Foreign Intrigue Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Foreign Intrigue" offers an acceptable, though not pristine, visual experience. Utilizing an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, it delivers a filmic viewing experience with diligent grain management. The Eastmancolor process ensures that the hues, particularly in the coastal scenes featuring crystal blue waters and period-accurate costuming, are vivid and engaging. Skin tones are largely appropriate, albeit slightly heightened, while primary colors maintain their integrity. Sharpness, restricted by the period cinematography, is accompanied by an image that contains a satisfactory level of delineation and depth.

However, the source material has notably aged over the sixty years since "Foreign Intrigue" was first released. The Blu-ray transfer is marred by persistent nicks, scratches, and speckling, with occasional image jitter detracting from the viewing experience. Blacks are robust, yet the elevated contrast can sometimes render the image flat. Despite these imperfections, the film grain is nicely preserved without becoming overwhelming, even in darker scenes. Color reproduction is mostly acceptable, although some muted tones are evident. As this remains possibly the best iteration of the film available in decades, the trade-off between technical fidelity and historical authenticity is clear. Nonetheless, significant restoration work would be needed to elevate this transfer to higher standards.

The audio presentation of "Foreign Intrigue" on Blu-ray is encapsulated in a DTS-HD MA 2.0 mono track. While the track avoids severe age-related hiss and pops, certain imperfections are notable. Despite the dialogue being clear and easily distinguishable, the overall sound blend does lack definition, appearing somewhat muddied. Dubbing is prominent yet aids in maintaining character accents and dramatics intelligible. The separation of sound elements is moderate, and the soundtrack's range largely adheres to the midranges without exploring significant depth in lower or higher registers.

Scoring within the film is noticeably blunt and more of a homogeneous wall of sound rather than a sophisticated audio experience with distinct instrumentation. This lack of detail might be attributed to the track’s limited dynamics. Additionally, the film’s atmospheric sound elements perform best in outdoor scenes but remain minimalistic overall, potentially missing opportunities to enrich the aural environment. While not the most distinguished mix, it efficiently supports the film’s requirements without detracting from the viewing experience.

The Foreign Intrigue Blu-ray offers a well-curated selection of supplemental extras, providing both nostalgic and promotional value. Each included trailer is of high definition quality, enhancing the viewing experience with sharp visuals. The Foreign Intrigue trailer effectively captures the suspense and excitement of the film, while the classic westerns Man With The Gun and The Wonderful Country give a nod to Robert Mitchum's extensive filmography. For those who relish the golden era of cinema, these supplementary materials serve as an engaging trip down memory lane and offer insight into the era’s marketing style.

Extras included in this disc:

• A Theatrical Trailer: An original high-definition trailer for Foreign Intrigue.
• Man With The Gun Trailer: A high-definition preview of a classic western due for Blu-ray release.
• The Wonderful Country Trailer: Another Mitchum western in HD, slated for upcoming Blu-ray availability.
• Foreign Intrigue Trailer: Highlights the film’s thrilling and suspenseful elements in HD.

"Foreign Intrigue" (1957) is a cinematic endeavor that delves into espionage and mystery, albeit without fully captivating its audience. Led by Robert Mitchum, the film follows press agent Dave Bishop as he unravels the enigmatic life of his deceased millionaire employer, Victor Danemore. Mitchum’s portrayal is sturdy as always, though his character's development feels rushed due to the condensed run time. Director Sheldon Reynolds aims to transition the story from its television roots, but the narrative’s full potential is not realized on the big screen, leading to a mechanical progression of the plot.

Though rich in mysterious elements and featuring commendable performances by Genevieve Page and Ingrid Thulin, "Foreign Intrigue" suffers from pacing issues. The movie brims with rapid twists and revelations that, while fitting for a serialized television format, feel forced within the restrictive hour-and-forty-minute runtime. This hastiness undermines character arcs and erodes suspense, causing early plot developments to feel telegraphed rather than naturally unfolding, leaving viewers prematurely aware of major revelations.

"Foreign Intrigue" captures the essence of mid-century European intrigue with a noir-ish tint but fails to effectively retain the audience's investment. The storytelling mechanics feel clunky, more suitable for episodic structure than a tight, coherent film. Mitchum's character lacks interesting destinations despite his compelling presence, causing the plot to wander aimlessly. By piling on abrupt twists and thinly veiled secrets, the narrative loses cohesion and suspense, rendering it more predictable than thrilling. As much as "Foreign Intrigue" attempts to blend detective drama with international espionage, it ultimately feels like an overextended television episode packaged in an underwhelming cinematic form.

"Foreign Intrigue" showcases stunning cinematography, capturing the luxury of its international locations with an elegance that truly gives the film a grand, cinematic feel. However, the central mystery it presents falls short of engaging, lacking both severity and surprise. The noir elements are present but underutilized, leading to a viewing experience that doesn’t quite hit the suspenseful highs often anticipated from the genre. While die-hard fans of noir may find something to appreciate, the plot's deficiencies make it hard to maintain a grip on viewer attention.

Despite its weaknesses, the audio quality of the Blu-ray is commendable, though the visual quality shows signs of deterioration. The print utilized for this release appears to be in fairly rough condition, which detracts from the overall viewing experience. Enhancements that might have given the film new life are notably absent, as are any significant extras that could have provided context or augmented the film's appeal. As it stands, this Blu-ray doesn't offer enough to make it a recommended purchase, particularly for those unacquainted with the movie's background.

In conclusion, "Foreign Intrigue" is visually compelling with its lush settings but fails to deliver a strong narrative or thrilling suspense. The Blu-ray release, hindered by a lackluster print and minimal extras, makes it more suited for rental rather than purchase. Fans of Robert Mitchum or classic noirs might find it worth a look, but others may find the shortcomings too substantial to overlook.