Kansas City Confidential Blu-ray Review
Score: 46
from 2 reviewers
Review Date:
Impressive and potent noir with strong performances and clever twists; The Film Detective's Blu-ray is a significant upgrade, despite lack of supplements.
Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 57
The 1080p, AVC-encoded Blu-ray transfer from The Film Detective delivers impressive clarity and contrast, with robust black levels, excellent gray-scale variance, and natural grain enhancing the texture. Despite some nicks and marks, the film boasts striking detail and consistent visual quality, closely approximating good theatrical projection.
Audio: 57
The Kansas City Confidential Blu-ray's lossless audio in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono delivers clear dialogue and vibrant dynamics, minimizing age-related pops and crackles. The expertly balanced track enhances Paul Sawtell's score and provides crisp, distinct sound effects like gunfire and engines.
Extra: 0
The Blu-ray of 'Kansas City Confidential' disappoints with no extras, lacking even a trailer or restoration demo previously offered by Film Chest's version.
Movie: 61
This new Blu-ray of 'Kansas City Confidential,' restored by The Film Detective, offers superior image and sound, presenting Phil Karlson’s efficient and stylistically influential crime drama with all its taut storytelling and engaging performances, including John Payne's gripping portrayal of a wrongfully accused ex-con.
Video: 57
The Blu-ray presentation of "Kansas City Confidential" benefits significantly from The Film Detective's meticulous restoration efforts. Utilizing a 1080p, AVC-encoded transfer derived from a scanned 35mm film print, this version showcases a naturally grained, film-like appearance that stands in stark contrast to previous releases. The lack of noise reduction or de-graining software preserves the original texture, allowing for an increased level of detail, particularly noticeable in clothing textures and facial contours, including beard stubble. Black levels and gray scale variance are consistently impressive, delivering a robust visual experience that echoes good theatrical projection.
The clarity and contrast in this restoration are commendable, with tight close-ups revealing striking details such as beads of sweat and fine stubble, bolstering the film's noir aesthetics. Shadow delineation adds depth and dimension, enhancing the overall impact of this classic crime tale. Despite the occasional presence of nicks and marks due to the source limitations, the transfer remains mostly free from noise, crush, or other digital artifacts, indicative of a careful compression job on the BD-25 with an average bitrate of 28.60 Mbps.
While the absence of cleaner source materials means some frames still exhibit minor damage, this Blu-ray release stands out for its faithful reproduction of the film's visual texture, accommodating for the limitations of available elements. Noir enthusiasts will undoubtedly appreciate the nuanced and rich visual presentation that this restoration offers, making it a compelling addition to any collection.
Audio: 57
The audio presentation of "Kansas City Confidential" on the new Blu-ray is significantly improved from its predecessor, featuring a meticulously restored DST-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono track. The restoration team has ensured that the original mono soundtrack, sourced from the 35mm print's optical track, is encoded losslessly with identical left and right channels. Great care has been taken to remove any pops, clicks, and other distortions frequently found in vintage releases, resulting in clear dialogue and an appropriate dynamic range. Notably, Paul Sawtell's evocative score punctuates the action sequences while ensuring no audio overload, contributing significantly to the film's atmosphere.
Despite some minor age-related pops and crackles, the DTS-HD MA 2.0 mono track stands out with its clear and well-modulated sound. Its wide dynamic scale ensures minimal distortion while maintaining crisp sonic accents for elements such as gunfire and engine revs. The track's fidelity heightens the impact of the ominous music score and maintains clear prioritization of dialogue, making it easy to follow. Enhanced low-end tones contribute to the track's balanced presentation, providing a robust and immersive audio experience that complements the film's intense narrative and period-authentic aesthetics.
Extras:
The Blu-ray extras of "Kansas City Confidential" are notably absent, providing no additional content such as trailers or restoration demonstrations. Unlike some editions that included at least minimal supplements like a trailer and a restoration demo, this particular release offers a more streamlined experience, focusing solely on the film itself. This lack of extras might disappoint fans who appreciate behind-the-scenes insights or historical context to enrich their viewing experience. However, for those primarily interested in the core film, the absence of extras might be a minor concern.
Extras included in this disc:
None: The disc does not include any supplementary materials.
Movie: 61
Kansas City Confidential is a definitive film noir, directed by Phil Karlson, whose expertise in crime dramas has had lasting influence. The film has inspired notable works such as Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs and The Dark Knight. Released in 1952, this low-budget crime drama has since entered the public domain, limiting the quality of available transfers until the recent release by The Film Detective, which offers an improved restoration. The new Blu-ray significantly enhances the visual and audio experience, marking it as the best presentation of this Fifties gem.
