NitrateVille.com

I just watched my copy of RAW DEAL from VCI. A really fine low-budget noir with stunning cinematography by John Alton.

The print is pretty good. A couple things didn't click, and I wonder if the dvd is from an edited film-print. The dvd runs
78-79 minutes.

First, when the getaway car runs out of gas, the next scene shows Dennis O'Keefe with Claire Trevor driving in a taxi with Trevor in a driver's hat. (Stolen cab?) Another scene has John Ireland (apparently) shot in the back, but a few scenes later, he's in fine form--no explanation. I wonder if some exposition is missing in between?

I've seen this film about six times, and think what you see is close to what was released. When you see it a couple of more times, things make more sense, for example the fatal wound you think that one bad guy is getting ends up being more of a 'flesh wound' whatever that means. I'm guessing this film was made so cheap they didn't have time to go back and fix some awkward transitions. I'll try to remember to ask Eddie Mueller about this.

I saw the DVD on a player that mimics hi def and the print looked great. Then I saw in on a player designed to play DVDs and blu-ray (in other words, much more expensive) and the print looked washed out. Clearly there are specs to tweak on here that are beyond my knowledge base.