Universal Film Noir R2

Great news for film noir fans in the UK coming with Universal's announcement to release eight noir classics, Out of the Past, The Killers, Glass Key, Crossfire, The Blue Dahlia (not to be confused with Brian De Palma's The Black Dahlia; the former is based on a Raymond Chandler novel), the Philip Marlowe mystery Murder My Sweet (aka Farewell My Lovely), The Big Steal and a repackaged version of Double Indemnity on the 12th of February. Because of the low price (£9,99), I assume that these will be barebones DVDs but with Universal's recent track record, we can at least expect solid transfers (and I do like the artwork which seems to be inspired by the cover of Sin City). Personally, I'm most intrigued by Murder My Sweet and Out of the Past and, as an aside, a bit disappointed if not surprised that Universal didn't take the opportunity to bolster their Double Indemnity reiusse by porting over the extras from the fabulous Region 1 Special Edition (R2 losing out again...).

Murder My Sweet and Out of the Past are available in Region 1 individually or as part of Warner's Film Noir Classic Collection Vol 1 reviewed here; The Killers gets its Region 2 debut (Criterion have issued it in Region 1 as a double bill with Don Siegel's 1964 remake), The Glass Key and The Blue Dahlia don't seem to have had a release anywhere in the world up to now so that makes them a first for Region 2 (!), The Big Steal (another Siegel noir) is currently only available on a French DVD (review here), the Graham Greene adaptation The Gun For Hire already has a R1 release.