Dead Reckoning

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Overview

John Cromwell's Dead Reckoning is one of the most complex and fascinating of the films that Humphrey Bogart made at Columbia Pictures; along with Knock On Any Door and The Harder They Fall, it is also one of trio of Columbia titles that closely resemble his Warner Bros. output on a thematic level. But it functions on deeper, darker, doom-laden psychological depths than all but one of his Warner titles (the appropriately named Dark Passage, which dates from the same year); more than any other of Bogart's features,...
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Overview

John Cromwell's Dead Reckoning is one of the most complex and fascinating of the films that Humphrey Bogart made at Columbia Pictures; along with Knock On Any Door and The Harder They Fall, it is also one of trio of Columbia titles that closely resemble his Warner Bros. output on a thematic level. But it functions on deeper, darker, doom-laden psychological depths than all but one of his Warner titles (the appropriately named Dark Passage, which dates from the same year); more than any other of Bogart's features, the movie captures a palpable sense of fatalism that accompanied the end of the World War II, even for those who'd come through it well. The movie showed up on laserdisc relatively late in that format's heyday, but this DVD makes the latter look like the relatively pale, worn television prints that one used to see of this movie. It isn't perfect, with some thin but surprisingly obtrusive vertical scratches marring Leo Tover's otherwise gorgeous cinematography late in the first half-hour, in the first scene at Martinelli's club -- but most of the movie has beautiful, deep, velvety contrast throughout that reveals the necessary details even in the darkest scenes. In fact, the clarity and sharpness is a delight to the eye, making this disc generally a treat to look at as well as to watch. Columbia TriStar has given the DVD an extraordinary 28 chapters, which is exactly what this movie calls for. The plot description is fairly thorough, given its relatively short length. Only some annotation is missing, concerning the fascinating cast: Dead Reckoning offered just about the biggest role that Morris Carnovsky, a legend in the American theater who was later blacklisted, ever had onscreen; Wallace Ford, a highly underrated dramatic actor, and renowned radio actor Marvin Miller, were also present -- all of this beg for comment. The disc opens to a relatively simple menu offering a selection of a half-dozen subtitles, as well as some advertising art and trailers from The Caine Mutiny, Lawrence of Arabia, and Bridge on the River Kwai. The disc also contains the same four-minute account of Bogart's career, focusing on his Columbia Pictures output, that Sirocco contains.
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Special Features

Closed Caption; Digitally mastered audio & video; Remastered in high definition; Full screen presentation; Audio: English; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean; Vintage advertising; Bonus trailers; Interactive menus; Scene selections
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler
Dead Reckoning finds film noir favorite Humphrey Bogart in unusual territory -- he's no detective, just a guy who wants to discover the truth about his strange missing buddy. As a result, he's not as in control as usual, and has to struggle a little harder in a setting that is not so familiar to him. That setting turns out to be rather more brutal than might be expected, and there's an air of senseless brutality that hangs over the whole film. Not to put too fine a point on it, but the almost random nature of the film plays up its existential leanings. Fortunately, director John Cromwell doesn't let these leanings become overpowering, and overlays them with plenty of solid action, confusing plot twists and shady characters spouting the kind of classic hardboiled dialogue that is the hallmark of noir. As for Bogart, the character may be in strange circumstances, but he's no stranger to the actor. He plays the role with effortless skill, adding just enough depth in unexpected places to keep the audience on its toes. Lizabeth Scott does the best that she can, but she's hampered by the obvious insistence that she be a Lauren Bacall stand-in -- a misguided notion anyway, as Bacall's femmes generally stopped short of being as fatale as Coral Chandler. If Scott falls a little short of the mark required here, the cracked, throaty voice and penetrating beauty do count for a lot.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 1/14/2003
  • UPC: 043396064195
  • Original Release: 1947

    • Rating:

  • Source: Sony Pictures
  • Region Code: 1
  • Aspect Ratio: Pre-1954 Standard (1.33.1)
  • Presentation: Black & White
  • Language: English
  • Time: 1:45:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 13,827

