Trapped (1949) {Blu-ray Review}

Reviewed by Jason Lockard

Flicker Alley has been releasing some amazing blu-rays restored films such as The Man who Laughs, The Golden Head, The Extraordinary World of Charley Bowers just to name a few. Flicker Alley's newest release takes us down a dark path. With the film noir Trapped.

Trapped is directed by Richard Fleischer years before he would direct such classics as The Narrow Margin, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Fantastic Voyage, the Oscar-award winning musical film Doctor Dolittle, Tora! Tora! Tora! and Soylent Green.

Trapped tells the story of the U.S. Treasury Department who are intent on stopping a counterfeiting ring! But how do they do it? They go to prison and get convicted counterfeiter, Tris Stewart (Lloyd Bridges). Tris is released under the agreement that he will assist in the capture of the phony money printers. Once out of jail, he makes a run for it, reuniting with his criminal outfit and girlfriend Meg (Barbara Payton). Little does he know that the law is watching him every step of the way.

Lloyd Bridges and Barbara Payton have great chemistry in this film and Richard Fleisher's direction is spot on. The film moves along at a great pace and at a run time of under 80 minutes you have no time to get bored with the plot.


Now for the Blu-ray/DVD combo release. The film has been transferred in its original full-screen format. The audio is in DTS-HD Master 2.0. There is also an option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing. The picture looks and sounds better than any copy I have ever seen. The film has been cleaned up. While there is some specks of dirt to the image, in comparison to the other copies I have seen this is a miracle of restoration.

As for bonus features Flicker Alley has done it again. They have included, “Freeing Trapped”: A documentary on the film’s creation and history, featuring interviews with Eddie Muller, Donna Lethal, and others. “A Sedulous Cinderella: Richard Fleischer Remembered”: A remembrance of the man, the director, and the father, by his son Mark Fleischer. Audio Commentary Track: Featuring author Alan K. Rode and film historian Julie Kirgo. And a 24-Page Souvenir Booklet featuring rare photographs, poster art, and commentary by “Czar of Noir” Eddie Muller.

As a fan of Film Noir's I am so excited to have this restored classic in my collection. Flicker Alley continues to Impress me with their amazing work. If you have never tried their products I highly suggest giving one of their releases a try! And you can't go wrong with Trapped. 

So if you're a fan of Film Noir or Lloyd Bridges. I highly recommend this release. Trapped has never and probably will never look any better than this release. It is truly that good. Head over to FlickerAlley.com and get your copy today.

Audiences: Teens and Adults
Objectionable Material: Mild Violence
Length: 79 Minutes
Genre: Film Noir
Blu-ray/DVD Rating: A