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| Special Features: |
Filmed in B&W; Basic Interactive Menus; scene access; trailer; alternate ending; closed captioned.
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| Video Format: |
Widescreen (1.66:1)
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| Languages: |
English, French, and Spanish
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| Captions: |
Closed Captions, English, French, and Spanish available.
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| Casing: |
1-Disc Keep Case
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Film noir meets science fiction in this dark Mickey Spillane/Mike Hammer film adaptation.
Mike Hammer (played by Ralph Meeker) picks up and befriends a girl on the run (played by Cloris Leachman in her screen debut) only to fall prey to evil men pursuing the girl. This atmospheric detective story combines hip film noir with a touch of science fiction. Though made in 1955, it is still violent and sexy by today's standards.
In talking with Mr. DVD of Netflix.com, he and I both commented on the "Pulp Fiction" connection.
You get the film here with little else. The theatical trailer is standard and the alternate ending [SPOILER WARNING] is merely a shortening of the happier actual ending. There is no attempt to define "film noir" for us but, maybe, I expect too much from DVD.
Picture Quality: 9/10
The film is in black and white. Of course, I have seen the film on video which left much to be desired (fading and smearing). This version was clear and sharp.
Sound Quality: 9/10
English (Dolby Digital Mono) which played dull through my home theater unit.
The sound track is vintage and features music by Nat King Cole. I believe that the odd unnerving breathing sounds throughout the opening credits were intentional, after all, Leachman played a goofy girl on the run from an asylum.
Menu: 7/10
Not much here. Limited options leaves only simple menus to navigate.
Extra Features: 4/10
We get an alternate ending which is hardly an extra feature but may qualify as one.
The Final Word:
"Kiss Me Deadly" is a sexy, violent film containing one of the strangest turns (toward science fiction) of any film noir ever. The price is right for the film alone, but I would rent this one and wait for a release with more features.
Jonathan W. Hickman
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