Customer Reviews

Bad Girls of Film Noir, Vol. 1 (The Killer That Stalked New York / Two of a Kind / Bad for Each Other / The Glass Wall)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This set of films includes:

The Killer That Stalked New York (1950) directed by Earl McEnvoy - Sheila Bennet (Evelyn Keyes) smuggles diamonds into the U.s knowingly and smallpox unknowingly. People she is in both casual and close contact begin to fall sick and die while Sheila remains on her feet. Her mission - to stay alive long enough to even the score with her faithless husband while doctors make a mad search through New York City for "patient number one".

Two of A Kind (1951) directed by Henry Levin - Edmund O'Brien plays the body double of the long missing son of a rich couple. He's recruited by a con-artist couple to impersonate the son and thus inhert their money. However, the couple reveals they have no intention of leaving any money to the man they think is their son.

Bad for Each Other (1953) directed by Irvin Rapper - Charleton Heston stars in a rather predictable tale of a doctor returning from Korea who must both choose between serving humanity and riches in his profession and between a wealthy self-involved girl and a dedicated nurse in his private life. The production code gave this film only one option on outcome, and you see it coming at you a mile away. Weakest film in the bunch.

The Glass Wall (1953) directed by Maxwell Shane - Tale of an immigrant to the U.S. after WWII who needs the testimony of a particular soldier to insure legal entry into this country. He battles time and an unfamiliar land to try to find him. It's not really a film noir, in my opinion, but it's a pretty good film. The imagery of New York City right after the war ended is entertaining in its own right.

BONUS FEATURES:
Terry Moore on Two of a Kind
The Payoff-All Star Theatre Episode

"THE GLASS WALL" IS WORTH THE WHOLE PRICE OF THE COLLECTION. IT'S WONDERFUL.

And so one man, a person unwanted in America, screams his words in the empty chambers of the United Nations - demanding international justice, demanding a small opportunity for freedom. The man is "Mr. Kaban," a concentration camp survivor without a nation to belong to...so he slips without papers into a passenger ship heading for crowded New York City. When the ship docks, the uncaring Immigration Authorities don't believe his story that he saved an American parachutist in Europe - They intend to send him back to Hungary, notwithstanding his desperate plea for fair treatment after suffering under the Nazi torture machine. Denied entry, though technically qualified for entry to America, Kaban jumps overboard and plunges into a gritty, raffish, jazzy Times Square world of the early 1950's.

The film is not only about fundamental justice...but about the difference between appearances and reality, the difference between the legitimate and the illegitimate citizen, in the people we encounter in the city. Those on the very bottom rung of the economic ladder - thieves and strippers - are the ones who understand hard knocks, poverty, injustice the best, and try to give comfort to the escaped man. But the ordinary, comfortable man on the street is hard edged, indifferent, if not mean-spirited. As for the police trying to track Mr. Kaban down, the man justifiably is terrified of anyone in uniform. Years of experience teach him that uniforms mean death or imprisonment.

Not only does this film boast a lively story, but the film noir photography is sensational. It is a labor of love by the cinematographer Joseph Biroc - who obviously knows the raw edges of a confusing metropolis of darkness and bright lights.

Those willing to try this film will wonder - why, why, why has this gem been overlooked. It's just about as good a film noir as you are likely to see.

In my opinion most of these films were not true film noir and thus somewhat disappointing. The girls were not all that bad (the type to stick a knife in your back and make you love it not so). Most had a soft side but the stories were worth seeing. Heston vastly over rated. His grimace wears thin after you`ve seen several of his movies. Love Lizabeth Scott. If not for her, the series wouldn`t have been worthwhile.

First off, for hardcore fans of "noir," let's begin with the disappointment: these are DRAMAS from the 40/50s in fabulous black and white. All of the atmosphere, cinematic style, cynacism, crime, grittiness, and fatalistic mood that you'd normally see in a period Noir are missing. Even the "femme fatales" featured here are a stretch. That being said, there are three b-flicks here and one z-level in the bunch. The z-level "The Killer that Stalked NY" runs like a public announcement for vaccinations - includes at least one child death from small pox --and it isn't even unintentionally funny - a total dud. "Bad for Each Other" includes an early role for Mr. Heston where he smirks and overacts in the same ham fashion of William Shatner - now THAT's funny. The only "good" movie in the bunch is the last one: "The Glass Wall" - which is tightly written and includes a compelling story line with vintage views of the Big Apple. I'm only keeping this because of "The Glass Wall" -- otherwise, I'd sell the lot. Overall, a poor release with little to recommend it.

I was so looking forward to this release.
A complete flop !
Perhaps the title refers to the fact that for instance Gloria Grahame and Liz Scott (Too late for tears !!) has indeed a reputation as "bad girls" from dozens of Film Noirs.
Bad girls yes, but not in this collection !
No conniving double crossing, back-stabbing, femme fatales here, not at all.
Rather sympathetic nice girls really, all the way through.
The kind of girl you wouldn't have second thoughts about marrying.
And I believe that this is not what the hardened Noir fan is expecting.
And is it really Noir ?
Average black & white thrillers from the late 40's, early 50's, is what this collection contains.
Some of them perhaps better than the one star I give this collection.
But as a concept, this release completely misses the mark.
Bad research og no knowledge of the genre perhaps ?

DVD transfer: All the films are presented in their original B&W. The transfers are all full screen and have very good to excellent screen quality. There are plenty of bonuses to round out the collection.

First, the good news. We do get to see some of Hollywoods finest femme fatales. The bad news, not all the films are true noir.

