Blu-ray Review Scarlet Street Blu-ray Review (1 Viewer)

Scarlet Street was so controversial upon its original release in 1945 that the New York State Censor Board banned this film noir, deeming it within the category of obscene, indecent, immoral, inhuman, and sacrilegious films. The cities of Atlanta and Milwaukee also banned Scarlet Street on similar grounds. Although Scarlet Street was considered an immoral film because the wrongdoers were not punished for their crimes, the film is arguably still a morality play since the criminals get what is coming to them eventually, even if their punishments are not directly related to their crimes.

SCARLET STREET BLU-RAY

Studio: Kino

Year: 1945

Rated: Not Rated

Film Length:1 hour, 41 minutes

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Audio: English LPCM 2.0

Release Date: February 28, 2012

The Movie

Chris Cross(Edward G. Robinson) is a mild-mannered, hen-pecked husband who rescues street walker Kitty(Joan Bennett) from her assailant(Dan Duryea). Chris makes himself out to be something he is not in order to impress Kitty and have her fall in love with him. Chris does not realize that Kitty’s assailant was her pimp/boyfriend Johnny, and Kitty proceeds at Johnny’s urging to take advantage of Chris’ naivete. This situation sets a number of unpredictable and unintended consequences into motion for all of the players in this drama.

Fritz Lang(M, Rancho Notorious) directed Scarlet Street, which is a remake of sorts to Jean Renoir’s La Chienne(1931), since both films were based on the novel La Chienne written by Georges de La Fouchardiere. Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, and Dan Duryea had barely completed Lang’s previous film, The Woman In The Window(1944), when they began production together on his next film, Scarlet Street. The films are thematically similar, in addition to having the same lead actors. In The Woman In The Window, Edward G. Robinson played a college professor who gets in over his head with Joan Bennett’s femme fatale Alice.

Video

Scarlet Street appears on Blu-Ray in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio. This edition was mastered in 1080p from a 35mm technicolor nitrate print from the Library of Congress. This is a very nice transfer of the originating print which must be in excellent condition for its vintage. The video has a terrific gray scale with solid blacks and great shadow detail. Contrast is consistently sharp throughout the film as well. Some scratches and blemishes are evident throughout the film but these are exceedingly minimal and never distracting.

Audio

The English lossless PCM 2.0 Audio track is good with consistent volume and dialogue that is always comprehensible over the music and sound effects. The audio quality may be considered excellent for a public domain release of a 1940s film.

Special Features

The special features include the following:

Audio Commentary: Film scholar David Kalat provides an engaging feature length commentary about production of the film.

Photo Gallery: This consists of publicity stills and poster artwork for the film which is navigable using the arrows on your remote control.

Theatrical Trailers: Original trailers are included for Nothing Sacred(2:04), A Star Is Born(2:47), as well as a modern style trailer for Pandora and the Flying Dutchman produced for the 2010 re-release in the UK(1:32).

Conclusion

Scarlet Street is an entertaining film noir from an accomplished director featuring some great actors in their prime. It is interesting to see Edward G. Robinson play against type as a meek middle-aged man. The video and audio are excellent for a 1945 feature film. Scarlet Street on Blu-ray is a nice treat for fans of film noir and Fritz Lang.

Times do change. If the New York State Censor Board of the 1940s could see the movies today .... I can't get enough of Fritz Lang on Blu-ray. With this and THE BIG HEAT coming, that's two of Lang's major and most influential noirs on Blu-ray. Now if only SPIES and the MABUSE trilogy could find their way on Blu-ray.

Personally, I much prefer Woman in the Window, which Fritz Lang made the previous year with some of the same actors. I'd love to see it on blu-ray, but the nice DVD is still available. If you like Scarlet Street, then by all means, pick up Woman in the Window.

Scarlet Street played this evening and will play again in the morning on Turner Classic Movies' Noir Alley with intro and outro by Eddie Muller.