Press Release Criterion Press Release: Blast of Silence (1961) (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

​

Blast of Silence​

Swift, brutal, and blackhearted, Allen Baron’s New York City noir Blast of Silence is a sensational surprise. This low-budget, carefully crafted portrait of a hit man on assignment in Manhattan during Christmastime follows its stripped-down narrative with mechanical precision, yet also with an eye and ear for the oddball details of urban living and the imposing beauty of the city. At once visually ragged and artfully composed, and featuring rough, poetic narration performed by Lionel Stander and written by Waldo Salt (both uncredited), Blast of Silence is a stylish triumph.

FILM INFO​

• United States
• 1961
• 77 minutes
• Black & White
• 1.85:1 and 1.33:1
• English
• Spine #428
  
  

  DIRECTOR-APPROVED BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES​

  • New 4K digital restoration presented in two aspect ratios, 1.85:1 (widescreen) and 1.33:1 (full-screen), with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
  • Requiem for a Killer: The Making of “Blast of Silence”
  • Rare on-set Polaroids
  • Photos of locations from the film in 2008
  • Trailer
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by film critic Terrence Rafferty and a graphic-novel adaptation of the film by acclaimed artist Sean Phillips (Criminal, Reckless, Fatale)
    
    Cover by Sean Phillips
    
    December 5, 2023

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Thank you for supporting HTF when you preorder using the link below. As an Amazon Associate, HTF earns from qualifying purchases. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.

See on Amazon

 

[Robert Crawford]

It's too bad Peter Falk wasn't able to appear as the lead actor in this movie. It's still a definite purchase for me as it helped usher in a new era of independent and neo-noir movies.

 

[Keith Cobby]

I'm sitting here thinking do I want to be positive or negative! So, instead of one of the many RKO film noir, we get a low budget Universal movie that hardly anybody will have seen.

 

[Robert Crawford]

I'm sitting here thinking do I want to be positive or negative! So, instead of one of the many RKO film noir, we get a low budget Universal movie that hardly anybody will have seen.

This has been Criterion's MO for a good while now. As to this particular film, it's well known to film noir aficionados.

 

[TravisR]

And you also get a Sean Phillips comic book? Sold!

 

[JoeDoakes]

The cover looks a lot like George C Scott, but he's not in this unfortunately

 

[Camps]

Hmmmm.... I'm a fan of this film and I have the Criterion DVD .... I'd be persuaded to upgrade were there a fun and/or enlightening commentary....

 

[Dick]

I'm sitting here thinking do I want to be positive or negative! So, instead of one of the many RKO film noir, we get a low budget Universal movie that hardly anybody will have seen.

Well, I have the DVD, and I think it's a really excellent flick.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Hmmmm.... I'm a fan of this film and I have the Criterion DVD .... I'd be persuaded to upgrade were there a fun and/or enlightening commentary....

Unfortunately, it appears Criterion has turned their collective back on audio commentaries.

 

[lark144]

Well, it got a whole chapter in Incredibly Strange Films, so that might be a solid recommendation for some. I, like I think many on this board, already have the DVD, and probably won't upgrade, but for those who haven't seen it, it's similar in both style and subject to Murder By Contract and if you like that film, you might enjoy this. It was shot in Alphabet City in the early 60's, and that in itself is fascinating, also lending the film echoes of punk/no-wave filmmaker Amos Poe's neo-noir The Foreigner. Stylistically, it has a lot in common to Kubrick's Killer's Kiss, including shaky hand-held takes that attempt to ape Ophuls and Welles. And then there's that crazy narration which merges grindhouse with arthouse.

 

[Martin_Teller]

One of my favorite noirs of all time. It's too bad there are no new extras, but I'll happily upgrade my DVD.

 

[ahollis]

Unfortunately, it appears Criterion has turned their collective back on audio commentaries.

Well there is a SAG strike happening. I'm a middleside in the film and exhibition industry and I was told commentaries are forbidden, for they publicize a film.

I may be totally wrong and if so expect to be set straight.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Well there is a SAG strike happening. I'm a middleside in the film and exhibition industry and I was told commentaries are forbidden, for they publicize a film.

I may be totally wrong and if so expect to be set straight.

They stopped doing audio commentaries long before this strike.

 

[Lord Dalek]

Criterion: "We're offering two aspect ratios for Blast of Silence so you can chose between 1.33 and 1.85:1!"

Also Criterion: "How DARE you suggest Summertime was shown in anything other than Academy Ratio! THOSE GATE HAIRS WERE THERE ORIGINALLY!!!!!!!"

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Criterion: "We're offering two aspect ratios for Blast of Silence so you can chose between 1.33 and 1.85:1!"

Also Criterion: "How DARE you suggest Summertime was shown in anything other than Academy Ratio! THOSE GATE HAIRS WERE THERE ORIGINALLY!!!!!!!"

That's a great point

I personally pleaded with my contact at Criterion to offer both aspect ratios on SUMMERTIME to appease everyone.

They could have easily done it but refused.

But they offer two different aspect ratios for this title.

 

[Traveling Matt]

Well there is a SAG strike happening. I'm a middleside in the film and exhibition industry and I was told commentaries are forbidden, for they publicize a film.

I may be totally wrong and if so expect to be set straight.

If the commentators aren't actors in SAG they wouldn't be restricted.

 

[Lord Dalek]

That's a great point

I personally pleaded with my contact at Criterion to offer both aspect ratios on SUMMERTIME to appease everyone.

They could have easily done it but refused.

But they offer two different aspect ratios for this title.

Yeah this and For All Mankind..which has no business being in 1.85:1 at all.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Amazon preorder placeholder post #2. Should go live later today

 

[Konstantinos]

Does anyone know which is the OAR for this film?