Reviewed by Jason LockardClassic Flix is a company that has been rescuing some forgotten films and TV shows restoring them and giving them releases that they truly deserve.
I have been totally impressed with some of the restoration work they have done with such releases as The Stand-in, Blondie the complete TV series, Public Defender Season 1 and Season 2. But now it's time for a new release to get its turn to shine.
The Michael Shayne Mystery series. Originally the role of Private eye Micheal Shayne was given to Lloyd Nolan for a total of seven films, but in 1946 Producers Releasing Corporation brought the detective back in a whole new bunch of adventures. And it would star a man that would later forever be known as Wally and the Beaver's dad, Hugh Beaumount. Let's take a look at what is included in this DVD release.
Our Rating System:
**** = Don’t Miss it!
*** = Worth a look.
** = An Ok way to spend an evening.
* = You haven’t missed anything.
Murder Is My Business (1946, 64 min.) When a former hood and acquaintance of Michael Shayne is found dead alongside a wealthy client, the private eye looks to stay one step ahead of Chief Detective Pete Rafferty, who wants to implicate Shayne in the crime. ***
Larceny in Her Heart (1946, 68 min.) A desperate step-father pleads with Michael Shayne to find his missing step-daughter, and after clues start piling up, the detective goes undercover in a sanitarium in an attempt to solve the case. ***
Blonde for a Day (1946, 66 min.) Michael Shayne has relocated to San Francisco, but returns to Los Angeles when he learns that reporter Tim Rourke is near death after being shot for getting too close to solving three murders tied to a gambling syndicate which uses a blonde to do its dirty work. **
Three on a Ticket (1947, 62 min.) A man drops dead in his office, a woman asks him to bump off her husband and two mugs jump and beat him unconscious. It’s all in a day’s work for Detective Michael Shayne who tries to piece together the mystery of what makes a baggage check ticket so valuable that it’s worth committing murder. ***
Too Many Winners (1947, 60 min.) When too many winning tickets are claimed at Santa Rosita Race Track, everybody’s target is Michael Shayne: the curvaceous tipster who won’t take no for an answer, the shady operator who offers him dough to lay off and the criminal mastermind whose thugs tangle with the sly detective at every turn. ***
These whodunit films were very well, written, produced, directed and acted. I never got a chance to watch these until this release and I was very impressed by the quality. Hugh Beaumount brings his stern but caring nature to the role of Micheal Shayne.
Now for this DVD release itself. All five films are on one DVD. You might think that many films on one DVD the quality would suffer, but the transfer look fine. The films are presented in the original full screen format and in 1.33:1 aspect ratio. Now for the restoration. I have to say these films have really been carefully and lovingly restored. The picture has been cleaned up of alot of the specs and damage and the film look and sounds better than ever. Check out the restoration video below.
So whether you are a fan of Brett Halliday's detective mysteries or Hugh Beaumount. I can not recommend this release enough. It is a spectacular release. Classic Flix has done it again bringing classic film and tv fans another must-have release. Head over to ClassicFlix.com and get your copy today.
Audiences: Teens and adults
Offensive Material: Mild violence and adult situations
Length: 320 Minutes
Genre: Mystery
DVD Value Rating: A
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