The Verdict Blu-ray Review
“The Verdict” is another winner from director Don Siegel.
Not to be confused with the 1982 classic of the same name starring Paul Newman, 1946’s “The Verdict” is a Peter Milne scripted film noir mystery based on the novel “The Big Bow Mystery.” Set in London in 1890, the story revolves around Scotland Yard Superintendent George Grodman who was forced to resign from his job after an innocent man was convicted and hanged. The snooty Inspector Buckley was promoted in his place. The story doesn’t enter there though when a Mr. Arthur Kendall winds up dead. For the life of him Buckley cannot figure out how the murder was committed and requires Grodman’s help. The suspects are plenty as it could be an artist (Victor), the landlady (Mrs. Benson), a singer/lover of Kendall’s (Lottie), a political opponent who had strong feelings against Kendall (Clive Russell), or perhaps someone else entirely.
Filmmaker Don Siegel had a long storied career working in multiple genres from sci-fi (“Invasion Of The Body Snatchers”) to thrillers (“Dirty Harry”). He was perhaps most well known for his numerous collaborations with Clint Eastwood, but his filmography was so much more than that. This underrated entry is proof of his versatility and talent.
“The Verdict” could have easily become just another whodunit or a redemption story for Grodman, but it’s neither. I won’t go into how the story unfolds in the end, but it’s certainly not something you see too often in cinema. It’s very much a warped psychological mystery about revenge, a fall from grace, and jealousy. Some might claim it would have perhaps been beneficial to know the killer in advance to explore his mindset further. Indeed, there’s a lot that could have been done in that regard, but there’s something more compelling about not knowing who the killer is until late in the game. Not only does this allow for a much more subtle storytelling approach, but it’s also more rewarding for the viewer to pick up on the clues and character moments that hint at the ending to come.
The cast really sells the material here. Sydney Greenstreet really makes Grodman his own and gives additional layers to the character. Peter Lorre is often typecast as a villain, but his role as Victor is much more complex. George Coulouris also shines as the know it all Buckley. Really, the entire cast is on point here.
Video/Audio:
Presentation: 1.37:1 1080p. How does it look? This B&W classic receives a glorious restoration from Warner Archive. They’re the best in the biz as far as I’m concerned.
Audio Track: 2.0 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? Viewers can expect a nice clean 2.0 track.
Extras include 2 cartoons (“Hair-Raising Hare” and “Birth Of A Notion”) and 3 Peter Lorre starring radio dramas that include “Black Sea Gull” from “Inner Sanctum,” “Till Death Do Us Part” from the superb “Suspense” program and “Stamped For Murder” from “New Adventures Of Nero Wolfe.”
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