Richard Hudson (Patrick Warburton, Seinfeld), a shady used car salesman and aspiring filmmaker living in 1950s Los Angeles, writes the script for his first film: a tawdry drama about a truck driver who kills a young girl, titled The Man Who Got Away. Hudson’s path to becoming Tinseltown’s newest auteur is fraught with challenges; his film is deemed uncommercial, his sexual trysts keep piling up and his relationships with various family members manage to get worse by the day. Hudson will stop at nothing to see his vision through, even if it means destroying everything and everyone in his path, including Hollywood itself.

The feature directing debut of Robinson Devor (Zoo) and based on noted crime novelist Charles Willeford’s (Cockfighter) novel of the same name, THE WOMAN CHASER is a dark show business comedy in the vein of Robert Altman’s The Player and The Coen Brothers’ Barton Fink that isn’t afraid to showcase the more insidious aspects of the industry. Anchored by a wry, very funny, lead performance from stand-up comic and TV star Patrick Warburton along with striking 35mm photography (shot in color, but lit and graded for black and white) by six time Emmy nominee Kramer Morgenthau (Game of Thrones, Creed II & III), THE WOMAN CHASER is an often overlooked entry in the tail end of the American indie boom. Never before released on disc, and not seen uncut since its New York Film Festival premiere in 1999, Cinématographe is proud to present the world blu-ray debut of Robinson Devor’s uncompromising, hilarious, ode to 50s film noir completely uncensored, restored in 2K, and accompanied with hours of extras including the rarely seen color version of the film, The Art of Insanity.

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Video Quality

Cinématographe debuts The Woman Chaser on Blu-Ray with an AVC-encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 derived from a newly commissioned 2K restoration from the 35mm Original Camera Negative, with an uncut sequence from a 35mm master positive. This is presented in the original black-and-white presentation, but there is an alternate version in color presented as a supplemental feature, and it seems to be derived from the same basic restoration process. No matter which version you watch, Cinématographe can be praised for these invaluable transfers that pay the utmost respect to the source. Fans could not ask for more given how amazing everything looks.

The transfer provides a delicately rendered grain structure that preserves the filmic nature of the picture, exposing discrete details within the set dressing and natural locales. The cinematography from Kramer Morgenthau is essential to maintaining the noir aesthetic. The grayscale in the original black-and-white is evenly executed with a firm handle on the contrast. Black levels are stable and never want for shadow detail. The picture never falls victim to crush, and highlights are steady with no signs of blooming. The colors of the alternate version saturate the frame with surprising hues in the costumes and set design. Skin tones appear to be natural with a respectable amount of facial detail present in close-ups. This release tidies up nearly all print damage such as specks, scratches, and tears. Cinématographe continues to knock it out of the park with its releases.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio stereo track that faithfully realizes the sonic ambitions of the film. This is a largely dialogue-driven affair, and both the interpersonal exchanges and narration come through clearly without being overshadowed by competing noises. All of the sounds in the mix seem properly executed so that nothing ever feels inauthentic. The sounds emanate to create exciting ambient details such as the waves of the ocean and other subtle elements. The score from Daniel Luppi and Jeff McDonough sounds great as it comes through with the foremost fidelity. Cinématographe has provided an audio experience that suits the nature of the story. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

The Limited Edition version of The Woman Chaser comes beautifully packaged in a hard outer slipcase that opens up to a MediaBook that includes a bound booklet featuring new writing by film critic Glenn Kenny, writer and podcaster Chris Cabin, and crime author Jesse Sublett, plus select archival photo reproductions. These essays delve into the film from multiple angles and each piece provides a great analysis in a thoughtfully written style. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Audio Commentaries: Two new commentary tracks are provided that delve into the work from both a personal and a critical perspective. On the filmmaker track, we get insights into the development of the film, the creation of the world, casting the film, the production process, and more. The film historian track discusses the homages to previous artistic endeavors, the creative aesthetic choices, details about the production, the shooting locations, the backgrounds of the performers, the legacy of the feature, and much more.

- Audio Commentary #1: Writer/director Robinson Devor, moderated by Cinématographe’s Justin LaLiberty

- Audio Commentary #2: Film noir historians Alain Silver and Christopher Coppola

The Art of Insanity – Full Color Alternate Version of the Film: This alternate version of the film runs about five-and-a-half minutes shorter with the same level of care given to the restoration and a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track.

Interview with Actor Patrick Warburton: A new 20-minute interview with the actor in which he discusses coming to the project, going to watch this film while filming Big Trouble, memories of his fellow performers, flying in fighter jets, the influence of the aesthetic on his performance, the atmosphere on set, his appreciation for the film, and more.

Interview with Producer Joe McSpadden: A new 17-minute interview with the producer in which he discusses his relationship with Robinson Devor, the decision to shoot on color stock, the festival run, how they handled music rights issues, and more.

Archival Making Of Featurette: A five-minute piece from the set in which the cast and creative team discuss the film.

Theatrical Trailer (1:24)

Final Thoughts

The Woman Chaser is a sly and darkly amusing throwback to film noir that doubles as an intriguing psychological spiral. Patrick Warburton has rarely gotten the chance to command the screen in such a central way that subverts what you expect from him. The results are impressive, and you kind of wish more movies had given him a chance to indulge in more dramatic fare. This one has not had much of a profile over the years, so we appreciate that physical media such as this one can revive a film for a new generation. Cinématographe has provided a Blu-Ray that features a sterling A/V presentation and an exceptional array of supplemental features. If anything about this piques your interest, be sure to give it a whirl. Recommended

The Woman Chaser 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.

Disclaimer: Cinématographe has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.