Back in October 2017 Warner Archive Collection released a series of Noir double features to cash in on the growing interest in Film Noir. These titles were taken from the RKO, MGM, United Artists and Warner Brothers back catalogues all of which WAC now controls. Most had originally appeared back in 2007. These re-issues, though on DVD-R, have the advantage of being subtitled so that you can catch every bit of choice (or not so choice) dialogue. The subtitles also help you to more easily follow the sometimes convoluted plots which are a staple of this genre. Of the 8 titles (on 4 discs) that were issued as part of this series, the one with TENSION and WHERE DANGER LIVES is the top pick
TENSION is an MGM release from 1950 and stars their resident B movie femme fatale, Audrey Totter. Unlike her turn in 1947’s LADY IN THE LAKE where she starts out bad winds up good, in TENSION she has no redeeming qualties whatsoever. She plays the bored wife of a mild mannered pharmacist (well played by Richard Basehart) who constantly fools around and finally leaves him for another man. The husband plans to get his revenge by assuming a different identity but then can’t go through with it. But when his wife returns and the man winds up dead, he is accused of the murder. The story is told by the investigating officer (Barry Sullivan) whose crime solving methods are rather unorthodox.
WHERE DANGER LIVES is a 1949 RKO release that gives Robert Mitchum the opportunity to play against type. Instead of his usual hard boiled Noir tough guy, he gets to play a kind but gullible young doctor who falls for one of his patients forsaking his nurse sweetheart in the process. Raven haired beauty Faith Domergue is great to look at but she’s a pathological liar who has many secrets including an older husband (Claude Rains who’s wonderful) who tries to warn Mitchum what he’s getting into but to no avail. Mitchum suffers a head injury and the couple try to escape to Mexico but Domergue’s past catches up with her and it all comes to a sudden end at the Mexican border.
Both movies look and sound great with the aforementioned subtitles making this disc an improvement over the 2007 release. The fact that it is cheaper doesn’t hurt either. The other 6 movies in this series are ILLEGAL (with Edward G. Robonson) / THE BIG STEAL (also with Mitchum and directed by Don Siegel), ACT OF VIOLENCE (with Van Heflin and Robert Ryan and directed by Fred Zinneman) / MYSTERY STREET, and CRIME WAVE / DECOY (which is a poverty row Noir with sci-fi elements!). If you’re a fan of Noir then all of these movies will be worth your while but for me personally, if you can afford only one disc then WHERE DANGER LIVES / TENSION is the disc to get.
The Capsule Critic 