Film Discoveries - January 2018

Hello everyone!  This update will cover my top four first time watches for the month of January 2018.  This month's discoveries are a bit uncharacteristic for me, as at least one new film typically breaks into the list.  Don't hold that against them, though; this batch is pretty great.  So, without further ado...

The Narrow Margin - 1952

If there's anything that impresses me about the The Narrow Margin, it's just how jam-packed it is.  The story of a police officer (Charles McGraw) escorting a witness to California by train so that she can testify against the Mob, it's got pathos, suspense, colorful characters, and a couple plot twists that keep everything interesting.  The fact that all of this fits inside a nice 71 minute package is really remarkable and the movie is now among my favorite films noir.

My Letterboxd review:

https://letterboxd.com/carcinogent/film/the-narrow-margin/

Availability

The Narrow Margin is currently available on DVD from the Warner Archive.

The Naked Prey - 1965

Perhaps the inclusion that would generate the most controversy (due in part to its portrayal of a white man on the run from African pursuers), The Naked Prey nevertheless spoke to me in a way I can't deny.  Its unrelenting, existential chase never really lets up and it's a major achievement that the film sustains that momentum (more or less) the length of its runtime.  As far as the more controversial aspects of the film, I actually thought it was uncharacteristically fair to the African tribes it portrays, who are never shown as being morally or intellectually inferior.

My Letterboxd review:

https://letterboxd.com/carcinogent/film/the-naked-prey/

Availability

The Naked Prey is currently available on DVD from the Criterion Collection and on Region B Blu-ray from Masters of Cinema.

Caged - 1950

Caged is a surprisingly dark prison film.  In it, a young woman, played by Eleanor Parker, is locked away for being an accessory to a robbery.  While inside, she meets a variety of well-sketched characters, both criminal and correctional, who populate the prison and fights to maintain her personality and beliefs in a system that seems designed to make the worst out of even the least-guilty inmates.  The film's depictions of corruption and abuse really struck me as they are very frank for a movie from 1950.

Note:  Caged was singled out on the Pure Cinema Podcast for Brian Saur and Elric Kane's discussion of prison films (http://thepinksmoke.com/purecinemapodcast.html), so you don't have to take my word that it's great!

My Letterboxd review:

https://letterboxd.com/carcinogent/film/caged/

Availability

Caged is currently available on DVD from Warner Brothers.

After the Thin Man - 1936

One of the few non-Marvel sequels to make my monthly list, After the Thin Man earns its spot by being a more perfectly-mixed version of The Thin Man's already successful formula.  It's got wit and charm and some good mystery.  It also gets bonus points for having an early Jimmy Stewart performance.  What's not to like?

My Letterboxd review:

https://letterboxd.com/carcinogent/film/after-the-thin-man/

Availability

After the Thin Man is currently available on DVD from Warner Brothers.  This DVD appears to be out of print.  It's still readily available as a digital purchase, though.