20th Century Fox's 'Film Noir Classics' DVD Series (1 Viewer)

[Nils Luehrmann]

When Fox first announced that they would be releasing their great film noir classic 'Laura' as part of their 'Studio Classics' DVD series many, including my self were waiting in anticipation for this title and looking forward to the results of Fox's superb restoration and special edition treatment. At one point it was slated to be #14 in the series and get released on 12/2/03. Then it mysteriously disappeared from the line up. When asked, the only answers coming from Fox is that it was being delayed.

A few months later, during the January 12, 2004 HTF chat with Peter Staddon (Senior VP of Marketing for Fox Home Entertainment), Peter Fitzgerald asked the following question:
Quote:



Fox controls a staggering large amount of better-than-average "Film Noir" titles from the 1940s & 1950s, easily enough for its own DVD line (like Fox's "War Classics"). Any near-future plans for this sort of thing, or some Noir in the 2004 "Studio Classics" line (beyond the delayed LAURA)?




To which Staddon replied:
Quote:



I'd love to get more of our film noir titles out there, and I believe you'll start to see them coming out later this year.




Later on in the chat Staddon also made this comment:
Quote:



I have been trying to find ways of getting The Lodger and Hangover Square out on DVD for a while and this may be the year that our Film Noir titles break out onto DVD. I just hope they will sell!




For Film Noir fans everywhere, this was exciting news, but the best news is yet to come.

A couple weeks ago Peter Staddon announced on HTF (although very quietly) that Fox had decided that rather than include 'Laura' and other film noir titles to the 'Studio Classics' series, instead they will get their own series similar to their 'Studio Classics' DVD series, and that they will also get a similar release pattern (1 per month). He also mentioned that this new series will not likely debut until much later in the year, which is why I had not until now started this thread, but I think it is important to stir interest in these titles as sales will dictate whether or not Fox will continue to support the high production cost of restoring and producing special edition DVDs of these amazing films.

UPDATE: Fox has changed their release plan from one title a month to three titles every three months.


NOTE: I'll try and keep this list up to date as new information and wish list submissions are posted.





Laura
Spine #01
Release Date: 03/15/05

Call Northside 777
Spine #02
Release Date: 03/15/05

Panic in the Streets
Spine #03
Release Date: 03/15/05

House of Bamboo
Spine #04
Release Date: 06/07/05

Nightmare Alley
Spine #05
Release Date: 06/07/05

The Street With No Name
Spine #06
Release Date: 06/07/05

The House on 92nd Street
Spine #07
Release Date: 09/06/05

Somehwere in the Night
Spine #08
Release Date: 09/06/05

Whirlpool
Spine #09
Release Date: 09/06/05

The Dark Corner
Spine #10
Release Date: 12/06/05

Kiss of Death
Spine #11
Release Date: 12/06/05

Where the Sidewalk Ends
Spine #12
Release Date: 12/06/05



UPCOMING RELEASES


Fallen Angel
Spine #13
Release Date: 03/07/06

The House on Telegraph Hill
Spine #14
Release Date: 03/07/06

No Way Out
Spine #15
Release Date: 03/07/06



WISH LIST (as posted on this and the Fox 'Studio Classics' threads)

7.5 1941 I Wake Up Screaming
7.4 1941 Man Hunt
6.8 1942 Swamp Water
7.0 1944 The Lodger
6.6 1945 Hangover Square
7.8 1947 Boomerang
7.0 1948 Cry of the City
7.4 1948 Road House
6.8 1949 House of Strangers
7.3 1951 Fourteen Hours
6.8 1955 Violent Saturday
6.5 1959 Seven Thieves


Pt.II = Previously Released on DVD

7.5 1949 Thieves Highway (Criterion)
7.7 1950 Night and the City (Criterion)
6.4 1952 Don't Bother To Knock
7.0 1953 Niagara
7.5 1953 Pickup on South Street (Criterion)


