Crooked dames, compromised gumshoes, dark streets and in inner urban evil at the heart of all, there’s nothing like post war American Film Noir. It’s such a bleak view of humanity, no one can be trusted, particularly that impossibly beautiful femme fatale, who’d just as soon as stab you in the back as look at you. The dialogue is cracking, witty one liners, quicker retorts and this incredible expressionistic lighting, reflecting the deep dark shadows inside all the characters. Three of the films here team up Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake, the Raymond Chandler penned Blue Dahlia (1946), Dashiel Hammet adaptation The Glass Key (1942) and this Gun for Hire (1942) from a Graham Green adaptation, later liberally cherry picked by Melville for Le Samourai. Ladd is remarkable, tough unsmiling, silent, flawed, your archetypal noir hero, whilst Lake is both gorgeous and intriguing, always managing to stay one step ahead. The Big Clock (1948), later remade as No Way Out (1986) with Kevin Costner is another gripping race against time, as our hero Ray Milland finds himself stuck in a fix by evil newspaper mogul Charles Laughton, and desperately attempts to squirm out. With four discs it’s a great collection of classy high end noir with name stars, great scripts and clever direction that is absolutely compelling.
-Bob Baker Fish
