THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW; Fritz Lang director/ Eureka Entertainment Blu-ray  If the great expressionist director Fritz Lang were only known for his German classics such as Metropolis and M, his place in the cinematic pantheon would be secure. But for many critics, it is Lang’s American tenure – when he redefined the noir genre along with other German expats such as Robert Siodmak — that represents his very best work. The Woman in the Window (the title of which has been purloined for a recent crime fiction novel) is one of his strangest and most dreamlike films, with Edward G Robinson forsaking his tough guy roles for a damaged, vulnerable character in thrall to a mysterious woman (played by Joan Bennett). Lang, writer/producer Nunnally Johnson and star Robinson produce their very best work. Richard Wanley is a psychiatrist whose wife and children are on vacation when he first meets the seductive Alice who bears a striking resemblance to a painting he has seen. Violence — both psychological and physical — follow inexorably.

PINTER AT THE BBC, Various directors, 4 DVD set/BFI  It hard to underestimate the importance of this invaluable set which includes 10 of the plays written for television by Britain’s greatest modern playwright, the late Harold Pinter. The set is both a monument to the writer’s utterly individual approach to the English language and his own personal achievement as an actor (two of the films feature him as an actor: The Basement from 1967 and The Birthday Party from 1987), and two plays are directed by the playwright himself, The Hothouse (1982) and Mountain Language (1988). One caveat – not all the plays have aged well (notably 1965’s Tea Party, which is really for Pinterphiles only), but allowances can be made. The Birthday Party is particularly interesting when compared with William Friedkin’s largely successful film in which the part of the genial Jewish gangster Goldberg was played by Sidney Tafler to superb effect — it is particularly instructive here to note the different line readings given by the man who created the character. Firmly in place throughout, of course, is Pinter’s particular brand of ‘comedy of menace’, but the major accomplishment evident here is the fashion in which Pinter transforms speech into something infinitely richer and nuanced than his peers (even Tom Stoppard), dialogue which is both full of hilarious detail and accurately reflects real-life vocal patterns. The actors featured throughout the set are among the best that Britain has to offer, with some (such as Anna Cropper and Barry Foster in Old Times (1975)) giving a career-best performances. Quality varies (Tea Party with Leo McKern is affected by rolling tape and visual noise before settling down), and — needless to say — such limitations of the original recordings occasionally intrude. But many things here comes up fresh as paint, and for anyone with the vaguest interest in Harold Pinter, this is an indispensable set.

DESTROYER, Karyn Kusama, director/Lionsgate Blu-ray Throughout the history of the cinema, there have been stars who made their mark by dint of charisma and serviceable (but unspectacular) acting ability – and then there are the stars who have seized the opportunity to actually demonstrate the capacities of their craft with truly transformative performances. That’s very much the case with Nicole Kidman, whose career is studded with such enthusiastically-grasped opportunities – and none more so than this remarkable film. The most uncompromising turn of Kidman’s career may be seen in this gritty crime-thriller from the visionary director Karyn Kusama. Kidman stars as Erin Bell, a hardened LAPD detective worn down to the core by the strain of her job and the aftermath of an undercover FBI sting gone horribly wrong. But when her old nemesis resurfaces, she becomes hell bent on hunting him down to right the wrongs of her tragic past. Haunted by guilt and loss, will Erin get her last shot at redemption – or is it too late?

THE BIG CLOCK, John Farrow, director/Arrow Academy Blu-ray  While the moody and atmospheric Film Noir genre is largely celebrated as a director’s medium, there is no question that the best entries in the genre combine directorial flourishes with striking performances from well-chosen casts. Case in point? This highly regarded thriller with its largely British cast — not only Welsh-born actor Ray Milland (always utterly reliable), but also one of the cinema’s great scene stealers, Charles Laughton, as the latter’s corrupt and corpulent boss. Like Peter Cushing, Laughton is the kind of actor who ensures that when he is on screen, the audience’s attention is never really on anyone else – but John Farrow is astute enough a director to give Milland’s hapless, under-suspicion character equal weight even though we are mesmerised by Laughton’s every appearance. Milland plays a magazine editor who is under suspicion for a murder committed by his boss (played by Laughton). The screenplay by the highly-regarded crime writer Jonathan Latimer, is based on Kenneth Fearing’s novel, and The Big Clock combines sardonic humour with accelerating suspense. Arrow’s Blu-ray includes a new commentary, two featurettes, a rare hour-long radio dramatization of The Big Clock starring Ray Milland, and a collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film.

