The Valachi Papers and Hell and High Water
Company: Twilight Time
My Review and Thought:
Valachi Papers: My Rating: 4 out of 5
Hell and High Water: My Rating: 4 out of 5
Here we go again. This time I am watching two wonderful,
beautiful High-Quality Blu-ray’s. Two wonderful films transferred to High Definition
1080p perfection.
First up: The Valachi Papers
Starring: Charles
Bronson, Jill Ireland, Amadeo Nazzari, Lino Ventura, Joseph Wiseman, Walter
Chiari, Gerald O'Loughlin
Starring the one and only Charles Bronson. The movie is
about Joe Valachi. Valachi is a targeted man. He has a price on his head. Mafia
Don Vito Genovese who is in the same prison as Joe has put the word out and the
price to kill Joe. Don Vito believes that Joe has ratted him out. Joe must at
all means protect himself. Joe is in prison for drug trafficking. Because he
has a bounty on his head he must struggle with the aspect of the Mafia Code,
silence or speak out. It’s that speaking out reality that has him on edge and a
targeted man. Joe must fight, struggle
and survive.
Always super excited to hear the announcement from Twilight
Time when they are releasing a Charles Bronson film. As I have stated many
times in the past reviews, I am a huge Charles Bronson fan. My favorite will
always be, the Death Wish saga. I own every one of his films on VHS, and DVD,
and now many of his films are coming out, or have already came out on Blu-ray.
Bronson came from a time of cinema when, Manly men owned the camera. The tough
guy persona ruled, and operated a no holds bar attitude of dominance in film.
There was a time when the male figure demonstrated a control of the character they
were playing. Now days the white ghost teeth, slick hair, metrosexual, male
figure becomes somewhat laughable in cinema, compared to the brutes of men in
the 40’s, all the way to early 90’s cinema. What happened to the days of the
sophisticated tough guys like, Richard Burton, Yul Brynner, James Cagney, James
Coburn, Bronson, Eastwood, Hackman, Lee Marvin, Gary Cooper. How Hollywood has
missed the mark in not creating the tough guy persona, just amazes me in all
its stupidity. Don’t get me wrong there are still tough guys, but the style,
and approach has changed. The original tough guys did not have to demand your
attention, they already had your attention, and Charles Bronson was that style.
Also starring the amazing Italian actor Lino Ventura as the
Don Vito. Starring in many French films before ever gracing American films. He
was truly a one of kind. He had that suave attitude. He had that sophisticated reality
about him. His main roles consisted of tough guy persona's or bad guys and even
tough cops. He was a huge character actor in France. He starred in well over 70
films. His talent is something that truly shines when you see him perform. I
would suggest you seek out his films. Dig into his Foreign films and discover his brilliance.
Also starring the amazing multi-talented Jill Ireland a.k.a.
Charles Bronson’s wife. I believe she acted in 15 films with him. She also was
an amazing singer. Sadly, she died way to soon. She passed away at the young
age of 54 to Breast Cancer. It was truly a sad reality. I think what is so
amazing about her is some of the trivia of her death. She wrote 2 books about
her battle with cancer. She was in the process of writing a 3rd when
she passed. She became a spoke person for the American Cancer Society.
Amazingly when she died, she was cremated and her ashes were put into a walking
cane for Charles Bronson which might I add he was buried with when he passed
away. Such a wonderful reality. If you ever get a chance head out to the
Hollywood walk of fame and visit her star at 6751 Hollywood Boulevard and pay
her some amazing respect.
Also starring the brilliant Joseph Wiseman as the character
Salvatore Maranzano. Now as you would guess if you’re a movie buff, there is
the trivia for you. Wiseman was Dr. No in James Bond film Dr. No directed by
Terrance Young, who yes directed The Valachi Papers. He was an amazing actor
that graced the screen both large and TV small screen in well over 90 performances
in film and TV. He was truly a one of a kind, and he will always be remembered
as the first James Bond movie villain, it was awesome seeing him in this.
