A Few Words About A few words about...™ Gun Crazy -- in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

Joseph H. Lewis' seminal 1949 production, released in early 1950, Gun Crazy aka Deadly is the Female, is one of the most important films in the noir canon.

Starring Peggy Cummins (who should have had a greater career in film), and John Dall ("I don't know how I shall ever repay you...") the film served as a progenitor for Bonnie and Clyde two decades later.

Beautifully shot in black & white by Russell Harlan, and with a score by Victor Young, it's one of those films for which the sum is far more than the combined parts.

The screenplay was by blacklisted Dalton Trumbo.

Warner Archive's Blu-ray presentation is perfect in every detail, and a welcome addition to any serious cinema library, replacing the earlier DVD.

Gray scale, resolution, grain structure, black levels, all in place, for this elegant and very important "B" production.

Image - 5

Audio - 5

Pass / Fail - Pass

Highly Recommended

RAH

 

[Robert Crawford]

Great comments that I agree with.

 

[Robin9]

Many thanks.

"Warner Archive's Blu-ray presentation is perfect in every detail" . . . . . . and I was going to buy it anyway!

 

[moviepas]

Great film. My birth year. I have the French presentation and book.

 

[Gary16]

Great film. My birth year. I have the French presentation and book.

I have it too. I’d like to know how the two blurays compare in video quality.

 

[commander richardson]

Joseph H. Lewis' seminal 1949 production, released in early 1950, Gun Crazy aka Deadly is the Female, is one of the most important films in the noir canon.

Starring Peggy Cummins (who should have had a greater career in film), and John Dall ("I don't know how I shall ever repay you...") the film served as a progenitor for Bonnie and Clyde two decades later.

Beautifully shot in black & white by Russell Harlan, and with a score by Victor Young, it's one of those films for which the sum is far more than the combined parts.

The screenplay was by blacklisted Dalton Trumbo.

Warner Archive's Blu-ray presentation is perfect in every detail, and a welcome addition to any serious cinema library, replacing the earlier DVD.

Gray scale, resolution, grain structure, black levels, all in place, for this elegant and very important "B" production.

Image - 5

Audio - 5

Pass / Fail - Pass

Highly Recommended

RAH

Thanks for information ........will now order............

 

[Spencer Draper]

This coming from WAC was such a wonderful surprise. I first saw this as a child on television and forever became a major fan of both Peggy Cummins (also in the incredible Night of the Demon) and John Dall (also incredible in Rope)-and NEVER forgot it. It should be an absolute knockout on Blu-ray.

 

[Richard Gallagher]

Gun Crazy is based upon a short story by Pulitzer Prize-winning author MacKinlay Kantor ("Andersonville). The short story differs from the film in several respects and is worth reading.

 

[haineshisway]

Very curious to compare to the French release. Everything was a bit too smooth in that one and the opticals, of which there are a HUGE amount, looked a little too soft for my taste - hoping this is the one we've been waiting for.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Gun Crazy is based upon a short story by Pulitzer Prize-winning author MacKinlay Kantor ("Andersonville). The short story differs from the film in several respects and is worth reading.

An almost five year old podcast with George Feltenstein and Eddie Muller about Gun Crazy and Film Noir. A great listen!

https://www.acast.com/warnerarchivepodcast/eddie-muller-interview-1

 

[david hare]

Bruce, I agree the French WildSide disc looks like a more degrained image. I think that may also affect some of the opticals. It’ still a great transfer, but the Warner is, as RAH says perfect. The black levels are higher too sith more nitrateaopearance, like strong contrast betwenen matte to glossy blacks. Did they both come from th e same master? Warner as usual did a new interpos.

 

[lark144]

Bruce, I agree the French WildSide disc looks like a more degrained image. I think that may also affect some of the opticals. It’ still a great transfer, but the Warner is, as RAH says perfect. The black levels are higher too sith more nitrateaopearance, like strong contrast betwenen matte to glossy blacks. Did they both come from th e same master? Warner as usual did a new interpos.

Thanks, David. Based on what I've been reading on various sites in terms of the look & specs of this new GUN CRAZY Blu-Ray, this is what I surmised--that it is based on a new IP, and that the black levels are deeper than the French disc, which I own. I'm especially pleased to hear that it looks more like nitrate, as this is one of my very favorite examples of black & white filmmaking. I consider this is Russell Harlan's greatest achievement, and to think a lot of it must have been filmed quickly, in low light conditions, makes this all the more impressive. Can't wait to see it!

 

[titch]

This is the first Warner Archive title I've purchased, which doesn't have all caps subtitles - finally! They are quite a distracting yellow, though.

 

[Dick]

.John Dall ("I don't know how I shall ever repay you...").

I am amused by your quote, and that is exactly the line (from SPARTACUS) that nearly led my starting a thread called, "A single line of dialog that is simply awful in an otherwise excellent film." I instantly disliked Dahl for his delivery of that, and going back, also did not enjoy him in ROPE (then again, I'm not a big fan of the movie). But he acquits himself rather well in GUN CRAZY.