Oscar Movies Review #10: Alibi (1929) (1 Viewer)

Alibi
Director: Roland West
Cast: Chester Morris, Purnell Pratt, Harry Stubbs, Mae Busch, Eleanor Griffith, Regis Toomey
Oscars won: 0
Nominations: 3 (Best Picture, Lead Actor (Chester Morris), Art Direction)


STORY
Based on the stage play Nightstick (this was another considdered title), after a policeman is murdered, recently-released-from-prison gangster Chick Williams is accused of the crime. He, however, has the perfect alibi: he was at the theater with the daughter of a Police Sergeant. The Police are determined to prove Chick is the man guilty of murder.

REVIEW
During the first decade that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences handed out the prestigious Oscar statuette, they bestowed the title of "Best Picture Nominee" on many films that probably did not deserve to be so honored. 1929's Alibi is one of those such films.

While the story is solid, the film as a whole is terrible. For one thing, the acting is atrocious; Purnell Pratt as the police sergeant is especially bad. His delivery of his lines is slow and destracting. It is as though these actors, new to talkie pictures, did not know how to properly speak and/or deliver their lines flowingly. Chester Morris, nominated for lead actor, was the best actor in the film. However, he certainly did not deserve the nomination.

Because of the bad acting, I find the film very hard to watch and follow. The picture feels like a silent film where talking was added in as an after-thought. Indeed, they did shoot a silent version of the film simultaneously

PICTURE AND SOUND
Because this is an 86 year old film, the picture is especially bad. Full of grain, scratches, distortion and varying levels of flickering contrast, Kino Lorber has done nothing to master or restore the film. Audio quality is equally bad, with hiss, pops and other junk noise present throughout. This film needs a restoration, and it needs it badly. If fixed, this film would look decent on Blu Ray.

EXTRAS
There are no bonus features on this disc. A quick search of Google found several images of posters and lobby cards that could easily have been included as an image gallery, but alas...

IN CONCLUSION...
Because of the poor acting In Alibi, this film does not stand the test of time like other films of its era. A film for Oscar film buffs, and possibly gangster film buffs, yes, but the average film buff can find much better films of this era to view and enjoy.

Picture: 1.5/5
Audio 2/5
Extras: 0/5
DVD Quality: 1/5
Film: 1/5
NOT RECOMMENDED

William K. Everson held this film, and the other 2 talkies directed by Roland West, in high regard. I found the way West used sound (and silence) to be particularly inventive and effective. Always keep in mind that this "sound" thing is new technology, and many films of that period, in the hands of lesser directors, were deadly. THE BAT WHISPERS and CORSAIR were his other talkies, and they are still quite interesting.

I have yet to see those two.

All three are quite good if you look at them from a stylistic visual standpoint. CORSAIR might be hard to find. At least THE BAT WHISPERS was once released by Kino in both flat and widescreen ratios.

WK Everson showed (his?) 16mm prints of Alibi and Corsair in one of his film series. The only one I've seen in 35mm is the widescreen version of The Bat Whispers.