The Valachi Papers was the original book published in 1969 by the wonderful author Peter Maas. I am a huge fan of Peter Maas. Huge reader of his books. He wrote some of the greats which many became films. He is the one and only biographer to the cop hero Serpico. If you have not read Serpico The Cop Who Defied the System then what are you waiting for, truly an awesome book. The book became the movie Serpico. Another amazing book and a personal favorite of mine is Marie: A True Story which also became a movie simply titled Marie. Also wrote another favorite of mine that I highly recommend In a Child’s Name: The Legacy of a Mother’s Murder. In 1997, he wrote the Mafia book, Underboss: Sammy the Bull Gravano’s Story of Life in the Mafia. Maas was an amazing gifted writer and journalist. His talent to me was a golden ticket of perfection when it came to telling a true story and bringing it to life for all to read. The movie The Valachi Papers has its flaws, but still honors this amazing writer.
This is based on a true story although the movie and book alters some of the real reality, the movie changes a lot of the truth. So basically, the movie is
more non-fiction than it is reality based. The movie is hokey at times and can
be compared to a Drive-in B-movie in many spots. Don’t get me wrong the movie
is not as horrible as I am making it sound, I am meaning that there is stuff in
the movie that doesn’t fit or is not of the time the movie is based. Basically,
poor production and editing made the film suffer.
Directed by the amazing one of a kind director that really
needs no introduction to cinema the one and only Terrance Young. The man behind
bringing to life James Bond Mr. 007 in the start of the iconic character.
Directing the original start Dr. No (1962), From Russia with Love (1963) and
Thunderball (1965). He also directed one of my favorite films of all time, the suspenseful
1967 Wait Until Dark starring the amazing, beautiful Audrey Hepburn. Terrance
was an amazing director. He brought to life many films that stand out. Yes, The
Valachi Papers has its flaws, but it is a film that stands out above and beyond many films. There is a true-life clarity to the film even though many aspects where changed. Young's direction brought to life a moment in time, a moment that should be remembered from its historical reality dealing with organized crime and the Mafia of the olden, golden days.
Valachi Papers has its flaws, but it is a film that stands out above and beyond many films. There is a true-life clarity to the film even though many aspects where changed. Young's direction brought to life a moment in time, a moment that should be remembered from its historical reality dealing with organized crime and the Mafia of the olden, golden days.
Next up: Hell, and High Water
Starring: Bella
Darvi, Gene Evans, Cameron Mitchell, Richard Widmark, Victor Francen, David
Wayne, Richard Loo
Hell, and High Water was directed by one of my favorite
directors of all time, Samuel Fuller. A master talent in creating films that
not only linger with you, but give you an experience in saying, WOW. His films
are some of the greatest films ever created in cinema history. Many of his
films are showcased as important pieces of film. He not only was a director, he
was an actor, and writer of many of his films, or at least co-writer of films
that he created. All one must do is look at his notches on his movie making
belt, and realize that this man was a directing genius. 1963’s Shock Corridor,
1964’s The Naked Kiss, 1980’s The Big Red One, 1982’s White Dog. He was truly a
gift of film making that left a movie loving world better because of his
visionary expertise. Twilight Time has also released Two other of his
masterpiece films 1957’s The Wayward Bus and 1955’s The House of Bamboo on
their special edition Blu-ray.
Hell, and High Water stars an amazing cast of performers. The
amazing one of a kind Richard Widmark, and Victor Francen, and the one and only
Cameron Mitchell. Also starring the beautiful Bella Darvi. Also, I must write
up, keep an eye out for the amazing Asian character actor Richard Loo. Loo was
truly a one of kind gifted actor that never got the stardom he deserved. He was
so gifted. He played a lot of American Films as the Asian guy, or the stereotype
that Hollywood thought of the Asian person. His long vast career lasted 50
years. Performing from 1931 all the way to 1982. He left a vast career of well
over 100 credits to his name. He will probably be remembered mostly for his
character of Hai Fat in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun. Many times,
he played an Asian General or Japanese General or simply a bystander. Many times,
uncredited but always noticed. He can be seen in 1943’s Jack London, 1944’s The
Purple Heart, 1945’s Back to Bataan, 1955’s Love is a Many-Splendored Thing,
1956’s The Conqueror, 1956’s Around the World in 80 Days, 1957’s The Quite
American, 1966’s The Sand Pebbles, and so many others. It was great
seeing him in this. He was always someone that stood out to me even though many
of his parts where small or silent. He just had stardom all over him and it’s a
true shame he never got that brilliant stardom he so rightly deserved.
