Based on the West End play of the same name by Barré Lyndon, this rare sci-fi noir stars Nils Asther and Helen Walker (Nightmare Alley), on Blu-ray for the first time worldwide. Remade into the 1959 horror film The Man Who Could Cheat Death!

A scientist discovers that he can live forever by receiving gland transplants every ten years. Unfortunately, the unwilling donors must be killed for him to survive, something that doesn’t bother the scientist until he falls in love…

For thoughts on The Man In Half Moon Street (1945), please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/xWdeP8yLjmQ?si=fNrQFd0tbW0psfXv&t=825]

Video Quality

The Man In Half Moon Street makes its Blu-Ray debut thanks to Imprint Films with a brand new 1080p master from a new 2K scan. This label is based out of Australia, but this disc will play on all Blu-Ray players including those in the United States. The film is over 75 years old, but this presentation does a really nice job of giving it a second life. The contrast is capably defined, and the track only experiences a very minor amount of flicker and density fluctuation in the print. The film looks the most inconsistent during the optical transitions, but these moments do not last long.

The new transfer shows off a sumptuous amount of depth and enhanced detail within the film’s composition. The black-and-white photography dazzles in high definition with natural grain intact. Black levels hold up well enough with no overwhelming occurrence of black crush or compression artifacts. There is a notable amount of detail present with nice textures on the outfits and within the various settings. This transfer exhibits a fairly consistent layer of minor nicks and scratches, but the transfer is more than watchable. Imprint Films has done a fine job here.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with an acceptable LPCM 2.0 mono track which holds up well considering its vintage. The presentation does reveal its age at times when it comes to the music elements, as cues can sound a bit thin which can likely be traced back to the condition of the source elements. The score is not an overwhelming element, and when it shows up it is never aggressively harsh. The track otherwise only presents with a minor amount of age-related wear and tear and some hissing and crackles. Dialogue and background noises can sound slightly hollow, but they are balanced well with all competing elements. Imprint Films has done its best with this one to present it with welcome stability. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Film Historian Tim Lucas delivers an informative commentary track in which he discusses the origins of the film, the adaptation from the stage play, how it fits into the career of Ralph Murphy, the background of the performers involved, the themes on display, the public reception of the film, and more.

Final Thoughts

The Man In Half Moon Street is a creepy drama that indulges in the supernatural in a less overt way than pure horror films of the time. The thematic underpinnings are very effective as they are brought to life with an ensemble that carries the material admirably. The film exudes style as you see the efforts of director Ralph Murphy throughout, not to mention the thoughtful pacing that balances character development with intrigue. This is quite a unique entry into old-school film noir history, and it is worth seeking out if it sounds the slightest bit interesting to you. Imprint Films has delivered a Blu-Ray release that sports both a fine A/V presentation and an entertaining commentary track. Recommended

The Man In Half Moon Street is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Note #2: This release is an Australian import that can be played on Blu-Ray players worldwide.

Disclaimer: Imprint Films 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.