LA RONDE, Max Ophuls, director/Bluebell Films Blu-ray  In any sustained discussion of the more sophisticated classics of the cinema, Max Ophuls’ remarkable dance of sexual encounters will usually figure – and its reputation is known even to those who haven’t seen it. If you are among the latter category, this splendid Blu-ray transfer is the perfect opportunity to right that wrong. Praised by directors, critics and cinephiles alike, master of cinema Ophuls’ masterpiece La Ronde (1950) enjoys a newly restored release in high-definition courtesy of Bluebell Films.. The film is one of the most lauded adaptations of Arthur Schnitzler’s controversial play and stars some of France’s most respected actors including Anton Walbrook, Simone Signoret; Serge Reggiani, Simone Simon and Daniel Gélin. Set in 1900s Vienna, La Ronde presents an amazing series of interconnected romantic entanglements, a merry-go-round of life and love. Anton Walbrook guides us through the chain of amorous encounters as the enigmatic, omnipotent master of ceremonies. One fleeting moment links to the next, partners change, and the dance goes on, turning with the elegance of a Viennese waltz, until the story is brought full circle in the final vignette. With its breath-taking use of long takes and beautiful fluid camera moves Max Ophuls (Letter from an Unknown Woman, Lola Montes) directs with stunning style and élan to create an astounding cinematic masterwork.

DEMONLOVER, Olivier Assayas, director/ Arrow Academy Blu-ray  If your film tastes stretch to the outré – and towards movies that attempt to expand the parameters of the medium – then Olivier Assayas’ remarkable French techno-thriller will absolutely be your cup of tea, presented by Arrow in a new 2K restoration of the 121-minute director’s cut. Needles to say, it won’t be to every taste, and it’s already proved to be a Marmite movie. Inevitably, the name of David Cronenberg has been evoked as a comparison here, and it’s a useful yardstick — such a link is very apropos given the offkilter nature of the story and the storytelling here. Echoing David Cronenberg’s Videodrome, Demonlover deals with a single-minded executive played by the formidable Connie Nielsen who has her sights set on an American Internet porn company called Demonlover; but her quest is to take her to a very dark place (yes, you’ve spotted the Videodrome analogy). Sporting strong performances from Connie Nielsen, Chloe Sevigny and Gina Gershon (not to mention an unusual score by Sonic Youth), Olivier Assayas’ film is rich and strange.

MARY REILLY, Stephen Frears, director/Fabulous Films Blu-ray  The novelty here is (of course) that Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is retold from the perspective of his repressed Irish maidservant, and while director Stephen Frears largely underplays the horror, the piece is something of a showcase for two remarkable actors: John Malkovich in the central duel role and Julia Roberts in an understated performance as the damaged (in every sense) girl fascinated by both the altruistic doctor and his monstrous counterpart. Seeing it again one wonders why American actor Malkovich makes no attempt at an English accent (short ‘a’s throughout), but he is crisply spoken enough not to seem out of place in this very specific London period setting. Picture quality is impeccable.

THE GRAND DUEL, Giancarlo Santi, director/Arrow Blu-ray  Certain spaghetti westerns have acquired a solid reputation over the years despite being seen in decent prints since their original appearances. Here is a prime example given the best possible spruce-up by the ever dependable folks at Arrow, and while the film does not quite match up to its stellar reputation, it is still remarkably watchable – not least for the always compelling Lee Van Cleef, clearly relishing his Indian summer as an above-the-title star after spending so many years as a minor heavy in such films as High Noon. The Arrow Blu-ray of The Grand Duel sports a new 2K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative, a new audio commentary, newly filmed interviews with director Giancarlo Santi and screenwriter Ernesto Gastaldi, and an Illustrated collector’s booklet.