Thankfully companies like Twilight Time honor such character actors bringing forgotten films out on high quality Blu-ray.
Hell, and High Water is about a Cold War plot. It’s 1953 a
French scientist goes missing. Along with four others. Persons believe they have
went to the other side behind the Iron Curtain, defecting. Add in your character Adam Jones played flawlessly by Richard Widmark. Adams is a former
U.S. Navy submarine commander. Adams while in Tokyo is contacted by a Professor
Montel. Montel along with other scientists and business men, suspect that the
Communist Chinese are creating a bomb, not just any bomb, but an atomic bomb. Montel
offers Adams a hunk of money if he will command an old-World War 2 Japanese
submarine and figure out if the truth of the atomic bomb is a reality. Adams
states he will if the sub is armed and if he can hire some of his old crew
mates. So, begins the journey to figure out what the truth is.
Now something I must mention that makes this movie more
amazing is the cinematography by Joseph MacDonald. MacDonald captured a
wonderment of film. He had such a talent in expressing a film, and Hell and
High Water is a prime example of that. He has other films that have been honored
with a Special Edition Twilight Time release such as 1955’s House of Bamboo, 1954’s
Broken Lance, 1958’s The Young Lions which you can read reviews for all of them
in the Twilight Time section of this website. That is something about Hell and
High Water, the technical side, or the behind the camera reality creates a wonderment.
The costumes, sets, and makeup all come off as brilliant in creating a solid
film.
Audio/Video:
My Rating: 5 out of 5
I kind of sound like a broken record when it comes to
reviewing the audio and video aspect. I feel like I say the same thing over and
over, and, I do, but the truth is that it’s the same almost every time. No flaw
here. Very seldom do I see anything wrong in this department. Twilight Time
does an amazing job creating wonderful outlets to wonderful films. Perfect
imagery and vibrant color and crisp clear sound quality.
The Valachi Papers
LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 1.85:1
AUDIO: English 1.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
1972 / Color
Hell and High Water:
LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 2.55:1
AUDIO: English 5.1 DTS-HD MA / English 2.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
1954 / Color
Extras:
The Valachi Papers:
My Rating: 1 out of 5
Partial Isolated Music Track: The music is done by one of my
favorite composers in cinema history. Riz Ortolani has under his belt many of my
favorite horror films or Italian films of the horror, suspense, thriller nature.
From the one and only Mondo Cane in 1962, to 1964’s Castle of Blood, 1966’s
Africa Addio, to the shocking masterpiece 1971’s Goodbye Uncle Tom. To the
brilliant Giallo films like Seven Blood Stained Orchids, The Pajama Girl Case,
Seven Deaths in the Cat’s Eye. The one and only, amazing Fulci Giallo
masterpiece’s, and personal favorite film, 1972’s Don’t Torture a Duckling. But
it will be the one of kind, shocking, disturbing, brutal masterpieces of horror
that many will know him from the sadistic brilliant 1980’s Cannibal Holocaust.
It was great hearing the partial music to The Valachi Papers.
Hell, and High Water
My Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Isolated Music Track: The music in this film, composer of
perfection. Alfred Newman. Alfred Newman was another pioneer of music. A
composer and arranger and conductor of many, upon many pieces of music for
film. The vast array of work under his belt can only show you his expertise at
music, from, The Song of Bernadette, All About Eve, The Diary of Anne Frank,
How the West Was Won, The Greatest Story Ever Told and many, many more credits
to his name. What’s so different and amazing about Newman is, he only wrote
music for film. This idea and concept showcases the beauty he had for film and
that beauty always showed in the finished product. I must mention the success
of his music was honored countless times, winning an impressive 9 Oscars and
being nominated over 40 times.
Richard Widmark: Strength of Characters
Original Theatrical Trailers
Overall:
Two classic films. Two amazing Blu-ray’s. High quality
transfers. Brilliant examples of how to treat older films. Both are highly recommended
products. Two wonders to experience a double feature. Two different films
equally treated with perfection.
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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