Search - Film Noir Classics Collection on DVD

DOA / DETOUR / IMPACT / KANSAS CITY CONFIDENTIAL

John Erickson | Los Angeles, CA (USA) | 02/02/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Four true film noir entries from the golden age of film noir. Film Noir tended to be more of a "B" film with dramatic lighting , story and action. Often the film used odd angles, misrepresentation of size and other tricks to present another reality that was nightmare based. Wrong place at the wrong time or a bad choice from temptation are two themes seen in these films. We see human weakness and frailty exploited, savage behavior and the application of sex or greed as motivation to new depths of human desire. The post WWII world saw how underlying everyday life was evil from the highest penthouse to the lowest alley way.

For those of you that don't know, while Casablanca is not truely film noir the excellent films such as the Big Sleep and the Maltese Falcon are Noir but are not as cynical or nightmarish as the later stuff.

Personally I'd give Impact 5 stars, KC Confidential 4 stars, Detour 4 stars and DOA 4 stars. These are all great to watch for post WWII values, fashion, attitudes and vision. These were not meant to be expensive films but use ingenuity in making them exciting and worthy of seeing. It is a fine collection to introduce people to film noir."

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Morris B. Holbrook | NYC | 01/08/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Somebody who wants to know the four titles could try clicking on the picture of the boxed set where all four titles appear very clearly."