Search - Edward G. Robinson Triple Feature on DVD

Passable quality...good movies

RMurray847 | Albuquerque, NM United States | 12/12/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The bonus features on this set are NON EXISTENT. Even chapter selection consists merely of cutting the movie into two parts. No audion options, nothing. Then again, you're getting 3 movies for about $2 each. They are watchable, but it does feel a little like watching a 16mm print on your TV. Again, you get what you pay for quality-wise.But let that take nothing away from the movies. These are all better-than-average films, particularly for stuff in the public domain. THE STRANGER would certainly be the biggest attention getter, what with Orson Welles' being the star and director. But the other two films are also enjoyable and well made. THE RED HOUSE shows us a young Robinson all the way back in 1932, and SCARLETT STREET is a treat from famed director Fritz Lang...a later work of his. So, although the disc "celebrates" Edward G. Robinson, it also has nice work from other major Hollywood players. I recommend it for the buff of older films."

Great value, good quality DVD

Barbara (Burkowsky) Underwood | Manly, NSW Australia | 04/30/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Although some reviewers seem to have been disappointed in the quality of this DVD, I have to say that I found nothing wrong with this particular item, namely the one pictured here, the Triple Feature Movie Marathon of Edward G. Robinson movies on the Madacy label. All three films are very good quality with no heads or feet chopped off or anything of that nature, and the only quibble I could have would be a bit of static noise at times as is common with older films but which I didn't find distracting at all. In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed all three of these fine thriller/Film Noir movies from the mid 1940s, each one showing Edward G. Robinson in a different kind of role.

"The Red House" immediately grabs the viewer's attention and curiosity with the threat of haunted woods which Robinson, playing the adoptive father of a teenage girl, seems to know a lot about. Soon it becomes evident that he is hiding a dreadful secret from the girl in connection with a red house in those woods, and the suspense keeps building nicely as she and a friend are determined to find out the old family secret. A good story which unfolds well is supported by very good acting performances by all the stars including Julie London and Rory Calhoun.

One of my favourites which deserves a full 5-star rating is "Scarlet Street", which is available as a high-definition digital transfer with bonus features by Kino Video, and deservedly so. Directed by German legend, Fritz Lang, this is a brilliant story about a plain bank cashier (Robinson) who falls into the criminal trap of a seductive younger woman and her manipulative boyfriend, but with unexpected results. Outstanding performances by the cast, along with skilful and experienced directing by Lang make "Scarlet Street" one of the outstanding classic films of this period.

Finally, "The Stranger" is actually an Orson Welles film with quite a few of his unique directing trademarks such as use of extreme light and shadow, as well as unusual camera angles, but not too much for those who may not be Welles enthusiasts. Welles plays a wanted Nazi war criminal with a new and innocent identity in the US, and Robinson is the agent on his trail. With only one man able to identify the Nazi, and Welles' new wife the only link between the two, Robinson has to plan his steps carefully in order to catch the clever and elusive criminal. The story is unpredictable and keeps up the suspense all the way through. With such good examples of suspense thrillers of the mid 40s, this budget-priced DVD is a real bargain, and is probably of a much higher standard than other Madacy titles.
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