Swamp Water
Starring: Dana Andrews, Walter Brennan, Anne Baxter, Walter Huston, John Carradine, Ward Bond
Directed By: Jean Renoir
Composed By: David Buttolph

What they say: Pantheon director Jean Renoir’s first American film, an adaptation by Dudley Nichols (Stagecoach, The Informer) of Vereen Bell’s best-selling novel set against the mysterious backdrop of Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp, weaves the tale of a young man (Dana Andrews) who ventures into the swamp’s taboo territory. There he forms a tenuous partnership with a half-wild fugitive (Walter Brennan), the victim of a miscarriage of justice. Also starring Walter Huston and Anne Baxter, and featuring a brooding score by David Buttolph, available on this Twilight Time release as an isolated track.
Enjoy the extensive Julie Kirgo liner notes and film art packaged with the Blu-ray disc.

What I say: Twilight Time has become quite adept at seeking out these moody atmospheric offering. Here we have French director Jean Renoirs first American film. Being as Renoir was French it seems odd that he so adeptly made a film about the Okefenokee Swamp. The central plot moves along at a good pace and there are a lot of subplots to keep things moving as well. All these divergent plots come together at the end to make a truly satisfying classic. I had never seen this film before, and I don’t see how I missed it as it is wonderful.

The performances are fantastic and Renoirs moody direction is point on for this story. I enjoyed this film a great deal and I imagine I will be revisiting it soon.

As per the usual with Twilight Time releases, the transfer is stunning. I love black and white films in high def as they look so crisp. And with a atmospheric film like this that attention to detail really stands out.

The sound is well balanced and the wonderful score is available on an isolated track.

Film: 8/10
Blu-Ray: 9/10

Pal Joey
Starring: Frank Sinatra, Kim Novak, Rita Hayworth
Directed By: George Sidney
Composed By: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rogers

What they say: Frank Sinatra stars as John O’Hara’s caddish crooner in this 1957 film version of the O’Hara/Rodgers and Hart musical, Pal Joey. A fresh—very fresh—arrival on the San Francisco nightclub scene, the amoral and ambitious Joey soon finds himself entangled with two “mice”: the rapacious stripper-turned-society dame Vera (Rita Hayworth) and the good-girl chorine Linda (Kim Novak). Handsomely directed by George Sidney, the film features a double handful of Rodgers and Hart’s greatest tunes, including “Zip,” “My Funny Valentine,” “The Lady Is a Tramp,” and “I Could Write a Book.”
Enjoy the extensive Julie Kirgo liner notes and film art packaged with the Blu-ray disc.

What I say: I’ve never been much of a Sinatra fan but I sure am a sucker for Kim Novak and Rita Hayworth. But I have to say Frank Sinatra is great in this film. He really carried off the whole lovable rogue persona to the max. And of course the lovely Kim Novak and Rita Hayworth turned in their usual fine performances as two opposite women who catch Joeys attention.

The musical numbers are quite good and are well performed. They feel a little more natural than in most musicals, as Joey is a night club singer himself. After seeing this I think I might have been too hard on Frank and might have to give some more of his films a look, I know I certainly enjoyed this one.

The picture quality is magnificent. Everything is crisp and clear with lots of nice detail. As usual Twilight Time really delivers here. The sound, especially the music, is truly a grand experience. This is truly a great package. Extras include an isolated score, the trailer, and a featurette on Kim Novak.

Film: 8/10
Blu-Ray: 10/10

Each Twilight Time release is limited to 3000 copies then they are gone! They are also exclusively offered by screenarchives.com. You can order Swamp Water and Pal Joey now!