Available On DVD?
This looks like a real gem. Is or was it out on DVD?
share[deleted]
Got it. The commentary track by Jim Ellroy and Eddie Muller is a riot!
shareJust got it two days ago.
share
MovieChat Forums > Crime Wave (1954) Discussion > Available On DVD?
This looks like a real gem. Is or was it out on DVD?DVD-release by Warner expected July 2007.
Source: http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/film-noir.htm share
I hope to get it soon
I Worship The Goddess Amber Tamblyn
share
I watched the commentary version last night. It was part of the boxed set, a very good quality print. The commentators were a stitch; one made slobbering dog noises every time the main actress appeared and when a really noir-lit scene appeared.
"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne
I've got to agree that the commentary feature for this DVD is one of the better ones I've experienced. I tend to lose interest in such things after about 15 minutes, usually because whoever is doing them is obviously bored, or, as is often the case with young directors, constantly complaining about what they wanted to shoot but couldn't because of budget restrictions.
Instead with "Crime Wave" you get too big fans of film noir and hardboiled mystery novels who know what they're talking about in regards to this era, this director, these actors, and even the locations around L.A. where this was filmed. Little details like how a particular scene was lit, or the fact there are almost no sets used but rather the filmmakers scouted the city for sites that would be perfect for the story they wanted to tell. If you enjoy enthusiastic commentary by people who know what they're talking about, sit through this again after you've watched it. Its as good as a film class and really enjoyable.
It is good to hear from someone who feels the same way about the commentary. The other commentaries I do not like are when the professor just speaks - and not about the action on screen. Or, there are two commentator and one interviews the other.
Another really good commentary of a noir is Narrow Margin by William Friedkin. He even tells how to photograph certain scenes.
"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne
I guess I'm the only one who found James Ellroy to be an insufferable douchebag during the commentary. "The White Knight of the Far Right?" Cute, he's been using that rhyming "I am the Devil Dog" schtick for decades now. Slobbering panting noises? Funny the first time. The 27th time? Not so much. Plugging his books, *beep* on Curtis Hanson and the film L.A. Confidential, but plugging the upcoming film version of The Black Dahlia and off-handedly using his mother's murder as a hook? I found him to be really annoying.
He's clearly knowledgeable and passionate, but his commentary seemed more about him and his books than it did the film he was talking about. I grew disinterested after a half hour and turned it off.
The film (which I watched first) is freakin' awesome, however. Highly recommended.
Yes, the slobbering did become tedious although he made the dog noises in reaction to cinematography I have long enjoyed. It was somewhat validating. You seem to have a longer exposure to James Ellroy. I didn't know about "that rhyming "I am the Devil Dog" schtick" at all.
The film was indeed "freaking awesome"! I loved it, too!
"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne
Yeah, I read my first James Ellroy novel almost 17 years ago, in high school. I dig some of what he does, but his whole "schtick" got really boring after awhile ... at least for me.
If you don't take him too seriously, I guess he can be amusing:
Here's a quote from a talk he recently gave: "Good evening peepers, prowlers, pederasts, panty-sniffers, punks and pimps. I'm James Ellroy, the demon dog, the foul owl with the death growl, the white knight of the far right, and the slick trick with the donkey dick. I'm the author of 16 books, masterpieces all; they precede all my future masterpieces."
http://theeveningclass.blogspot.com/2008/01/noir-city-6james-ellroy-in tro-to-dalton.html
Oh!
"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne
This movie was very good, but so far I've enjoyed Act of Violence a little bit more from this set. I haven't watched the rest yet, though. To your point, Ellroy can be annoying, for sure, but I liked him on the extra disc that came with the Warner Bros. Film Noir Volume 3 collection. He comes off a tad less pompous.
NJprogfan
I only ever watch this film with the commentary, I know it almost better than I know the actual film. Ellroy's a real character, but none of his 'schtick' really bothers me, probably because he's my favorite writer. You really can't take too much of what he says too seriously, as he tends to fluctuate depending on who's footing the bill.
shareThe commentators are Eddie Mueller and James Ellroy.
One error is when one says "Red Car!", but it actually is a yellow LA Transit Lines car nouthbound on the 8 line. A few PCC Red Cars are shown on Brand Blvd earlier in the movie.
At the end they are about to take a yellow trackless trolley which is behinf a yellow streetcar.
They comment about "rare" rain in LA which occurs at the end of the movie, but they failed to note the Christmas decorations up on Brand Blvd. There's nothing rare about rain in LA in December!