The Captive City Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "The Captive City" on Blu Ray boasts a generally strong image, presented in a 1.34:1 aspect ratio with an AVC encoded transfer. The film retains fine film grain, ensuring a filmic quality that captures significant textures from costuming and the nuanced expressions of the supporting cast. Period cinematography is adequately balanced, with decent delineation that preserves intricate frame details. Although the source exhibits mild scratches and speckling, it avoids extended damage, maintaining a relatively clean presentation for its age.

The black-and-white transfer, set at 1080p resolution, delivers notable depth and texture, with black levels and shadows often appearing deep and inky. However, certain daylight scenes display a deviation where contrast levels seem boosted, resulting in a paler greyscale and a flatter image that loses the depth typically observed. This discrepancy suggests the possibility of the print being assembled from multiple sources. Despite these inconsistencies, the overall image quality remains impressive, considering the film's age and condition, and should satisfy both new viewers and long-time fans.

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix for "The Captive City" is a significant letdown, marred by noticeable audio imperfections. The track predominantly struggles with persistent fuzziness and fluctuating levels, which cloud the overall listening experience. Dialogue is discernible but lacks the crisp definition that would render the drama more engaging. The music, while functional, adopts a wall of sound position that fails to invigorate the scenes. Moreover, the presence of hiss throughout the feature impacts the clarity, making it evident that more extensive remastering efforts might have mitigated these issues.

Furthermore, the English DTS-HD MA 2.0 audio track exudes a consistent tinny quality that diminishes its dynamism. Dialogue exchanges, although clean, sometimes project an unsettling, looped-in-post quality, akin to characters speaking into a tin can. This results in a flat auditory experience where even Jerome Moross's score and ancillary sound effects fall short of authenticity. Notably, while the track remains free from pops, breaks, or drop-offs, the near-constant hiss is an ever-present detractor. For a movie that hasn't undergone significant restoration, these flaws are apparent and somewhat expected, yet their pervasive presence underscores how targeted remastering could substantially elevate the audio presentation.

The Blu-ray release of "The Captive City" provides a commendable selection of extras that enhance the viewing experience. The included featurettes and trailers are presented in high definition, adding significant value for enthusiasts seeking in-depth insights into the film’s context and production. Notably, the theatrical trailer and additional trailers from related films offer historical perspective and further viewing recommendations for fans of classic cinema.

Extras included in this disc:

• Theatrical Trailer: Original promotional trailer for "The Captive City."
• Run Silent, Run Deep Trailer: Promotional trailer for the related classic film.
• I Want to Live Trailer: Promotional trailer providing additional context and viewing suggestions.

1952's "The Captive City" is a film noir that not only reflects its turbulent production era but also attempts to engage with the contemporary issue of organized crime, inspired by Senator Estes Kefauver's investigations. Directed by Robert Wise, the film scrupulously balances the line between crafting a social message and delivering a compelling thriller. John Forsythe excels as Jim Austin, a journalist uncovering the pervasive criminal underworld in his seemingly serene, middle-American town. Despite Forsythe's determined portrayal, the narrative often succumbs to a dialogue-heavy pace that struggles to maintain the initial tension and allure. The film is peppered with sporadic bursts of violence and moments of genuine panic, but unfortunately, it frequently lapses into extended investigative scenes that lack the urgency and dynamism typical of the genre.

While "The Captive City" was evidently a product of Hollywood's periodic trend of tackling social issues, it is plagued by its heavy-handed messaging and one-dimensional characters. Jim Austin, though well-acted by Forsythe, is depicted more as an emblematic crusader against corruption rather than a multi-faceted individual, which can detract from viewer engagement. His adversary, Murray Sirak, falls short of being a truly menacing villain, lacking the menace necessary to elevate the stakes. The subplot involving organized crime's infiltration of local government adds layers but fails to compensate for the film's overall melodramatic tone.

Visually, the film is noteworthy, skillfully shot by Lee Garmes whose cinematography brings striking contrasts and shadows that befit the noir aesthetic. However, despite its technical strengths and commendable direction by Robert Wise—who would go on to direct "The Sound of Music"—the film feels somewhat outdated and overly moralistic by contemporary standards. Nevertheless, it offers insightful glimpses into 1950s cinematic approaches to crime narratives, making it a film worth examining for its historical and stylistic significance.

"The Captive City" on Blu-ray is a unique cinematic piece from the 1950s that attempts to blend a significant societal message with the thrilling elements of crime drama. Despite its ambition, the film sometimes loses its grip on entertainment, leaning heavily into its didactic tones. John Forsythe delivers a noteworthy performance in his debut role, injecting some much-needed energy and presence into an otherwise talk-heavy narrative. The plot revolves around the insidious spread of organized crime and features an appearance by Senator Kefauver, strengthening its intention of raising awareness and motivation among viewers.

Kino Lorber's Blu-ray release offers a commendably sharp image transfer, preserving the film's visual integrity with precision. However, the audio track does not receive the same level of care, showing room for improvement in terms of clarity and balance. Additional features on the disc are minimal, limited to a collection of trailers, which might leave some fans desiring more in-depth content. Despite these limitations, existing fans of the movie will find the Blu-ray presentation satisfactory, while new viewers might consider renting before committing to a purchase.

In conclusion, "The Captive City" stands as a mild but engaging thriller with historical and political undertones. While it does not excel as a gripping call to arms against organized crime, it succeeds in providing a glimpse into the era's cinematic efforts to grapple with social issues. Its release on Blu-ray ensures that the film's quality is preserved and accessible, even if it could benefit from further enhancement on the audio front. For enthusiasts of classic crime dramas and historical narratives, this film holds enough merit to warrant attention, provided they manage their expectations accordingly.