Dante's Inferno (1935)

sethb · Post by **sethb** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 12:13 pm

Just wondered if anyone had any information about whether or when this movie might be coming to DVD.

At least in my view it's worthy of another look, with very strong performances by Spencer Tracy and veteran Henry B. Walthall, a wonderful dream/nightmare sequence in Hell, and even a brief appearance by newcomer Rita Cansino (later Hayworth) as one of the hoochie-koochie dancers.

I understand this film has been broadcast on the Fox Channel, and I have also seen it pop up (rarely) on local TV stations. But it certainly would be nice to see the uncut original! The last I heard, a reissue was being delayed by the need for some restoration and a search for decent elements. If that's the problem, it's certainly not going to get better with time -- and neither will my 10-year old VHS tape of it. SETH

Post by **Danny Burk** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 12:41 pm

Fox's classic releases have basically collapsed, so it doesn't look good for a release. Criterion works with Fox, although it wouldn't seem to fit as much as, say, one of Fox's John Ford films into Criterion's usual release pattern. My guess is that it will probably languish, like so many other Fox films of the 30s, unless they begin a burn-on-demand program such as WB have done.

Jim Roots · Post by **Jim Roots** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 1:01 pm

Danny Burk wrote:Fox's classic releases have basically collapsed, so it doesn't look good for a release.

Really? Does that mean no more Fox Film Noir releases? Damn...

Jim

Jim Reid · Post by **Jim Reid** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 2:15 pm

Supposedly, the entire Fox Classic video dept. was let go.

Dante's Inferno does show up frequently on the Fox Movie Channel.

Michael O'Regan · Post by **Michael O'Regan** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 3:31 pm

Strangely enough for the UK, it has shown up on TCM over here on at least two occasions over the past year or so.
Excellent movie, IMO.

sethb · Post by **sethb** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 9:50 am

The ending is pretty predictable, but there are some fairly gritty parts, such as the suicide of a fellow concessionaire that Spencer Tracy double-crosses in order to gain space to build the Inferno, as well as his bribing of the building inspector, which of course leads to several deaths when the place collapses. And the tours of the old and new Inferno by Henry B. Walthall and Tracy are appropriately strange and spooky, to say nothing of the subsequent dream sequence.

The more I think about it, this movie deserves to be released on DVD! SETH