Flicker Alley and The Film Noir Foundation's latest release focuses on two forgotten films from Monogram Pictures that were shot back to back in 1947. They feature the same director (John Bernhard), the same producer (Jack Wrather), the same cameraman (Henry Sharp) and the same leading man (Don Castle). Both clock in at 71 minutes and are Film Noir stripped down to its bare essentials. The two films were intended to be companion pieces and make an excellent double feature which is the best way to see them. The movies are THE GUILTY and HIGH TIDE and they should be viewed in that order. Also contributing to their ressurection are the UCLA Film & Television Archive and the British Film Institute.
THE GUILTY is truly an example of minimalist filmmaking. It was shot on just three sets with a minimum of exteriors. There are 3 principal characters along with just a couple of supporting roles. The movie was shot in less than 2 weeks on a budget of $150,000 and looks it but that is a plus not a minus. The source material is a short story by Noir specialist Cornell Woolrich. It concerns two army buddies who share a dingy apartment. They both love the same woman who has a twin sister. When the twin is murdered, one of the roommates (who also is the film's narrator) tries to figure it out. He does but with a neat little twist at the end. Former juvenile actress Bonita Granville plays the twins.
HIGH TIDE had a higher budget which allowed for more sets and more exteriors although many are rear projections. The movie is a showcase for Lee Tracy who portrays his archetypal newspaper character from the 1930s except he's now older and more hard edged. An unscrupulous editor takes out a life insurance policy and names a former reporter turned private investigator (Castle) as the beneficiary. After attempts on the editor's life are made, the P. I. tries to track down those responsible. Complicating matters are an old flame and a criminal kingpin. The film opens and closes with Tracy and Castle trapped in a wrecked car on the beach while the high tide is rolling in. Most of the movie is a flashback explaining how they got there.
Future Disneyland hotel owner and 1950s TV magnate Jack Wrather (he produced the hit shows THE LONE RANGER, SGT PRESTON OF THE YUKON, and LASSIE) financed both of these movies. THE GUILTY was meant to showcase his future wife Bonita Granville and his fellow Texan, Don Castle. Castle is very good as the lead in both films but is overshadowed by Tracy in HIGH TIDE as Tracy has the juicier part and better dialogue. Both pictures were adapted by Robert Presnell Sr. Who does a good job in tweaking the plots and keeping most of the original dialogue intact. HIGH TIDE is based on a story by Raoul Whitfield who wrote alongside Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler at BLACK MASK magazine.
Sincere thanks are due to the British Film Institute as they provided the prints used for these restorations. In fact both movies open with the British Board Of Censors' approval certificates. After finding them in their archives, the BFI turned the films over to the Film Noir Foundation who gave them to the UCLA Film & Television archive for restoration. After the restoration was complete, the FNF in conjunction with Flicker Alley prepared this Blu-Ray for commercial release. As we have come to expect from this partnership, we not only get the two movies but lots of supplements as well from documentaries on the creators to a 22 page booklet featuring book to movie comparisons. An outstanding release for Noir fans...For more reviews visit The Capsule Critic.
