NOTE: These DVDs are
Manufactured on Demand (MOD); to order, fans must visit The Warner Archive
Collection (www.WarnerArchive.com or www.wbshop.com)
THE
MASK OF DIMITRIOS (1944) Jean Negulesco began his remarkable run of
classic noirs by knocking it out of the park with this winning adaptation of a
novel by nightmaster Eric Ambler. Also making his debut is Zachary Taylor as
the titular criminal Dimitrios. But it's Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet,
here in the middle of their remarkable pairings (The Maltese Falcon, *Note: Available for pre-order, to
be released 5/7/2013 THE
FALL GUY (1947) Noir scribe supreme Cornell Woolrich's short story
"Cocaine" provides the basis for this crime thriller starring Leo
Penn and Robert Armstrong. Penn plays Tom Cochran, a traumatized WWII vet who
comes to after a night of one too many, with blood on his hands and fragmented
memories of a young blonde's murder. After skipping out of the drunk tank, the
now-fugitive Tom turns to his brother-in-law cop to find out if Tom's really a
liquored up ladykiller or doped up patsy who's been fitted for the frame. Also stars
noir mainstay Elisha Cook, Jr, and Teala Loring. Directed by Reginald Le Borg,
with Walter Mirisch producing. Newly Remastered A
DANGEROUS PROFESSION (1949) George Raft stars in this cracker of a crime
picture that takes place in the rarified world of bail bondsmen. Under the
narration of police detective Nick Ferrone (the great Jim Backus), the viewer
is introduced to ex-cop cum bail bond broker Vince Kane (Raft) and his partner
Joe Farley (Pat O'Brien in prime "Wise up, ya dope" mode). In short
order there's a cop killed, an ex-flame, a patsy, and Vince on the hook for 9
Gs. With his partner pressuring him to drop the case, Kane is under the gun to
unravel a net of graft, robbery and murder to order to get at the truth. Even
if it costs him a crack at the dame that got away (Ella Raines). Directed by
Ted Tetzlaff. Newly Remastered DUFFY
OF SAN QUENTIN (1954) Warner Bros. eschews traditional hagiographic
biopic tendencies to stay true to its ripped from the headlines social reform
roots for this powerful prison flick. Culled from the literary works of
real-life San Quentin Warden Quentin T. Duffy, the film moves the spotlight
from warden reformer to inmate Edward "Romeo" Harper, his sometimes
ally, sometimes enemy. As the inmate tries to adjust to life inside a changing
prison - including the arrival of a female nurse (Joanne Dru) - he begins to
get a handle on his demons. Just then, the prosecutor (George Macready)
responsible for his institutional hell gets sentenced to the same prison...
Also stars Maureen O'Sullivan as Mrs. Duffy. Directed by Walter Doniger. Newly
Remastered *Note: Available for pre-order, to
be released 5/7/2013. LOOPHOLE
(1954)
Allied Artists gets an "A" for this prime piece of "innocent
man" noir. Barry Sullivan plays a bank teller whose life gets up-ended
thanks to a daring robbery by a little man with a big plan. Noir pit-bull
Charles McGraw plays the insurance agent who Javerts the accused teller's every
Les Misérables step, nearly stealing the picture, while Sullivan's Mike
Donovan is busy trying to solve the crime. Dorothy Malone plays Mike's
stand-by-your-man spouse, character great Don Beddoe plays the man behind the
frame and Mary Beth Hughes is the deadly dame behind it all. Directed by Harold
D. Shuster. Newly Remastered FBI
CODE 98 (1963) A pre-cursor of sorts to The FBI (even co-starring future Erskine
agent William Reynolds), FBI Code 98 equally mixes domestic drama and police
procedural as a trio of top-flight aerospace computer magnates find themselves
sharing a flight with a bomb booby-trapped suitcase. While the feds move with
scientific precision through the clues, the trio of millionaire industrialists
sift through their lives, loves, infidelities and lies to try to discover which
of them may be responsible for the attempt. Taut and fast paced, while taking
time for a languid inspection of the lurid, FBI Code 98 plays as if Agent
Erskine were thrown into the world of Out of the Jungle WITH BOMBA BOMBA
THE JUNGLE BOY, VOLUME ONE (1949-51) Monogram pictures made an inspired choice when it
opted to adapt the Stratemeyer Syndicate's (Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys and Tom
Swift) series of books with Bomba the Jungle Boy and paired it up with Tarzan's
own now grown "Boy", Johnny Sheffield. Under the leadership of newbie
producer Walter Mirisch, the series skillfully blends stock photography,
imaginative scripts and teen romance to deliver A-list fun on a B-list budget
proving to be a smash hit for the studio. Fellow former child-star Peggy Ann
Garner provides for Bomba's jungle distraction in the inaugural installment,
while other guests of note to be found in the first six films in the series
include Allene Roberts, Donald Woods, Paul Guilfoyle, Sue England, Woody
Strode, and Donna Martell. Silent-to-TV-era journeyman Ford Beebe directs all
six. Set includes: Bomba, The Jungle
Boy (1949), Bomba on Panther Island (1949), The Lost Volcano (1950), Bomba and
the Hidden City (1950), The Lion Hunters (1951), Elephant Stampede (1951) These
films have been remastered from the best available 35mm film elements. Out of the Past WITH HANNA-BARBERA THE ROMAN HOLIDAYS, THE
COMPLETE SERIES (1972) Somewhere between the pre-hysterical Hanna
Barbera's Stone Age of The Flintstones and the fantastic future of The Jetsons
lie The Roman Holidays, tackling family life circa AD 63. Augustus
“Gus” Holiday (Dave Willock) is the man of the clan, lovely and
level-headed spouse Laurie (Shirley Mitchell) keeps things on an even keel
while teen-age trouble maker Happius (Stanley Livingston) and child prodigy
Precocia (Pamelyn Ferdin) threaten to break the Pax Familia. Housed at the
humble Venus de Milo Arms, the Holidays face constant threats from their aptly
named landlord Mr. Evictus (Dom DeLuise, in his toon debut) while Gus gets
equally harried by his boss, Mr. Tycoonius (Hal Smith) at the Forum
Construction Company. It’s a good thing he gets to come home to a
Roman’s best friend – his pet lion, Brutus (Daws Butler)! So hop aboard
your chariot – it’s time to pay a visit
to The Roman Holidays! 2-Disc, 13-Episode Collection
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