The film opens with an intricate armored car heist orchestrated by Tim Foster (Preston Foster), who recruits a trio of masked criminals: Lee Van Cleef, Jack Elam, and Neville Brand. Their identities concealed, the plan is meticulous but quickly unravels when ex-con Joe Rolfe (John Payne) is falsely accused due to his delivery truck resembling the heist vehicle. As Rolfe embarks on a mission to clear his name, the film shifts from Kansas City to Mexico, engaging viewers in a complex game of mistaken identities, shifting loyalties, and hidden motives. Payne’s portrayal of Rolfe evolves from a beleaguered ex-con to a determined hero, creating a compelling character arc.
Karlson’s direction presents a lean and efficient narrative, with crisp dialogue and unobtrusive yet elegant visual style. His use of close-ups during intense scenes adds to the film's gritty realism. Though Kansas City Confidential lacks certain classic noir elements like a femme fatale, its tough atmosphere and tightly constructed plot provide an engaging watch. The understated yet powerful performances of Payne and Foster add depth to what could have been stereotypical roles, underscoring the film's merit as a noteworthy second-tier noir that remains relevant and influential. For genre enthusiasts, this Blu-ray offers an opportunity to rediscover a rough diamond in noir history.
Total: 46
"Kansas City Confidential" is a meticulous and compelling example of film noir that provokes curiosity about its relatively obscure status. The movie narrates a sophisticated bank robbery unraveling into chaos, filled with twists that sustain high engagement. The film's gripping narrative is propelled by skillful performances from John Payne and Preston Foster, complemented by a raw, no-nonsense direction style rooted firmly in character and plot over aesthetic.
The Film Detective's Blu-ray release is a noteworthy improvement from previous versions. While devoid of supplementary content, the presentation excels in both video and audio quality. The upgrades elevate the film's visual and auditory elements, making this low-budget noir gem shine brighter. Despite the absence of additional features, the technical enhancements alone contribute significantly to the overall cinematic experience.
In conclusion, "Kansas City Confidential" is one of those impressive small pictures that people discover and wonder, 'Why isn't this better known?' Some films are best known through their imitations, and this is one of them. The Film Detective's Blu-ray represents a significant upgrade. Highly recommended.
Blu-ray.com review by Michael ReubenRead review here
Video: 80
The difference is immediately obvious both in the new disc's naturally grained, more film-like appearance and in an increased level of detail that is readily observable in the textures of clothing and...
Audio: 80
The soundtrack was taken from the 35mm print's optical track, and it has received the same care as the image, with removal of any pops, clicks and other distortion commonly found on decades-old release...
Extras: 0
...
Movie: 70
A former war hero who has struggled to adjust to civilian life, Rolfe unexpectedly finds himself back in the familiar position of battling an enemy, and the experience transforms him from the sad-sack...
Total: 80
Kansas City Confidential is one of those impressive small pictures that people discover and wonder, "Why isn't this better known?"...
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 60
Grain is evident, enhancing the texture of this tough crime tale, but it remains well integrated and consistent throughout....
Audio: 60
Low-end tones are especially weighty, heightening the presence of this nicely balanced track....
Extras: 0
...
Movie: 60
A series of war movies, westerns, and swashbucklers followed, but three years later, Payne returned to the nefarious world of noir to star in 'Kansas City Confidential,' a low-budget crime drama about...
Total: 40
The chronicle of a "perfect" bank robbery that goes off the rails features well-crafted performances by John Payne and Preston Foster and realistic, no-frills direction that keeps us focused on the characters...
Director: Phil Karlson
Actors: John Payne, Coleen Gray, Preston Foster
PlotA criminal mastermind, disguised as a police officer, orchestrates a meticulously planned robbery, using a group of ex-convicts to carry it out. Each of the criminals, recruited under anonymous circumstances, is unaware of one another's identities, and all are masked to prevent recognition. Post-robbery, the entire gang manages to escape, but a series of events causes an innocent delivery man, Joe Rolfe, to be wrongfully accused and apprehended by the police. After enduring intense scrutiny and interrogation, he is eventually released. Motivated by a strong desire for retribution and justice, Joe begins his own investigation to uncover the true criminals responsible for the heist.
His quest for answers leads him through a trail of deception and danger, where he must navigate a labyrinth of clues to track down the masked men. Joe's determination intensifies as he delves deeper into the underworld, exposing himself to great risks while trying to not only clear his name but also turn the tables on those who framed him. As the stakes get higher, alliances shift, and the real perpetrators loom closer on his radar.
Writers: George Bruce, Harry Essex, Harold Greene
Release Date: 11 Nov 1952
Runtime: 99 min
Rating: Approved
Country: United States
Language: English, Spanish