Fallen Angel [ Blu-Ray, Reg.A/B/C Import - Spain ]

FORMAT: DVDUPC: 0-24543-22778-6RELEASED: 2006-03-07TITLE: Fallen Angel (1945) • NR • 1:37:11Alice Faye, Dana Andrews, Linda Darnell, Charles BickfordOtto Preminger (Director)After I finished watching this movie I couldn't tell if Otto Preminger (a director, who was well known for casting an unflattering light on American social conventions [i.e.—Anatomy of a Murder (1959)] and socially accepted mores [i.e.—The Moon Is Blue (1953)]) was mocking the "love conquers all" mind-set or celebrating its existence. Such ambiguity in a movie, I'm often told, is the hallmark of a director at the top of his (or her) game — the director provides a seemingly detached "view" into a situation, and let's YOU decide how YOU should feel about it.Yeah, right.In the real world, the only time that someone is ambiguous about a major issue is when they are either mentally deficient, or they are trying to con you — which, admittedly, may be what Preminger is trying to do here (namely: con us into thinking that love REALLY does conquer all). Anyway, don't let all this talk about love (and my cynical statements towards it) distract you from what is, otherwise (or, maybe, because of it), an EXCELLENT example of film noir! All of the best noir elements are here, namely: a seemingly bright guy — who is in WAY over his head; a woman of questionable morals — who gets the aforementioned "bright guy" into trouble; a relentless, sadistic cop — who will stop at nothing to "get" his man (or woman); and, lastly, a good murder mystery to stir the pot. Sit back and enjoy the show — this is a good one, boys and girls! 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, I Wake Up Screaming (1941), 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 (9.3 Mbps)Within the confines of the DVD format, this film exhibits VERY good, to — on frequent occasions — excellent, 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) are usually very good — with the textures and patterns of most hair-styles, clothing and furnishings being easily discernible. Lastly, contrast and gray scale (again, for a DVD) are VERY good overall, and in many scenes, even excellent. This DVD looks so good, in fact, that I am definitely NOT disappointed about NOT having the blu-ray version.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 mid-1940s, its audio presentation has more than acceptable sound quality.EXTRAS: Audio Commentary with Film Noir Historian Eddie Muller and Dana Andrews' daughter Susan AndrewsPublicity GalleryProduction Stills GalleryUnit Photography GalleryTheatrical TrailerFox Noir Trailers: The House on Telegraph Hill, No Way OutNone of the extras were reviewed.

Based on Marty Holland's novel of the same name, Fallen Angel reunites director Otto Preminger with some of his team that made 1944's Laura a success. In a debut script by Harry Kleiner, who would go on to write 1954's Carmen Jones, Fallen Angel focuses on the themes typical found in film noirs. Obsession, mystery, and the classic femme fatale are found in this visually pleasing movie.Eric Stanton is a drifter with a shady past who, low on cash, finds himself stuck in the small town of Walton on his way to San Francisco. While dining at the low-budget "Pop's Eats", Eric encounters the diner's waitress Stella, a cynical and hardboiled woman whose returned to her job after going missing for a few days. He is immediately charmed by Stella but her determination to find a man who will marry her and set up a good financial situation for them leaves Eric out of options. He cons his way to setting up a successful show for Professor Madley, a traveling fortune teller and spiritualist, but obsessed with Stella, decides to turn down a job opportunity with him.Determined to be with Stella, Eric charms and woos June Mills, the wealthy daughter of the town's late mayor. Aware that Eric is a drifter, June still falls in love with him despite his ulterior motives to steal her money in attempt to be with Stella. Meanwhile strange incidents occur in town involving Mark Judd, a former cop, who has his own interest in Stella and when she's found dead, Mark is determined to find her killer by any means especially when Eric becomes the prime suspect.Fresh off his success of Laura, Dana Andrews reteamed with Preminger and does well in his performance as drifter Eric. He has better chemistry with Linda Darnell than Alice Faye, but works well to connect with both actresses. Faye, a popular musical star, enjoyed the script and does well as sweet and kind Jill but fails to shine most likely due to Preminger cutting many of her scenes to prop up Darnell and led to Faye's film departure until 1962's State Fair.Charles Bickford and Linda Darnell are the ones who truly standout. Well known for his versatile supporting roles, Bickford plays the obsessive ex-cop Mark Judd well as he interrogates Eric and others with menace. Darnell, then a rising star, steals her scenes as the cynical and hardboiled femme fatale Stella. Her chemistry with Andrews is good and viewers will feel their two characters are an excellent match despite their shady pasts and behaviors. Both Darnell and Andrews enjoyed her performance with Andrews saying she was the best part of the film.While not the best of works for most of the cast and crew, Fallen Angel is an interesting film noir that offers good acting and direction. The film itself continues the themes of Preminger's previous works on crime, mystery, and obsession as well as presenting a character-driven narrative. Similar to Laura and Preminger's future works, viewers will enjoy the psychological aspects, theme of obsession, and the few twists and turns that come along the way. The structure of the story is lacking, something Andrews felt was not a good fit for him or Alice Faye, but Fallen Angel has some positives including excellent cinematography, good acting and direction, and a decently wrapped up ending.Recommended for devoted film noir fans!