Hammer & Forgotten Noir Sets from VCI (1 Viewer)

[LaurenceGarvey]

VCI Entertainment, as part of its agreement with Kit Parker, will begin releasing two series of films noir in March. Each release will include two films, and I'm urging them to number the sets. More than 2 dozen films are known to me so far.

The Hammer Noir Series includes a number of films that feature an American star backed by a British cast; titles include BAD BLONDE (1953) with Barbary Payton, THE GLASS TOMB (1959) with John Ireland and Honor Blackman, THIRD PARTY RISK (1954) with Lloyd Bridges, A STOLEN FACE (1952) with Paul Henreid and Lizabeth Scott, and TERROR STREET with Dan Duryea.

The Forgotten Noir Series will include all three films starring Hugh Beaumont as private eye Dennis O'Brien (DANGER ZONE, PIER 23, and ROARING CITY), plus Portland Exposé (Allied Artists, 1957) with Ed Binns and Frank Gorshin, TREASURE OF MONTE CRISTO (1949) with an all-star cast of Glenn Langan, Adele Jergens, Bobby Jordan, and Sid Melton, FBI GIRL (1951) with Cesar Romero, Joi Lansing, and the comedy team of Noonan & Marshall, and SHOOT TO KILL (1947) with Luana Walters.

For a list of all titles, please see the NEWS section at www.inthebalcony.com.

 

[Jay E]

Thanks for the information Laurence, I will definitely be picking some of these up in March.

 

[Mark Zimmer]

Well, that was bad timing. I just started on a watch-all-the-Hammer-films-on-DVD project in conjunction with reading Denis Meikle's history of the studio, and skipped over the Hammer noirs on the assumption they'd never be released.

 

[JerryKILL]

Bad link above (extra period at the end). Should be...

http://www.inthebalcony.com/

As a fan and collector of both Hammer and noir, these releases are really must-haves for me.

 

[Greg Patenaude]

Film Noir Fans,

Is this Hammer Studio release of film noir worth a blind buy. I like film noir but I don't won't to buy something that is complete crap. However, seven movies for just over 2o dollars is a good deal. Any thoughts or advice.

Thanks

Greg

 

[JohnPM]

Guess it all depends on the quality. Hope someone here will post a review when they're released. Are some of them out already?

http://greenbriarpictureshows.blogspot.com/

 

[MarcoBiscotti]

How was the quality on VCI's recent double-feature releases of D.O.A., The Hitchhiker, Bury Me Dead, The Chase, etc?

A marked improvement over the countless other p.d. issues we've seen to date?

Worth a purchase?

 

[John Sparks]

They still release their films in "NON-ANAMORPHIC," so why buy them!!!

 

[Mark Zimmer]

Because a lot of these titles pre-date widescreen?

 

[John Sparks]

You know what I mean...look at "Gorgo!!!"

 

[Mark Zimmer]

Gorgo is from 1960. About half of these titles predate 1953 and the introduction of Cinemascope.

 

[John Sparks]

You're joking, right?

I know when films went to widescreen! What I'm saying is in this day and age, why would a company still be releasing films that are (i.e. 1.66:1; 1.78:1; 1.85:1; 2.35:1 et al) "NON ANAMORPHIC-NON ANAMORPHIC-NON ANAMORPHIC!!!"

That is the question!