Dancer Lane Bellamy (Joan Crawford) tours with a carnival, but is deserted in Boldon City when they flee to avoid their debts. Deputy Fielding Carlisle (Zachary Scott) arrives and, secretly smitten with her, helps Lane find employment as a waitress. However, scheming Sheriff Titus Semple’s (Sydney Greenstreet) ambitious plans for Fielding to become a rep in the state legislature do not include his dating an itinerant woman, so he runs her out of town. Lane seeks revenge, but at what cost?
For thoughts on Flamingo Road, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
[youtube https://youtu.be/dxlcPGipsSw?t=1384]
Video Quality
Flamingo Road makes its Blu-Ray debut thanks to Warner Archive with a brand new 1080p master from a 2K scan of a recently manufactured preservation Fine Grain master Master Positive made from the Nitrate Camera Negative. This presentation is a knockout almost from beginning to end, but there are a couple of fleeting anomalies that can be traced back to the quality of the original source elements. The unavoidable issue that remains after this restoration are a few instances of dropped frames. The one or two moments spotted are such blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments that they are barely worth mentioning and may not even be caught by most audiences. Yet, it is a testament to the high esteem in which we hold Warner Archive as a label that even transfers with slight imperfections are still among the best in the business.
Outside of these very minor exceptions, this presentation is a beauty. This new transfer shows off a substantial amount of depth and enhanced detail within the various settings from smoky poker rooms to lavish nightclubs. There is a tremendous amount of detail present with nice textures on the clothing, whether you are looking at the more opulent attire or the more reserved suits. The black-and-white photography shot by Ted McCord sparkles in high definition with natural grain intact. Black levels are extremely deep with no trace of black crush or compression artifacts in sight. The contrast is extremely firm, and there is nary a hint of print damage to be found. Warner Archive has done some very strong work with this one.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a newly restored DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that handles this material flawlessly. The sharp dialogue and environmental noises are represented in perfect harmony with all competing elements. The sultry nature of the Max Steiner score sounds as lovely and stable as one could hope. Even with the strength of the music, nothing ever overshadows the dialogue or other important information. This track shows next to nothing in the way of discernible age related wear and tear. Warner Archive has provided a great audio experience for audiences. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film.
Special Features
- Curtain Razor: A seven-minute Looney Tunes short featuring Porky Pig holding auditions for talented performers. This amusing short is presented in gorgeous HD.
- Crawford at Warner: A 12-minute archival piece which takes a look at the career of Joan Crawford once she transitioned to Warner Bros., how she compared to other starlets at the studio, the film that turned the tide for her, the legacy she leaves behind and more.
- Radio Broadcast (Audio Only): A 24-minute version of this tale featuring the vocal talents of Joan Crawford is provided here. As always, this is such a fun addition to the overall package that provides a throwback experience.
- Breakdowns of 1949: A nearly 11-minute gag reel is provided from across a number of Warner Bros. productions. This is the type of supplement we live to see.
- Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
Flamingo Road is a stern melodrama which shines a spotlight on the nasty business of fighting for power. Sydney Greenstreet is appropriately loathsome as the sheriff at the center of this corrupt odyssey, but unsurprisingly Joan Crawford walks away with the film with a nimble performance that lives up to her talents. While most of the creative figures involved with this one have more respected classics under their belt, this is a title worthy of its own time in the sun. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray that presents a sterling A/V presentation and a nice array of supplemental features. If you are a Crawford fan, you are going to have a great time with this one. Recommended
Flamingo Road can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