The Killer That Stalked New York: *** The film features Evelyn Keyes as the femme fatale up to her eyeballs in larceny. She's a diamond smuggler who's recently returned from Cuba with a small catch of diamonds following her in the mail. This film flips the usual noir element of the bad girl influencing the hapless man. Instead, it's the rotten husband that motivates Sheila (Keyes) to commit crime. Sheila is also feeling sick. Meanwhile, a man dies of a strange disease in a local hospital that has doctors stumped. After a lot of diagnostics, the doctors discover the man died of small pox. Guess who the carrier is? The chase is on but Sheila is on a quest of her own; getting even with her two-timing husband. Look for Dorothy Malone in a small part as a public health nurse. This is almost as good as "Panic in the Streets", a similarily themed movie released in the same year. This is one of Evelyn's best roles and she handles it very well.

Two of a Kind: **** This is my favorite of the 4 films in this package. First, we have Lizabeth Scott as a quintessential femme fatale. She uses her up-front sexuality to lure a small time con artist and drifter, Michael (Edmund O'Brien) into a major effort to swindle millions from a rich couple whose son disappeared when he was 3. She is also manipulating the family's lawyer (Alexander Knox) into making the whole scheme work. Michael begins to enjoy his role as the possible long-lost son and seeks the family's trust through a niece, Kathy (Terry Moore). When the family patriarch, William (Griff Barnett), decides to leave all his wealth to charity rather than the man he now sees as his son, the lawyer decides to "fix" things by way of a fishing accident. Michael, and even Brandy(Scott), try to draw the line here but can they stop it? One of Lizabeth Scott's very best femme fatale roles. However, Terry Moore, as a rather kooky ingenue, almost steals the movie. Great fun for noir fans.

Bad for Each Other: ** Although this film features Hollywood legend, Charleton Heston, and super femme fatale, Lizabeth Scott, it is nowhere near film noir. Instead, it's a rather soapy film about a doctor who chooses to dispense pills to wealthy hypochondriacs rather than treat people who really need him. Of course, there's a woman behind this decision and it's Helen(Lizabeth Scott), who views wealth and her socialite friends as the only things worth pursuing. There is an all too predictable ending.

The Glass Wall: **** This not-quite-noir is still a very good movie. An immigrant with no papers arrives in New York and is detained by U.S. authorities. He escapes the ship he is on but breaks his ribs in the chase. Our immigrant, Peter(Vittorio Gassman), seeks a ex-GI who can vouce for him. Along the way, he is befriended by down-on-her-luck, Maggie(Gloria Grahame), who steals dimes from kids on the street to help him. As he moves on, he meets Burlesque dancer, Tanya(Robin Raymond) who is the child of immigrants and takes him in for a while. As the night progresses, Peter's only remaining hope is the United Nations but his broken ribs are taking their toll. There are many noir elements in this movie, enough to satisfy all of us film noir fans.

Recommended for: film noir fans and anyone who enjoys movies. These films should all be considered PG as the adult elements are carefully disguised for the censors of the time. These are not family films but they are not offensive either.

What a treat to see these films in one set, pristine prints plus trailers. The B/W photography is superb and there is a very informative interview with Terry Moore. Bad For Each Other has not been seen in Australia since the early 1990s and it was a pleasure to see this little-known Charlton Heston, Lizabeth Scott gem.
In all a great set and very reasonably priced to boot!
Add it to you collection now you will not be disappointed.

I always like to see the automobiles in old films, but they were about the only attraction ini these four films. "Two of a Kind" was the best of the four movies, and would have rated another star if reviewed by itself. Most of its attraction was Lisabeth Scott, who also appears in "Bad for Each Other," but couldn't salvage the latter from its unconvincing plot and bad acting from the rest of the cast. "The Killer that Stalked New York" seemed like a movie that might be shown in Middle School health class -- definitely not a film noir. The fourth film, "The Glass Wall," had an improbable but nonetheless predictable plot not worthy of the actors. I thought calling these films "Bad Girls of Film Noir" was misleading. I think the three actresses did appear in film noirs, but those were other movies, not these. I won't be purchasing the other set of movies in this release.

Film Noir gave 1940's and 1950's Hollywood actresses some rich roles in B pictures that explored the dark and seamy underside of life. Cool, calculating women -- most often blonde -- were more than a match for men and weren't above breaking the law to prove they meant business. "Bad Girls of Film Noir, Volumes 1" collects four of these black-and-white melodramas.
The collection includes "Two of a Kind" (1951), starring Lizabeth Scott as Brandy Kirby, in cahoots with lawyer Vincent Mailer (Alexander Knox) to find a man who looks like a missing heir. Lefty Farrell (Edmond O'Brien) fills the bill and is willing to cooperate in the scam. In "The Glass Wall" (1953), Peter Kuban (Vittorio Gassman), desperate to immigrate to the United States, stows away on a ship and jumps quarantine to solicit support for his petition for a visa on human rights grounds. Gloria Grahame ("The Bad and the Beautiful") is the down-on-her-luck easy mark who finds more trouble for herself by helping Kuban. Joseph Biroc's location photography offers a fascinating look at post-World War II New York City. Volume 1 also contains "The Killer That Stalked New York" (1953), with Evelyn Keyes determined to get revenge for being burned by her latest boyfriend; and "Bad for Each Other" (1953) with Lizabeth Scott as a socialite divorcee who draws Koran War vet Charlton Heston into a fast, dangerous lifestyle.

DVD arrived within a few days. Quality is very good and I've enjoyed the movies I've watched so far.