Pt.III = Titles Mentioned in Thread, But Are Unlikely to Be Released as (SE) 'Film Noir Classics' releases:
(due to limited material or market appeal - perceived or otherwise)

N/A 1940 City of Chance
N/A 1940 Girl in 313
7.1 1942 Moontide
7.4 1946 Strange Triangle
5.7 1947 Backlash
6.6 1947 The Brasher Doubloon
7.8 1950 The Man Who Cheated Himself
5.9 1951 The 13th Letter
N/A 1952 Night Without Sleep
6.7 1953 A Blueprint for Murder
6.2 1953 Inferno
5.1 1954 The Other Woman
5.4 1957 Plunder Road
6.9 1960 Third Voice

 

[Scotty_McW]

I have very limited experience with Film Noir, most of which I gained during film school. However, I did like what I saw and have made a few blind purchases from the Studio Classics line.

Bring on the Film Noir line! I have no wishlist, so these will all be blind purchases for me!

Nils,

Thanks for your great lists of Studio Classics and the Warner 2-disc SEs. Great great work!

 

[John Hodson]

Peter Staddon announced on HTF (although very quietly) that Fox has decided that rather than include 'Laura' and other film noir titles to the 'Studio Classics' series, instead they will get their own series similar to their 'Studio Classics' DVD series

I think the thread's a great idea, but I don't think Peter made any specific reference to Laura Nils?

---

So many films, so little time...

 

[Robert Crawford]

Excellent!

 

[Walter Kittel]

My wish list... Basically everything in Herb Kane's excellent film noir list controlled by Fox.
- Walter.

 

[Charles H]

On the Criterion edition of PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET, there is a trailer (in CinemaScope) for HOUSE OF BAMBOO that looks absolutely gorgeous. BAMBOO is a transposed remake of THE STREET WITH NO NAME. That would make a terrific double feature!

 

[Jay E]

I don't see how Whirlpool & House of Bamboo are less likely to be released as some of the others, or are you just going by the rating on IMDB (IMO, not an accurate reflection of merit or appeal)? In fact, Whirlpool is being released in the UK on DVD.

 

[RafaelPires]

I love all of those filmes. Fallen Angel, Hangover Square, I wake up screaming and others are most buys. I'll sure buy the entire collection as I am doing with the Studio Classic Line. And I really hope they'll do the same kind of restoration as they do with the Studio Classic ones.

Great job Fox!!!!

 

[Craig Beam]

I for one will buy every single Fox Film Noir title, just as I'm buying every single Fox Studio Classic title. Assuming the pricing is the same (around $15 at retail, sometimes less online), it's really a no-brainer for fans of this genre (like me). Bring 'em on!

 

[Dave B Ferris]

To the extent one might consider "Slattery's Hurricane" a

noir, I would like to see this title added to the

original wish list compiled by Nils.

 

[ScottFH]

I'm with Craig (above)!!!

These would all be blind purchases for me!!!

"'Bring 'em on' indeed!!!

 

[Rodney]

Count me along with Craig and Scott. I will DEFINITELY purchase ALL of the Fox Film Noir Classics!!!

 

[Brian W.]

Well, it's not Fox, but I happen to know from my job in home video that Jacques Tournier's film noir classic "Out of the Past" will be coming before the end of the year from Warner.

 

[george kaplan]

Now THAT would be great news. Aside from Laura there are none on this list that I want as much as Out of the Past, and unfortunately, as far as I can tell, there's only speculation that Laura will be part of this, and still no word from Peter or anyone else at Fox as to what happened to that title. I hope it is indeed coming (under whatever banner), but I worry about it since there's no official word. :frowning:

 

[Craig Beam]

LAURA has been popping up lately on the Fox Movie Channel, along with a really cool bonus... An hour-long TV adaptation from 1955, featuring a different (but no less distinguished) cast including Robert Stack and George Sanders. Though it's no match for the theatrical version, it's quite entertaining and would make a GREAT DVD supplement!

