FORMAT: DVD
UPC: 0-24543-24454-7
RELEASED: 2006-06-06
TITLE: I Wake Up Screaming (1941) • NR • 1:22:11
Betty Grable, Victor Mature, Carole Landis, Laird Cregar, Alan Mowbray, Allyn Joslyn
H. Bruce Humberstone (Director)
A little known (and VASTLY underrated) little film noir gem from the early 1940s. I'm fairly certain that the primary reason that more people haven't heard of this wonderful little movie is its terrible (and TOTALLY unrelated) title — this movie was originally to be released with the title "Hot Spot" (which they should have stuck with, since it matches the plot of the movie WAY more than "I Wake Up Screaming" does [which, since it sounds like the title to a second-rate horror flick, doesn't match the plot at all]). Oh, well.
Anyway, if you mainly know Betty Grable through her musical comedies and pin-up posters, then she may strike you as a strange choice for a film noir drama — and, ordinarily you'd be right. However, here she plays it (mostly) straight — but, she does, on occasion, add a little humor to the proceedings (guess she couldn't entirely help herself). Also, any movie that features Allyn Joslyn AND Alan Mowbray in its cast was probably never intended to be taken too seriously anyway. In any case, though the movie does have occasional comedic moments, it is DEFINITELY still a fine example of film noir — with its less-than-scrupulous policemen (which, in, and of, itself, is pretty UNUSUAL for a 1940s American made movie — since the Hayes Code pretty much DICTATED that all law enforcement institutions, and their associated members, should be portrayed as scrupulously honest and virtuous), with its many thinly-veiled salacious remarks, with its rampant sexual tension, and with its (mostly off-screen) violence.
So, if you are a film noir fan, you gotta check it out — then, tell your friends! Highly recommended.
NOTE: This movie is one of the films from Fox Home Video's exemplary "Fox Film Noir" series of DVDs (and, in some cases, blu-rays). Every one of the DVDs from this series that I have purchased (e.g.—this movie,
Fallen Angel (1945)
,
Boomerang! (1947)
,
Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950)
, etc.) has featured a VERY high average bit-rate, along with an EXCELLENT picture (for a DVD) and, at a minimum, good to better-than-good sound.
See the other reviews for more detail and/or other opinions regarding the plot of the movie.
VIDEO: 1.33:1 • B&W • 480p • MPEG-2 (9.2 Mbps)
Within the confines of the DVD format, this film exhibits good, to — on frequent occasions — VERY good, picture quality; due, in part, I'm sure, to a MUCH higher than average bit-rate than is normally used for a 4:3 (1.33:1) B&W catalogue title. Also, Fox Home Video doesn't state on the box that this movie has been restored or remastered, but it surely looks like it — because, artifacts such as black specks or white dots are nearly non-existent; and, I saw very few hair-lines, nor do I recall seeing any dropped frames. In addition, sharpness and detail (for a DVD [and for a movie of this age]) are usually very good — with the textures and patterns of most hair-styles, clothing and furnishings being easily discernible (although, some scenes were a little soft). Lastly, contrast, gray scale and shadow-detail (again, for a DVD) are pretty good overall, and in some scenes, bordering on excellent (however, a limited number of scenes were a little "murky" and exhibited fairly sever black-crush [probably due to inferior source elements]). Overall, this DVD looks good enough that I am definitely NOT too disappointed about NOT having the blu-ray version (which wasn't available anyway, when I bought this DVD version in November of 2013).
AUDIO: Dolby Digital 2.0 (Dual-Mono, 192 Kbps)
Fox Home Video has apparently also done some clean-up work on the film's soundtrack, because there are no loud bumps nor objectionably high levels of hiss. Also, dialog is very clear and all voices are easily understood. However, dynamic range is very limited, and there is not much bottom-end nor any top-end to speak of (which makes the musical score and the Foley work all sound a little 'thin', and somewhat less than realistic). Otherwise, considering the age of the source elements and the fact that this is a monophonic, dialog-driven movie from the early 1940s, its audio presentation has more than acceptable sound quality.
EXTRAS: Commentary by film historian Eddie Muller
"Daddy" Deleted Scene
"Hot Spot" opening title treatment and poster gallery
Poster Gallery
Production Still Gallery
Unit Photography Gallery
Theatrical Trailer
None of the extras were reviewed.
Frequently bought together
- +
- +
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Customer reviews
I Wake Up Screaming is a Top-Notch Noir Thriller!
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2006
I Wake Up Screaming (1941) is an excellent, atmospheric, pre - WWII Film Noir classic with Betty Grable, Victor Mature, Carole Landis, Laird Cregar and Elisha Cook, Jr. This under-rated film is a must for lover's of the genre. The cast is excellent, including Betty Grable who is best known for her Fox musicals. Laird Cregar is memorable in one of his best rolls of his short career, giving a complex and disturbing performance. The ending is a real chiller and you will be kept guessing as to who the murderer is. Check it out. You won't be disappointed. I rate this film up there with my other Film Noir favorites: Laura, Gilda, Double Indemnity, Out Of The Past, Woman In The Window and Murder My Sweet...footnote: The original title was Hot Spot, but Zanuck had it changed because as the film was to be released, USA entered WWII and he feared audiences might think it was a war movie. Fox re-made this film in 1953 as Vicki with Jeanne Crain and Jean Peters in the lead roles. However, Richard Boone's performance does not have the complexity and depth that Cregar brings to the role.
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2006
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
Big Bill
Outstanding entry in the Fox Film Noir lineup
Reviewed in Canada on August 12, 2013
