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20th Century Fox presentsThe House on 92nd Street
(1945)
"We know all about you, Roper. We've traced you back to the day you were born. We even know the approximate hour that you're scheduled to die."- George Briggs (Lloyd Nolan)
Stars: William Eythe, Lloyd Nolan, Signe Hasso
Other Stars: Gene Lockhart, Leo G. Carroll, Lydia St. Clair, William Post
Director: Henry Hathaway
MPAA Rating: Not Rated for violence, gun play
Run Time: 01:27:45
Release Date: 2005-09-06
Genre: film noir
Style Grade |
Substance Grade | Image Transfer Grade | Audio Transfer Grade |
Extras Grade |
---|---|---|---|---|
B- | B- | B | B+ | B+ |
DVD Review
Not your stereotypical noir, The House on 92nd Street instead stands as one of the earliest examples of documentary-styled noir. Based on actual events, the film is more interested in following the FBI investigation, and eventual trapping, of a nest of Nazi agents shortly before and during World War II, rather than any noirish look at haunted private eyes or criminals.Like its successor The Street With No Name, the movie is an ode to the FBI, lovingly detailing the Bureau's machinery and technology in capturing those who would seek to sabotage the USA. That attitude results in an unambiguous tone, in which no one has conflicting motivations or emotions, everything is literally black and white, cut and dried. It leaves us with a movie that really has no conflict or suspense, dragging us along by the throat to the bitter end.
In a more straightforward noir, our main character would be William Dietrich (William Eythe), a recent college graduate, all around success story, and, being of German descent, someone whom the Nazis would love to recruit. But after the Nazis visit him, Dietrich immediately reports in to the FBI, who, like the Nazis, see him as someone they can use, but this time for the cause of good. Dietrich agrees to serve as a double agent, undergoing spy training in Germany, after which he'll be a payoff man for a group of spies Stateside. Except of course that Dietrich will be feeding everything he gets to FBI agent Briggs (Lloyd Nolan, who would reprise his role in Street With No Name), who is heading the operation. The Nazis want the most precious secret of American defense efforts: the atomic bomb.
Director Henry Hathaway blends the dramatic scenes with documentary-styled scenes of the FBI doing what they do best, which gives the picture a bit of a split personality. It would have been far more interesting to focus on Dietrich and what made him tick, along with some of the Nazi ring that he works with (especially with great character actors playing them), but the script keeps everyone at arm's length, running them through the motions. The script was based on two actual FBI cases, and the film proudly mentions that actual FBI personnel play the real FBI folks, aside from the main roles. We also get to see the FBI's immense fingerprinting records room, FBI scientists working on new spy gear, and so on. The real-life locations from the original cases were also used where possible.
This all must have been quite unique for audiences in 1945, unused to seeing such events presented in a factual manner onscreen, but it comes across as rather old hat nowadays. This is not to say it isn't interesting viewing, especially from a historical standpoint, but it's not the most riveting of pictures. Arguably, it isn't even noir, but that's for the individual viewer to judge.
Rating for Style: B-
Rating for Substance: B-
Image Transfer
One | |
---|---|
Aspect Ratio | 1.33:1 - Full Frame |
Original Aspect Ratio | yes |
Anamorphic | no |
Image Transfer Review: For most part, this looks pretty good. On occasion there are fluctuating black levels, and the footage of actual FBI surveillance looks fairly bad, with blurriness and damage apparent, but that isn't to be held against the film overall. Still, this is a fairly nice image.
Image Transfer Grade: B
Audio Transfer
Language | Remote Access | |
---|---|---|
Mono | English, Spanish | yes |
DS 2.0 | English | yes |
Audio Transfer Review: The English mono track sounds just fine, with little hiss or distortion present. An English 2.0 stereo track is included as well as a Spanish mono track.
Audio Transfer Grade: B+
Disc Extras
Static menu with musicScene Access with 20 cues and remote access
Subtitles/Captions in English, Spanish with remote access
4 Other Trailer(s) featuring Somewhere in the Night, Street With No Name, Where the Sidewalk Ends, No Way Out
1 Feature/Episode commentary by Noir expert and writer Eddie Muller
Packaging: Amaray
Picture Disc
1 Disc
1-Sided disc(s)
Layers: dual
Extra Extras:
- Reproduction of the film's press book
One note on the subtitles: despite information on the back of the box, the only English subtitles I could view while watching the film are closed captions. Spanish subtitles are provided also.
Extras Grade: B+
Final Comments
This documentary-styled espionage film still holds some interest due to its place within noir timeline, but as a dramatic piece, it is somewhat lacking. It's entertaining enough, but had the potential to be far more than what it is. The DVD adds a good commentary to a generally good-looking transfer.Jeff Wilson 2005-09-07