Orson Welles’ touches of cinematic brilliance make Journey Into Fear a stunning success. Joseph Cotten portrays am American gunnery engineer pursued by Gestapo agents. His adventures make him cross paths with an impressive array of characters portrayed by Dolores Del Rio, Ruth Warrick, Agnes Moorehead, Everett Sloane, Hans Conried, and Welles himself, who plays Colonel Haki, head of the Turkish Secret Police. The cinematography by Karl Struss in low—key and stylized, with a reviewer of the era pointing to its “Brilliant atmosphere, the nightmare of pursuit, and when the shock comes it leaps at the eye and ear”. Journey Into Fear is a thriller worthy of the cinematic master Orson Welles.

For thoughts on Journey Into Fear, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Warner Archive presents Journey Into Fear with an impressive 1080p transfer sourced from a new 4K restoration of the safety preservation master positives from the Library of Congress. It should be noted that this release contains the original 68-minute theatrical version of the film. While the Original Camera Negative may not be fully intact any longer, the presentation does not betray this fact visually outside of fleeting moments when shots are a bit softer.

The evocative black-and-white photography retains the ideal amount of natural film grain that resolves impeccably. There are no major signs of wear and tear or dirt specks. Compression seems to be in great shape with no artifacts spotted. Black levels are primarily deep with grand stability throughout, and the contrast holds firm with nothing appearing overly hot. The handful of settings from the hotel room to the ship provide texture and clarity throughout the narrative. Warner Archive has made this title look the best it possibly can.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a restored DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that holds up equally as well. Dialogue and background murmuring sleek out of the speakers with natural accuracy along with a moody score. Exchanges always come through clearly without being clipped by other elements. The restoration has corrected nearly all instances of damage to the track such as popping, hissing, and dropouts. This track ensures every distinct element distinguishes itself with worthwhile fidelity. The audio presentation is very good for a film of this vintage. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included in the feature film.

Special Features

Orson Welles Mercury Theater Radio Broadcasts: A trio of radio broadcasts are provided from the Mercury Theater featuring the vocal talents of Orson Welles.

- Dracula – 7/11/1938 (59:29)

- Treasure Island – 7/18/1938 (1:04:05)

- A Tale Of Two Cities – 7/25/1938 (59:26)

Final Thoughts

Journey Into Fear is a bit slapdash in its execution, but it stands as an entertaining noir-tinged thriller that works more than it doesn’t. The film moves at a breakneck pace which heightens and echoes the paranoia felt by the Joseph Cotten character, yet it also leaves you feeling off-balance and uncertain about certain narrative developments. The film is imperfect, but it serves as an engaging bit of storytelling. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray that features a strong A/V presentation and some exceptional special features. If you are a fan of mystery-thrillers or Welles, you will cherish this release. Recommended

Journey Into Fear can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or 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.