Wallace.
711 Ocean Drive (1950)
Synopsis: Mal Granger (Edmond O'Brien) is a telephone repairman with a passion for horse betting. He puts his electronics expertise to work assisting gangster Vince Walters (Barry Kelly) in expanding his illegal racing wire, and, when Walters is murdered, Granger takes over the operation. However, Granger's growing success is soon threatened by both Larry Mason (Donald Porter), an East Coast mobster who wants in on the action, and Lieutenant Pete Wright (Howard St. John), who's after Granger for murder. Directed by Joseph M. Newman.
The Mob (1951)
Synopsis: After witnessing what appears to be a police officer shooting a man in cold blood, detective Johnny Damico (Broderick Crawford) decides to go undercover. Tracing the murder victim to a waterfront crime ring, Damico poses as longshoreman Tim Flynn, and infiltrates the corrupt New York dockworkers union. There he meets union toughs Joe Castro (Ernest Borgnine) and Gunner (Neville Brand), who eventually lead him to crime kingpin Blackie Clegg (Matt Crowley). Directed by Robert Parrish.
Affair in Trinidad (1952)
Synopsis: When nightclub performer Chris Emery (Rita Hayworth) discovers that her husband has been murdered, she resolves to help the police find his killer. Soon she is caught between two men -- her late husband's friend Max Fabian (Alexander Scourby) and her brother-in-law, Steve (Glenn Ford), who begins his own investigation into his sibling's death. As evidence begins to point to Max as the killer, Chris finds herself in an increasingly dangerous situation. Directed by Vincent Sherman.
Tight Spot (1955)
Synopsis: Model Sherry Conley (Ginger Rogers) is offered a chance to get out of jail in return for testifying against mobster Benjamin Costain (Lorne Greene). She is taken to a hotel room to hide until it is time for her testimony, and a romance begins to blossom between the superficially hard-boiled Sherry and police officer Vince Striker (Brian Keith). With time before the trial running out, Costain will stop at nothing to kill her before she can reach the witness stand. Directed by Phil Karlson.
Murder by Contract (1958)
Synopsis: When a hit man fails to carry through with the execution of a star witness, he finds himself marked for murder. Starring Vince Edwards, Phillip Pine, Herschel Bernardi, Caprice Toriel, and Michael Granger. Directed by Irving Lerner.
SPECIAL FEATURES AND TECHNICAL SPECS:
- High Definition presentations of Framed, 711 Ocean Drive, The Mob, Affair in Trinidad, and Tight Spot
- 2K restoration of Murder by Contract
- Original mono soundtracks
- Audio commentary with author and critic Imogen Sara Smith on Framed (2021)
- Audio commentary with author and critic Glenn Kenny on 711 Ocean Drive (2021)
- Audio commentary with filmmaker and archivist Gina Telaroli on The Mob (2021)
- Audio commentary with author and film historian Lee Gambin on Affair in Trinidad (2021)
- Audio commentary with film historian Nora Fiore on Tight Spot (2021)
- Audio commentary with novelist and film historian Farran Smith Nehme on Murder by Contract (2021)
- Introduction to Murder by Contract by Martin Scorsese (2014)
- The Guardian Interview with Ernest Borgnine (2001): archival audio recording of the much-loved character actor in conversation with Clyde Jeavons at the National Film Theatre, London
- Interview with Peter Ford (2012): archival recording of the son of Glenn Ford discussing his father's career with the Film Noir Foundation's Eddie Muller
- Swedes in America (1943): Oscar-nominated short film from Murder by Contract director Irving Lerner, in which Ingrid Bergman explains the influence of Swedish immigrants on the United States
- Diary of a Sergeant (1945): documentary portrait of Harold Russell, the soldier who lost his hands during World War II and would later win an Oscar for his performance in The Best Years of Our Lives, and his rehabilitation, directed by 711 Ocean Drive's Joseph M Newman
- The Steps of Age (1951): dramatised documentary by Ben Maddow, screenwriter of Framed, demonstrating the challenges of growing old as seen through of the eyes of a retired widow
- Caribbean (1951): documentary by the Crown Film Unit, contemporaneous to Affair in Trinidad, depicting the West Indies, British Guiana, and British Honduras
- Six short films starring the Three Stooges, lampooning the tropes and themes of the features included in this set: Violent Is the Word for Curly (1938), Saved by the Belle (1939), Three Sappy People (1939), Idiots Deluxe (1945), Up in Daisy's Penthouse (1953), and Hot Stuff (1956)
- Original theatrical trailers for 711 Ocean Drive, The Mob, Affair in Trinidad, Tight Spot and Murder by Contract Murder by Contract trailer commentary: short appreciation by screenwriter Larry Karaszewski
- Image galleries: publicity and promotional materials
- New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
- Limited edition exclusive 120-page book with new essays by Melanie Williams, Ellen Cheshire, Simon Abrams, Kulraj Phullar, Tara Judah, and David Thompson; extracts from interviews with director Phil Karlson, screenwriter Ben Maddow, and others; an extract from Vincent Sherman's autobiography; archival news articles, interviews, and reviews; new writing on the short films; and full film credits
- REGION-B "LOCKED"