Tonight's Movie: One Way Street (1950) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review

I'm returning to Kino Lorber's Dark Side of Cinema XIV Collection to review the final film in the set, ONE WAY STREET (1950).

I've previously reviewed the other two films in the collection, UNDERCOVER GIRL (1950) and APPOINTMENT WITH A SHADOW (1957).

I think I liked ONE WAY STREET even more on this viewing than when I first saw a 35mm print at the 2014 Noir City Hollywood Film Festival -- with the exception of the ending, which I liked even less this time around. I won't say any more on that topic to keep this review relatively spoiler-friendly.

The movie begins with an absolutely terrific sequence; elegant Laura (Marta Toren) stands at an apartment window listening to sirens.

Also in the room are John Wheeler (Dan Duryea) and his wounded henchman Ollie (William Conrad). They've just pulled off a heist of $200,000 and are waiting for the other members of the gang to show up so they can divide the loot. I love the way the movie jumps right into the action without much in the way of explanations.

Wheeler summons Doc (James Mason) from down the hall to attend to Ollie's wound, but then the doctor shocks everyone by taking off with the bag of money -- and the very willing Laura as well!

Doc and Laura enjoy a brief idyll in a Mexican village, where they're mentored, after a fashion, by an unusual priest (Basil Ruysdael). Doc uses his medical skills to help the villagers, and he and Laura establish their relationship.

Eventually Doc realizes that if he wants to find lasting peace, he's going to need to return to the States and give Wheeler back the ill-gotten money.

There's a lot of really good stuff in this film, such that I'm rather surprised it isn't better known.

Doc's plan to steal the money is brilliant, as is a later sequence with a jump scare moment involving menacing Jack Elam.

I enjoyed the center section of the movie more this time, I think partly because I knew what to expect and partly because I really enjoy Ruysdael's interesting character.

Marta Toren had an interesting few years working in the U.S.; previous Dark Side of Cinema collections have included two other films released the same year as ONE WAY STREET, DEPORTED (1950) and SPY HUNT (1950).

It's very believable Doc would up the stakes by taking Laura along, despite the fact he claims he doesn't want to risk love and loss again. The screenplay for this 79-minute film, written by Lawrence Kimble, could have taken a few additional minutes to explore Doc's back story and motivations, but what did make it to the screen is good, including Mason's performance.

This film, incidentally, came out right after a couple other Mason films I especially like, THE RECKLESS MOMENT (1949) and EAST SIDE, WEST SIDE (1949).

The supporting cast includes King Donovan and Rodolfo Acosta. Look for familiar faces like Kenneth Tobey, James Best, and Rock Hudson in the extended cast.

This was the first American film directed by Hugo Fregonese. It was filmed in black and white by Maury Gertsman.

To my knowledge, this Blu-ray set is the first time any of these movies, including ONE WAY STREET, have been available for home viewing in the United States, and the release is most welcome. The print looks very good, and sound quality is also excellent.

Disc extras consist of the trailer; two additional trailers for other films available from Kino Lorber; and a commentary track by Lee Gambin and Elissa Rose.

As is the case with all of Kino Lorber's Dark Side of Cinema collections, I enthusiastically recommend this set.

Thanks to Kino Lorber for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray collection.

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