NEW FROM NETWORK: Secret People and other films, various directors/Network  Following the inauguration of THE BRITISH FILM: PHASE II label of Blu-rays and DVDs earlier in 2019 that bosted such television spin-off feature films as The Likely Lads, and Sweeney!, Network Distributing offers some massively eclectic follow-ups. The pick of the bunch is one of the most neglected of classic British films, Secret People, from Oscar nominated Bristolian director Thorold Dickinson. This s the Ealing Studios crime drama that helped launch Audrey Hepburn’s stratospheric rise into Hollywood stardom. Giving Hepburn her first significant role she went directly on to star in William Wyler’s Roman Holiday which won her the Best Actress Oscar in 1954. Relocated due to increasing danger in their southern European homeland, sisters Maria (Valentina Cortesa) and Nora (Hepburn) settle in London – with Maria leaving Louis, the young man she loves, to carry on the fight. In a chance meeting several years later Louis plays on Maria’s love for him to involve her in a plot to bomb the man responsible for her father’s death – a plot that doesn’t go to plan. Secret People stars noted European actors Valentina Cortesa (nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Truffaut’s La Nuit Americane, 1973) and Serge Reggiani. Secret People is presented here as a High Definition transfer from the original film elements in its original aspect ratio.

Less impressive, but still notable for its curious casting is the British film noir Beautiful Stranger with its imported American star Ginger Rogers in a non-dancing role, and a blond-rinsed Stanley Baker turning in one of his many heavies for British cinema. Also available (for those who feel the need) is Leslie Phillips in the comedy No Kidding (from the Carry On stable, but notably lighter on the double entendres), Sergei Nolbandov’s resistance drama Undercover and the truly bizarre pop music film Gonks Go Beat. The British Film Network lovingly enshrines the UK’s cinematic heritage with new transfers from the original film elements and the discs sport packaging that reflects the original, iconic poster artwork of these vintage films.

TRAPPED ALIVE, Leszek Burzynski, director/Arrow Blu-ray  Rough and ready horror filmmaking is on offer here, in a film that will be unfamiliar to most viewers. Ignore the limitations of the non-professional cast and cheap synthesizer score, there is some energy here, and Trapped Alive (how could one be trapped dead?) is bolstered by the presence of genre stalwart Cameron Mitchell (whose career stretched from Carousel to The Toolbox Murders) in a dark narrative of escaped criminals and subterranean cannibals. This new 2K restoration sports a new commentary, a new making-of documentary that includes an interview with director Leszek Burzynski, and a collector’s booklet.

THE GUARDIAN, William Friedkin, director/Final Cut Blu-ray  Many (not least Mark Kermode) would argue that The Exorcist is the most impressive horror film of modern times, and those keen to see how the director William Friedkin followed it up have been given an opportunity to see it in a splendidly detailed new Blu-ray transfer from Final Cut. The film itself was controversially received (not least by the writer Stephen Volk, whol felt that his work was traduced by the director), but admirers of Friedkin should perhaps decide for themselves. No extras on the disc.

SCUM, Alan Clarke, director/Powerhouse Indicator Blu-ray  By the time he made Sexy Beast (2000), the East London actor Ray Winstone had become something of a British national treasure. Making his mark as a younger man in such pieces as the caustic borstal-set Scum (now handsomely available on Blu-ray from Powerhouse Indicator), Winstone’s career as a hard man was largely mapped out for him, and his bruised, abrasive Cockney charm has been to some degree the actor’s stock in trade since his youthful days. However, by the time of Sexy Beast, an interesting transmogrification had occurred: Winstone’s performance as top safe cracker Gal Dove functioned on several levels: its own straightforward naturalistic level, as a parody of itself, and also as a wry and knowing commentary on what audiences had come to expect from such characters. Looking back at the actor in Scum (his first film) is something of a revelation – not least for the fact that the now-grizzled Winstone looks so incredibly young here. However, even at this stage of his career, his screen presence has real weight, and Scum comes across not just as a piece of social commentary on how dehumanising for both the inmates and the guards the borstal system is, but for its reinvention of the theme found in both 1930s James Cagney films and the Godfather trilogy: how viewers are fascinated by how a central character, however ruthless and violent, establishes their pole position in the pecking order. We can’t take our eyes off the brutal racist Larkin (played by Winstone). There is clear agenda at work with the late Liverpool director Alan Clarke, not least his unsparing view that the establishment is – to a man and woman – either uninterested or corrupt. For the worst establishment specimens, Alan Clark (like Ken Loach) has an unfailing index of loathsome behaviour: a middle-class accent. But Clarke knows exactly what he’s doing, and Scum has not dated one iota in its impact with its unsparing violence and male rape. Clarke was of one of Britain’s most accomplished directors. Amongst his twenty-three surviving stand-alone dramas are such neglected classics as To Encourage the Others, Horace, Penda’s Fen, Diane, Contact and Christine. But Scum — banned by the BBC in its original TV version – remains his most famous film. The extras on this Powerhouse Indicator issue are truly compendious.