Edge of Eternity (1959)
Company: Twilight Time
Starring: Jack Elam, Edgar Buchanan, Cornel Wilde, Victoria
Shaw, Mickey Shaughnessy,
Rian Garrick, Dabbs Greer
My Review and Thoughts:
Twilight Time released and honored this film with this
amazing Blu-ray that stands out as being something movie lovers should own.
This is a wonderful crime drama thick with mystery in the classic style of
cinema. The setting of this film takes place in the 1950’s. The setting is the
Grand Canyon where a string of mysterious murders has taken place. The reality
of a mining ghost town. Your main character Les Martin who is a deputy sheriff
is being bombarded by the local community to solve the horrible murders, so
beings the mystery that is Edge of Eternity.
Starring a wonderful cast of performers. Your main star Cornel
Wilde who plays Les Martin. In his amazing 77 years, he performed in over 70
performances. He starred in some of my favorite classic films such as, 1952’s
The Greatest Show on Earth, 1965’s The Naked Prey, and many others. He was
truly a talented actor that shined in his many films and appearances. Also, starring
the beautiful Victoria Shaw. Shaw died way to soon. 53 years old was a tragic
reality. Next in the starring reality of this film is the wonderful Mikey
Shaughnessy. Shaughnessy was another gifted and amazing performer. Acting in
some of my favorite films 1953’s From Here to Eternity, 1960’s The Adventures
of Huckleberry Finn, 1961’s Pocketful of Miracles, 1962’s How the West was Won,
and many others.
I do have to mention this also has two wonderful characters
in it. First the amazing Edgar Buchanan who performed in over 170 acting
performances. Started acting in 1939 and did so all the way up to 1974. He was
an amazing character actor performing in some of the greats of cinema. He
starred in many of the films I love and return to often. The amazing 1940’s The
Sea Hawk, 1943’s The Desperadoes, 1950’s Cheaper by the Dozen, 1951’s Rawhide,
1953’s Shane, 1963’s McLintock!, Many will remember him or know him from his
long run on the Hopalong Cassidy TV series from 1952 to 1954 playing the character
of Red Conners. He starred in many westerns. I think his character Judge Roy
Bean in the 1956 TV series Judge Roy Bean is a prime example of his brilliance.
Also, his reoccurring role of Uncle Joe Carson in Petticoat Junction and the TV
series Green Acres from 1963 to 1970. His last starring performance was in the
original and wonderful 1974’s Benji. He was truly a gifted character actor that
expressed stardom.
The second character actor this film is starring, is the ever wonderful, true
character actor, side kick style of performance, Jack Elam. Elam has starred in
so many films. He has acted in two other films that Twilight Time has released
on Special Edition Blu-ray’s. Support Your Local Sheriff (1969) / Support Your
Local Gunfighter (1971), Elam stars in both films. Elam not only was a perfect
character actor, he was the definition of Western, or bad guy, or just plain
character actor. Elam had that unique face you could not forget, mainly due to
his cross eye. He most always played bad guys, killers and demented souls
causing havoc in some form. To me there are very few Elam’s in cinema. Very few
performers obtain the brilliance and destructive nature of character that Elam could
do in his vast career of over 200 performances of TV and feature films. I still
get a little teary eyed when I think he is no longer with us. He was so much
of Hollywood. He gave the cinema lover, cinema world, perfection in his roles
no matter how small or big they were, he owned and operated that role to a
believable perfection.
This is directed by a film legend Don Siegel. The story and
film is adapted from the book Flaming Star by Clair Huffaker. Now I feel Siegel
needs no introduction when it comes to film. If one calls themselves a movie buff,
then you should know this director who created some of the most memorable films
in cinema such as the classic Dirty Harry (1971) which might I add is one of
the greatest films. We need to look farther back to the 50’s and speak of the
ultimate black and white sci-fi classic and all around amazing and freaky film,
the original The Invasion of the Body Snatchers. His direction and vision of
Body Snatchers still lingers today as being something so amazing for its time
and even impresses today. A little trivia in the 1978 remake of Invasion of the
Body Snatchers, Siegel makes a cameo as the taxi driver pod person. Invasion of
the Body Snatchers should showcase his talent to you, if for some reason, you
don’t know who he is. He would also become the man that directed the legend of
film Clint Eastwood in many films from Dirty Harry to Coogan’s Bluff, Two Mules
for Sister Sara, The Beguiled, and Escape from Alcatraz. Now this friendship
would last and on a little trivia note, Siegel can be seen in a cameo
appearance in Clint Eastwood’s Play Misty for Me as the bar tender. I think
what made Siegel such a gifted and different type of director is he directed
just about anything and everything from documentaries, TV shows, TV movies,
films and so on. He was a master, versatile director that owned the lens and
all those creating the film with his ultimate perfection and Edge of Eternity is no
different. Edge of Eternity is one of his achievements in film.
Edge of Eternity is one of those fantastic films that I feel
you remember after it’s over. One reason is the ultimate fight on a U.S. Guano cable car which
is suspended above the Grand Canyon adding that edge of your seat thrills.
Audio/Video:
Another prime example of how to treat a film. A wonderful
transfer to 1080p High Definition. The colors are vibrant, imagery is crisp.
The sound quality is spot on. A perfect special edition Blu-ray in both audio
and video.
LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 2.35:1
AUDIO: English 1.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
Extras:
Isolated Music Track: The music is done by composer and
conductor Daniele Amfitheatrof. A unique composer, a Russian born. Italian
raised. Started composing in 1934 and did so up into 1960’s. He seemed to
retire. His music was used on soundtracks up to 1985. A very intense and unique
music master that sadly I feel has been lost by time and is often forgotten
about and overlooked. I personally feel Daniele Amfitheatrof is a master
talented musician should be remembered. Thankfully companies like Twilight Time
has honored this music genius with this special feature.
Audio Commentary with Film Historians C. Courtney Joyner and
Nick Redman. A wonderful listen. A solid listen of knowledge in the cinema
reality of a film that I feel is a wonderful example to experience and remember
and thankfully because Twilight Time has honored this film with this lovely
Special Edition Blu-ray.
Overall:
Yet again a priceless example of a blu-ray by a wonderful company that treats film with flawless degree of excellence. Another wonderful watch in a high quality transfer. Highly Recommended.
Yet again a priceless example of a blu-ray by a wonderful company that treats film with flawless degree of excellence. Another wonderful watch in a high quality transfer. Highly Recommended.
INFO:
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the wonderful Twilight Time Blu-rays. The main page that gives you these
beautiful releases on top quality Special Editions.
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