Hi,
I just picked up Questar's "5 Film Noir Killer Classics" on Amazon, and watched both Detour and Killer Bait (a.k.a. Too Late for Tears); both are quite good quality, except for some short pieces of scenes that look like they were spliced into the movie. Detour looked to be the better quality of the two (I'd rate it about the quality of a very good VHS copy) with some vertical lines popping up on occasion like you'd see on a 40's movie on TCM; the audio I thought was great (clear and very audible with no scratchiness). For $23.99 I found the release (so far) to be well worth it (especially with the supplemental disc )
Roger
I have the 5-disc "Killer Noir" set, but I've found a print that's even better! Brace yourselves, because this one is a shock.
The best print that I've found is on a cheapie 50-film Mystery and Film Noir DVD set put out by Treeline, which also includes such B-noir classics as Suddenly, Quicksand, He Walked by Night, and Kansas City Confidential. Usually, Treeline's 50-movie "mega packs" aren't so crisp (not many DVD's that try to include four films on one double-sided disc can be) but they have great taste in the films that they include, and I was extremely surprised by their Mystery pack. Films are presented in very crisp transfers, and for just fifteen bucks for 50 movies, you can't afford NOT to give it a try!!!
I agree that the quality of that set is surprsingly good. Particularly the sound is really good which I normally find a bigger problem with older films than the picture!
shareThe ALPHA version has one or two spots with - what I would call - "considerable damage". One bad spot lasts for almost a minute. It's not that big of a deal though.
Dire_Straits
lover of all B&W; especially film-noir
I agree the Treeline copy is reasonably good copy and it does not diminish the enjoyment of watching the film.
Of course one fair question, because the film's legendary for how:
1) Cheap
2) Bizarre
3) Absurd characters
4) Fatalistic
5) Nightmarish
6) Dirty you feel watching it
Would a digitally enhanced copy actually hurt the presentation of the movie? I mean the tatered PD DVDs really enhances the above qualities. A ditigally remastering the film might minimize the above qualities and you left watching actors in a prop car over a projection screen. Just a thought.
Of course, if Criterian did the DVD it may include information about Edjar Ulmer who had to have the weirdest career for a movie director ever.
Yeah, the treeline DVD was very watchable. For some reason this film is so watchable that no one cares about the quality... that's how good it is. The direction is simply perfect, that is why this film is loved. I couldn't find a better quality movie that was made back than. AMAZING!!!
I did find (I didn't buy it though) version of Detour that was really expensive. It looked like it could be better quality, has anyone seen that version... i forgot what it was from.
P.S. PLEASE READ!!!!
HAS ANYONE SEEN THE REMAKE DETOUR (1992), I can't find it anywhere!!!! I can't find the VHS (In Australia) and I'm wondering if they'l release it on DVD anywhere in the World!
Has anyone seen the REMAKE!!
[deleted]
The highest quality DVD release yet has been from Image Entertainment. Despite some print damage (as well as some splice cuts), the actual transfer is far superior (in contrast and resolution) to any of the cheapie releases.
sharecan anyone tell me what the elstree entertainment one is like?
it's on amazon.co.uk
I haven't got that film but I'm generally not happy with the quality of the two Elstree DVDs I have got: Attack of the giant leech and I bury the living.
share[deleted]
United Artists bought PRC in 1955 but let the copyright run out. I wonder if the negative is in their vaults?
sharePicked up the Mill Creek release as part of their 250 Mystery Movie Box. While not restored in any way, the print is decent and clear. If you can live with some from-the-40s wear and tear, which IMHO adds to the atmosphere, then you got a nice enough DVD copy, certainly better than VHS.
The sound is very clear indeed, you'll notice during the song interludes especially!
Thomas