 

[jonathan_little]

I've never seen Hangover Square, but I'd buy it just to hear Herrmann in action. His piano concerto from that film is magnificent.

 

[Todd_Brown]

I have loved the Fox Studio Classics line, and have purchased them all. Their Noir line would be a no brainer. Count me in!! Fox has very quickly become my favorite studio!

Todd

 

[Peter M Fitzgerald]

A few more to add to the wish list:
MAN HUNT (1941)
SWAMP WATER (1942)
MOONTIDE (1942)
SOMEWHERE IN THE NIGHT (1946)
THIEVES' HIGHWAY (1949)
THE HOUSE ON TELEGRAPH HILL (1951)
INFERNO (1953)
VIOLENT SATURDAY (1955)

 

[TimJS]

I'd love an official announcement on Laura . If your info on not being part of Fox Studio Classics is correct Nils, I hope that the extras are carried over into the Noir series; and since I'll be buying every last one of these, I hope that this series will have something in the way of extras.
Tim

 

[Herb Kane]

Nils, here are all the Fox titles I could come up with. As you can see, only 3 have been released. I'd bet $10 bucks that House Of Bamboo will be one of the upcoming Criterion releases... and to echo Charles' comments from the Pickup On South Street extras, the trailer for HoB looks absolutely beautiful.
I will personally buy each and every one of these if/when they are released.
13th Letter, The (1951) - 20th Century Fox
Backlash (1947) - 20th Century Fox
Blueprint for Murder, A (1953) - 20th Century Fox
Boomerang! (1947) - 20th Century Fox
Brasher Doubloon, The (1947) - 20th Century Fox
Call Northside 777 (1948) - 20th Century Fox
City of Chance (1940) - 20th Century Fox
Cry of the City (1948) - 20th Century Fox
Dark Corner, The (1946) - 20th Century Fox
Don't Bother To Knock (1952) - DVD 20th Century Fox
Fallen Angel (1945) - 20th Century Fox
Fourteen Hours (1951) - 20th Century Fox
Girl in 313 (1940) - 20th Century Fox
Hangover Square (1945) - 20th Century Fox
Hot Spot (1941) - 20th Century Fox
House of Bamboo (1955) - 20th Century Fox
House of Strangers (1949) - 20th Century Fox
House on 92nd Street, The (1945) - 20th Century Fox
House on Telegraph Hill, The (1951) - 20th Century Fox
I Wake Up Screaming (1941) - 20th Century Fox
Inferno (1953) - 20th Century Fox
Kiss of Death (1947) - 20th Century Fox
Laura (1944) - 20th Century Fox
Leave Her to Heaven (1945) - 20th Century Fox
Man Who Cheated Himself, The (1950) - 20th Century Fox
Manhunt (1941) - 20th Century Fox
Moontide (1942) - 20th Century Fox
Niagara (1953) - DVD 20th Century Fox
Night and the City (1950) - 20th Century Fox
Night Without Sleep (1952) - 20th Century Fox
Nightmare Alley (1947) - 20th Century Fox
No Way Out (1950) - 20th Century Fox
Other Woman, The (1954) - 20th Century Fox
Panic in the Streets (1950) - 20th Century Fox
Pickup on South Street (1953) - DVD Criterion
Plunder Road (1957) - 20th Century Fox
Road House (1948) - 20th Century Fox
Seven Thieves (1959) - 20th Century Fox
Somewhere in the Night (1946) - 20th Century Fox
Strange Triangle (1946) - 20th Century Fox
...aka Strange Alibi (1946)
Street with No Name, The (1948) - 20th Century Fox
Swamp Water (1942) - 20th Century Fox
Thieves' Highway (1949) - 20th Century Fox
...aka Collision (1949)
...aka Thieves' Market, The (1949)
Third Voice (1960) - 20th Century Fox
Violent Saturday (1955) - 20th Century Fox
Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950) - 20th Century Fox
Whirlpool (1949) - 20th Century Fox