Search - Hammett on DVD

Content Advisory: Violence, Brief Nudity, Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1982 Format: DVD SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Studio: Blue Jackel Members Wishing: 3 Genres: Mystery, Period Film, Post-Noir (Modern Noir), Biopic [feature] See Also: Hammett

Director Wim Wenders made his American film bow with the ultra-stylish Hammett. Based on the speculative novel by Joe Gores, the story concerns real-life detective novelist Dashiell Hammett (Frederic Forest), who early in his career is involved in a complex mystery that will profoundly influence his later works. While hacking away for pulp magazines, Hammett is asked by Jimmy Ryan (Peter Boyle), his old boss at the Pinkerton agency (and the model for the writer's "Continental Op" character), to help out on a particularly difficult case. Before long, Hammett is prowling the nooks and crannies of San Francisco in search of a missing Chinese prostitute-blackmailer (Lydia Lei). Among the several delectable "inside jokes" in Hammett is the presence of Elisha Cook, who'd appeared in the 1941 film adaptation of Hammett's -Maltese Falcon, as Eli the Cab Driver. Cinematographers Philip H. Lathrop and Joseph Biroc work overtime to invest Hammett with the "feel" of a classic 1940s detective yarn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Frederic Forrest - Hammett
Peter Boyle - Jimmy Ryan
Marilu Henner - Kit Conger/Sue Alabama
Roy Kinnear - English Eddie Hagedorn
Elisha Cook, Jr. - Eli, the Taxi Driver

Wim Wenders' Hammett (1982) has appeared as a beautiful if unambitious Region 2 disc (playable in England, Europe, the Middle East, and Japan) from MCA/Universal in England, part of the "Zoetrope Studios DVD Collection" from Universal in England. Mastered at the widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1 (with 16 x 9 enhancement available for widescreen monitors), it opens with a gorgeous mix of subdued colors interspersed with true black on the credits. It plunges us into an enveloping picture-and-sound experience, subtly seductive and dark in a lot of places, but never lacking in detail anywhere. This looks better than it has on any broadcast this reviewer has ever seen, and the sound (in Dolby Digital 2.0) is just as good, all of it a near-match for the theatrical experience and all so beautifully shot by Joseph Biroc that this could be a demonstration disc for customers with taste and class. The 97-minute movie has been well treated with 15 chapters, which are accessible along with the original trailer (seen full-screen) on a menu that opens automatically on startup. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide