Journey Into Fear Blu-ray Review
“Journey Into Fear” has its moments.
Based on the novel of the same name by Eric Ambler, 1943’s “Journey Into Fear” is a Mercury Production that was scripted by Joseph Cotten (Orson Welles co-wrote and produced the project but is uncredited). This spy thriller revolves around an American weapons engineer who is overseas with his wife Stephanie on business with the Turkish Navy. Howard’s trip doesn’t exactly go smoothly as an assassin (Banat) hired by a Nazi agent (Muller) tries to kill him. Howard meets Colonel Haki of the Turkish Secret Police who secretly puts him on board a steamer ship to the Black Sea while Haki makes sure Stephanie is transported to meet him there safely. Alas, this “safe passage” is anything but as Banat, Muller, a meddlesome couple (Gogo and Janette) and a Turkish agent (Kuvetli) who is supposed to be watching over Howard.
Directed by Norman Foster, “Journey Into Fear” is a frustrating spy movie that feels incomplete and in need of more scenes. This is unsurprising though as the film was not only a reportedly a troubled production, but a butchered one. An extended European does exist but sadly it was not included on this disc.
The central problem with ‘Journey’ is that far too much time is devoted to Howard wandering about the steamer ship as the story bides its time to the climax (which is a thrilling sequence outside a building in the pouring rain). It’s a real rush job which is a shame as there’s real storytelling potential with Howard finding himself in the middle of a chaotic situation all while fighting to survive.
Character wise, there’s a lot to be desired here as well. Jack Moss is effectively creepy as Banat, Joseph Cotten is solid as Howard and Orson Welles is good as always as Colonel Haki but Howard’s love interests Josette (Delores Del Rio) and Stephanie (Ruth Warrick) have very little to do here and the film suffers for it. Muller (Eustace Wyatt) also seems underwritten here.
Video/Audio:
Presentation: 1.37:1 1080p. How does it look? While not without defects, this 4K scan is a largely impressive transfer as is to be expected from the always reliable Warner Archive.
Audio Track: 2.0 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? The Mono track is clean if a little snowy in spots.
Extras include 3 1938 Mercury Theater radio dramas including “Dracula,” “Treasure Island” and “A Tale Of Two Cities.”
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