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Humphrey Bogart Rip Murdock
Lizabeth Scott Coral Chandler
Morris Carnovsky Martinelli
William Prince Johnny Drake
Charles Cane Lt. Kincaid
George Chandler Louis Ord
Wallace Ford McGee
Marvin Miller Krause
James Bell Father Logan
Ruby Dandridge Hyacinth
William Forrest Lt. Col. Simpson
Matthew "Stymie" Beard Bellboy
John Bohn Croupier
Paul Bradley Man
Lillian Bronson Mrs. Putnam
Chester Clute Martin
Joseph Crehan Gen. Steele
Sayre Dearing Croupier
Harry Denny Dealer
Dudley Dickerson Waiter
Tom Dillon Priest
George Eldredge Policeman
Matty Fain Ed
Sam Finn Raker
Byron Foulger Night Attendant
Kay Garrett Dealer
Joe Gilbert Croupier
Dick Gordon Dealer
Richard H. Gordon
Wilton Graff Surgeon
Jesse Graves Waiter
Chuck Hamilton Detective
Alvin Hammer Photographer
Maynard Holmes Desk Clerk
Hugh Hooker Bellboy
Charles Jordan Mike, the Bartender
Pat Lane General's Aide
William E. Lawrence Stewart
Garry Owen Reporter
Robert Ryan Detective
Bob Ryan Detective
Jack Santoro Raker
Sid Saylor Morgue Attendant
Robert Scott Band Leader
Grady Sutton Maitre d'Hotel
Ray Teal Motorcycle Policeman
Lillian Wells Pretty Girl
Frank Wilcox Desk Clerk
Isabel Withers Nurse
Technical Credits
John Cromwell Director
Sidney Biddell Producer
Clay Campbell Makeup
Louis Diage Set Decoration/Design
Steve Fisher Screenwriter
Seymour Friedman Asst. Director
Oliver H.P. Garrett Screenwriter
Jack A. Goodrich Sound/Sound Designer
Stephen Goosson Art Director
Gene Havlick Editor
Jean Louis Costumes/Costume Designer
Alan Rivkin Screenwriter
Marlin Skiles Score Composer
Rudolph Sternad Art Director
Morris W. Stoloff Musical Direction/Supervision
Leo Tover Cinematographer
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Scene Index

Side #1 --
1. Start [:58]
2. Rip Murdock's Confession [3:27]
3. Dreaming About a Blonde [4:03]
4. A Final Salute [1:40]
5. Johnny Checks In [1:51]
6. September 3, 1943 [2:24]
7. The County Morgue [4:22]
8. Louis Ord [2:01]
9. Mrs. Coral Chandler [2:50]
10. "Either It's Love or It Isn't" [2:08]
11. Testing Pure [3:14]
12. Dusty's Roulette System [2:16]
13. Rip Gets Even [2:06]
14. TNT Highballs [3:06]
15. Strange Bedfellows [9:38]
16. Dusty Road Trip [3:08]
17. Fancy Luncheon Tripe [2:58]
18. McGee [1:04]
19. Taking Louis to the Beach [3:29]
20. The Coded Letter [5:09]
21. A Bruised Guest [2:51]
22. Murdock's Escape [5:25]
23. Coral Confesses [1:45]
24. Packed for Paradise [7:52]
25. A Dumb Play [5:21]
26. Geronimo [2:51]
27. "You're Going to Fry." [6:48]
28. All Square With John Law [3:38]
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Menu

Side #1 --
   Play Movie
   Subtitles
      English
      Japanese
      French/Français
      Spanish/Español
      Portuguese/Português
      Korean
      Subtitles Off
   Scene Selections
   Special Features
      The Bogart Collection
      Vintage Advertising
   Trailers
      The Bridge on the River Kwai
      The Caine Mutiny
      Lawrence of Arabia
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