Universal Noir #2

Box Set with Book (Limited Edition)

Running Time: 547

Genre: Feature, Classic

Certificate: 12

Language: English

Six classic films noir produced by Universal Pictures in the 1940s. In 'Lady On a Train' (1945), Nikki Collins (Deanna Durbin) witnesses a murder from the train she is sitting in and immediately reports it to the police. However, the police do not believe her and so she decides to investigate herself, enlisting the help of mystery writer Wayne Morgan (David Bruce). They soon discover that the victim was Mr Waring, a wealthy tycoon who made his fortune in shipping. In 'Time Out of Mind' (1947), Christopher Fortune (Robert Hutton) wants to follow his dreams of launching a music career, much to the dismay of his wealthy family who push for him to follow in his shipping merchant father's footsteps. Christopher has also fallen for a servant, Kate (Phyllis Calvert) who encourages Christopher to realise his ambition. In 'Singapore' (1947), pearl smuggler Matt Gordon (Fred MacMurray) is on his way to wed his sweetheart Linda (Ava Gardner) when the Japanese bomb Singapore, destroying the church she is standing in. Unable to find her in the wreckage and forced to leave, he does not return until the end of WWII, when he is shocked not only to see her again but to learn that she has amnesia and does not remember him. Now known as Ann, she has married plantation owner Michael (Roland Culver) and Matt reluctantly decides to move on. Meanwhile, a stash of pearls has caught the attention of Deputy Commissioner Hewitt (Richard Haydn) who is determined to stop Matt from returning to his old ways. 'A Woman's Vengeance' (1948) follows Henry Maurier (Charles Boyer), who lives with and cares for his disabled wife Emily (Rachel Kempson). But when his brother-in-law arrives for a visit, Henry immediately falls for his accompanying mistress Doris (Ann Blyth). After Emily dies suddenly, Henry pursues Doris, to the annoyance of his loving and jealous neighbour Janet (Jessica Tandy). When it transpires that Emily was murdered, Henry is arrested and put on trial but vehemently maintains his innocence. In 'An Act of Murder' (1948), Calvin Cooke (Fredric March), a judge, meets criminal lawyer David Douglas (Edmond O'Brien) in a case he is presiding over, unaware that he is secretly dating his daughter, Ellie (Geraldine Brooks). After an anniversary party for Calvin and his wife Cathy (Florence Eldridge), where she complains of strange symptoms to their neurologist friend, he confides in Calvin that Cathy is suffering from an incurable brain tumour and has advised her to secretly manage her pain. As Cathy deteriorates, however, Calvin begins to question his morals when he considers helping Cathy to end her suffering. Finally, in 'The Lady Gambles' (1949), David Boothe (Robert Preston) finds his wife Joan (Barbara Stanwyck) beaten and bruised after making some enemies in the world of Las Vegas gambling. As he retraces her steps to see how she came to be so deeply involved with these people, he learns how she got drawn in by casino owner Horace Corrigan (Stephen McNally) and how she double-crossed him to get ahead. While the broken and suicidal Joan fights for her life in a hospital bed, David tries to convince her that all is not lost.