Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950)
Company: Twilight Time
Starring: Gene Tierney, Gary Merrill, Karl Malden, Bert
Freed, Tom Tully, Ruth Donnelly, Craig Stevens, Dana Andrews
My Review and Thoughts:
My Rating: Film: 5 out of 5
This is probably over my 50th time seeing this, and I absolutely love
it every time I watch it. This film has never looked any better, this Blu-ray is spot on perfect. This is a true classic Film Noir. This black and white classic needs to be
seen and thankfully now it has a proper, perfect display on a lovely high class
Blu-ray, brought out by Twilight Time. This is a film that actually is a unique
suspense crime drama that becomes a thought provoking, and intense reality as
you watch the plot unfold.
Your setting is in New York. Your main character is
Detective Dixon. Dixon has a temper. He has a natural way of getting in
trouble. Introduce your criminal Ken Paine. During a fight Dixon hits Paine, a
little too hard and ends up killing him. Dixon goes about covering it up by
putting the body in the river. When the body is found, he soon is assigned to
find Paine’s killer. Dixon decides to try and frame and put the crime on a
local gangster, Tommy Scalise. But a cab driver ends up becoming the prime
suspect. Dixon then tries to clear the cab driver because he is innocent. So begins one obstacle after another as the plot thickens, and the cat and mouse
game of secrets and lies, become a whirlwind of complex choices and realities
that Dixon, and everyone around him become a part of.
This stars an amazing actor, Dana Andrews as Detective Mark
Dixon. Andrews is a flawless performer. He was such a gifted actor. He was able
to in a sense, give a beating heart to a fictional character, and make you
believe every character he displayed. His role of Dixon is amazing. His
performance is dynamite. Andrews is what I consider one of those actors that few could ever compare to. He had the likes and ability as a masterpiece
performer and goes up there with, James Cagney, Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart,
Gary Cooper, John Wayne, Charlton Heston, Klaus Kinski and many others. Andrews
had that stardom, that classification of brilliance. He always shined in his
roles. Most know him from his amazing performance as Fred Derry in the 1946
classic, The Best Years of Our Lives. Whatever he did, he mastered it with an
ease and clarity that so many actors lack this day and age.
That brings me to
the film Laura brought out in 1944 starring Andrews and also Gene Tierney who
is also in Where the Sidewalks Ends. Laura was another classic film noir
directed by the director of Where the Sidewalks Ends, Otto Preminger.
Preminger was and in my viewpoint a director that should be
remembered, honored and spoken about when mentioning all the great directors
in film. I feel Otto has been lost in time. When I mention him, most have no
earthly idea who he is, and that is a true shame. Otto had away with his films
that dug deep into the subject, held onto that darkened suspense, or that
intense dramatic reality that was his films. He was a director that stepped over
the boundaries of subject matters that was taboo for their time. From drugs to
homosexuality. He pushed the boundaries, and showcased a brilliance in capturing
a story that always seemed to linger in the mind of viewer long after the film
was over. He mastered the reality of creating a thick book form of storytelling
through his direction. He was a man that enjoyed pushing the limits of his time, by adding eye opening and taboo realities. He seemed to almost laugh in the
face of censorship, but that is what makes him a shining artist of film making.
From Laura, Where the Sidewalk Ends, The Man with the Golden Arm, Anatomy of
Murder, Bunny Lake is Missing, (which might I add Twilight Time released on a
special edition Blu-ray which you can read my review for it HERE ) and so many
others including a personal favorite of mine, 1960’s Exodus. I could go on and
on about his films. He mastered so many.
Where the Sidewalk Ends is a classic film that needs to be
seen and thankfully through the brilliance of Twilight Time, this film has
gotten a worthy treatment to display, own and speak about. This is a wonderful
must own blu-ray of high quality. The movie is fantastic, brilliant acting,
tight mastery in direction. The cinematography is another prime example of
brilliance. This was captured in a darkened nature of suspense. The black and
white bleeds on screen in a mix of emotions. Joseph LaShelle mastered the lens in capturing this film through his cinematography. The whole movie is a work of art. I feel this movie is a prime example of just how to make a lasting picture.
Audio/Video: My Rating 5 out of 5
Another prime example of how to treat cinema. I have to say I don’t want to see it any other way.
This is a beautiful crisp video transfer. High Definition is spot on. Truly a
crystal clear clarity of imagery. The audio is equally the same. The sound is
amazing. Both audio and video is spot on perfect.
LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 1.33:1
AUDIO: English 1.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
1950 / B&W
Extras:
My Rating: 3 out of 5
Isolated Score Track by Cyril J. Mockridge. He was another composer that
new his craft and gave it to the film world in many features, both big and
small. He was nominated for an Oscar for 1955’s Guys and Dolls. He also worked
on the small screen, doing the music for the sci-fi, cult classic Lost in
Space. He had a mastery to him that transcended all styles of film. He has
parts in composing, music departments, soundtracks of all styles. Sadly, a lot
of his work was uncredited. But many of his films are truly memorable and are
some of the greatest films ever done. He had such an ability at the music world
in capturing flawless examples such as: 1947’s Miracle on 34th
Street, 1962’s The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and many, many others. It was
really great listening to this extra of an isolated score.
Audio Commentary with Film Historian Eddie Muller. Really
liked this commentary. A great listen, very informative. A film historian that
knows his stuff. Eddie Muller is a great writer. I love reading his stuff about
film. He has a total passion for cinema, especially for Film Noir and it shows
in everything he does. His commentaries are really fantastic and some of the
best out there. I have been a fan of Muller for many years now, always great to
hear him talk about the passion of Film Noir.
Original Theatrical Trailer
Overall:
A fantastic Film Noir. A fantastic piece of cinema period. A
flawless transfer to Blu-ray. A wonderful Twilight Time Blu-ray 3,000 Unit
special edition. A fantastic product to own. Amazing audio and video
presentation. A fantastic commentary. A wonderful isolated music score. Where the
Sidewalks Ends is a film that needs to be seen. It’s a film that is perfectly
woven in crime suspense and an intense undertaking taking of moods, emotions,
and the reality of what is going to happen next. It leaves a lasting impression
upon the watcher. A dynamic roller coaster of a black white mystery that stands
the test of time, as being an important piece of film history. Highly Recommended.
INFO:
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