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[struth]

Thief, 1981.(Arrow BluRay) 4k scan. Stars James Caan, Tuesday Weld and Willie Nelson. Directed by Michael Mann...





This new HD master was provided by The Criterion Collection and delivered by MGM via Hollywood Classics. The transfer was created in 4K resolution on a Northlight film scanner from the 35mm original camera negative. Director Michael Mann's original 35mm answer print was used as a color reference, and Mann supervised and approved the entire transfer. The added Willie Dixon fisherman scene was sourced from a 35mm interpositive made from a print. All picture restoration work was completed by The Criterion Collection.

The original stereo soundtrack was remastered to 5.1 surround at 24-bit from 35mm 4-track magnetic audio stems, and approved by Mann.

[struth]

Super film Thief.. it also paved way for many other similar films.

Now a western.. James Stewart(AGAIN) in Winchester 73, 1950. Directed by Anthony Mann.





The film has gained a reputation as a classic of the Western genre, and helped to redefine the public perception of James Stewart. Writing for the Telegraph, Martin Chilton gave the movie 5 stars and described the film as "the first in a series of Western masterpieces". In Empire, William Thomas calls the film "the marvellously-scripted story of a man and a gun". He also awarded 5 stars. The film holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 26 reviews, with an average of 8.57/10.


This is the BluRay presentation.

[struth]

Back to 1954 for this dark tale... An Inspector Calls; It stars Alistair Sim and Brian Forbes. directed by Guy Hamilton.






Set in 1912, a dinner party held by the upper class Birling family is interrupted by a man calling himself Inspector Poole, investigating the suicide of a working class girl Eva Smith whose death is linked to each family member.

[struth]

The Enforcer (aka Murder, Inc.)1951.. co-directed by Bretaigne Windust and an uncredited Raoul Walsh. It stars Humphrey Bogart, Zero Mostel and Ted De Corsia.






Although largely fictional, the film is based on the real-life investigation into a group of hired killers dubbed by the press as "Murder, Inc." (the film was released under that title in the United Kingdom). It was during this investigation, and the Kefauver hearings, that terms like "contract" (a deal to commit a murder) and "hit" (the actual killing itself) first came into the public knowledge. The gangsters used such codes in case of eavesdroppers or phone tappings by the police.

Bogart's ADA Martin Ferguson is based on Burton Turkus, who led the prosecutions of several members of the Murder, Inc. gang. His book on the case was published at about the same time the film was released.

Ted de Corsia's Joe Rico was probably inspired by Abe Reles. Like Rico, Reles was about to testify against a major crime lord but, although under heavy police guard, was found dead after falling out of the Half Moon Hotel in Coney Island on November 12, 1941. It has never been established for sure if Reles' death was murder, accident or suicide.

[walpurgis]

Thief, 1981.(Arrow BluRay) 4k scan. Stars James Caan, Tuesday Weld and Willie Nelson. Directed by Michael Mann.

Excellent film. Always makes me think of 'The Driver' 1978 with Ryan O'Neil another cracking movie of similar ilk.

[struth]

Excellent film. Always makes me think of 'The Driver' 1978 with Ryan O'Neil another cracking movie of similar ilk.

Yeah thats a good one too. walter hill film.... another similar one was Heat.

[walpurgis]

another similar one was Heat.

I know, but couldn't remember the film, even though I know I've seen it. I got a DVD of it recently which I have still to play.

[Barry]

Back to 1954 for this dark tale... An Inspector Calls; It stars Alistair Sim and Brian Forbes. directed by Guy Hamilton.






Set in 1912, a dinner party held by the upper class Birling family is interrupted by a man calling himself Inspector Poole, investigating the suicide of a working class girl Eva Smith whose death is linked to each family member.

J. B. Priestley's play is IMO a work of genius. Is the 'inspector' a ghost, an avenging angel, or some sort of collective conscious-pricking entity? The play has been the subject of numerous analyses - without coming to a definitive answer.

It was recently shown on TV with the great David Thewlis as the 'inspector'.

[struth]

J. B. Priestley's play is IMO a work of genius. Is the 'inspector' a ghost, an avenging angel, or some sort of collective conscious-pricking entity? The play has been the subject of numerous analyses - without coming to a definitive answer.

It was recently shown on TV with the great David Thewlis as the 'inspector'.

yeah its one of my favs.. as you say, who the inspector was is very much open to interpretation.. An avenging angel, giving them all a chance to redeem themselves.. only 2 people pass the test....or do they?

[struth]

Ruthless People, 1986. starring Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, Judge Reinhold, Anita Morris, Bill Pullman and Helen Slater.






one of my very fav nonsense films....pure class.