Rating: 
Summary: Never Was Widescreen
Review: I don't want to call anyone silly, or a THIEF for pirating movies, but just so everyone (and certainly someone in particular) who complains about this Columbia dvd not being widescreen understands, this move WAS NEVER MADE IN WIDESCREEN! The first widescreen movie in America was "The Robe", released in 1953. Do a little research before you start bashing film noir (minor) classics like this Bogart picture. There were NO WIDESCREEN MOVIES BEFORE 1953! Now as for this dvd.
I Thought the transfer showed very little wear. All-in-all Columbia did a very nice job here of cleaning up the print. My only complaint with Columbia is how pricey they seem to think their dvd movies are. Still, this is a good pot-boiler drama, and Bogart is the best. I can leave or take Lizabeth Scott in this role as the femm fatalle, another leading lady might've been better; she's not a bad actress, I just prefer a lot of other leading ladies of that time period; she does have a certain bad girl sex-appeal that helps her performance.
If you're not familiar with the story, Bogart plays Rip Murdock, an ex-G.I. returning from the war who suddenly finds himself trying to clear his war-buddy of a murder rap, and then solve his friends murder. Bogarts character tangles with the dark underworld, mixing it up with killers and a lovely blonde. This movie has a nice, dark feel to it. Not as dark as say, "In A Lonely Place" (also Columbia), but still very nice.
I liked this film enough to put out the money, and if you are an honest person who loves old Bogey pictures, then you'll put out the money as well. Do all of us honest people a favor, don't help drive up the cost of dvds by supporting pirating like some other goofball suggests. You will never get as good a digital copy by burning your own, unless you're willing to do two things: Buy the most expensive digital recorder you can find, and drop any integrity you have into the ditch to steal a copy.
Rating:
Summary: With a name like Rip Murdoch how can you go wrong?
Review: I watched this flick back to back with "The Maltese Falcon", and I must say, "Dead Reckoning" was MUCH more enjoyable. Outside of Bogey's inherent coolness, there wasn't much else in "The Maltese Falcon" to hold my interest. "Dead Reckoning" was much grittier, and I think, much more true to the essence of film noir. To top it off, you get lots of colorful banter and the sultry Lizabeth Scott!
Rating:
Summary: With a name like Rip Murdoch how can you go wrong?
Review: I watched this flick back to back with "The Maltese Falcon", and I must say, "Dead Reckoning" was MUCH more enjoyable. Outside of Bogey's inherent coolness, there wasn't much else in "The Maltese Falcon" to hold my interest. "Dead Reckoning" was much grittier, and I think, much more true to the essence of film noir. To top it off, you get lots of colorful banter and the sultry Lizabeth Scott!
Rating: 
Summary: Dead Quality
Review: It pains me to see quality classics destroyed by garbage studios such as Columbia Tristar. They release horrible reproductions of your favorite classics only to re-release them one year later as a special edition. Do you think if write Santa this Christmas I might be able to get a widescreen release of this film or one with a better picture. The pigs at Warner are infamous for crappy reproductions. Is it time to feed the pigs more money and buy this release? No way, get yourself a good DVD decryption program, rent this DVD, and copy it! Thank GOD for piracy, the studios have been ripping off the consumer for years and now it's time to fight back! Also download the lastest movie release's off your favorite newsgroup.It's time to send the studios a meesage. Hail Criterion for there restoration work on some of my favorite films. The films from Criterion are worth every penny you pay for them!
Rating: 
Summary: Gulf City noir not quite steamy enough
Review: Lizabeth Scott, whose brief candle of a career flared all but exclusively in film noir, was obviously being groomed as the B-list Betty Bacall. Looks, hair, even the husky contralto are the same; was the pairing with Bogie supposed to complete the identification and capitalize on that team's success in The Big Sleep, etc.? John Cromwell, later to do such atmospheric work in Caged, dozed at the switch here. Bogart, not on best form, takes a stab at the disillusioned returning vet so prevalent in these post-war nightmares; he's tracking down a war buddy gone missing. Though the movie spills over with images and contrivances from this dark genre, most of them lack conviction. There's one eye-popping scene, so bad it verges on greatness, when Scott, as shantoozie Coral Chandler (aka Dusty, aka "Mike") starts singing a forgettable love song while seated at her nightclub table, spotlight and all. And Scott's character (she is, after all, the deadly female of the piece) betrays careless development -- as though two possible endings were under consideration -- making the film's denouement oddly unsatisfactory.
Rating: 
Summary: #2 of the lost Bogart classics, behind Across the Pacific
Review: Quite good, actually really good. The only real problem is the lack of decent vhs transfers and a good dvd recording. One version of the vhs copies is good, the other terrible. On to the movie, Lizbeth Scott really heats up the screen, but she has a chill, distant quality to her at times on the screen that suits the tone well. The rest of the supporting cast is really good, and the plot moves along crisply. It is well scripted, and Bogart submerges himself in the character (something he doesn't always do in later movies) and gives an interesting twist on his burnt out romantic image. Some imaginative scenes and images will haunt you, and the ending is perfectly noir. Excellent use of shadows and light, though a dvd would show this off better. Worth viewing.
Rating:
Summary: #2 of the lost Bogart classics, behind Across the Pacific
Review: Quite good, actually really good. The only real problem is the lack of decent vhs transfers and a good dvd recording. One version of the vhs copies is good, the other terrible. On to the movie, Lizbeth Scott really heats up the screen, but she has a chill, distant quality to her at times on the screen that suits the tone well. The rest of the supporting cast is really good, and the plot moves along crisply. It is well scripted, and Bogart submerges himself in the character (something he doesn't always do in later movies) and gives an interesting twist on his burnt out romantic image. Some imaginative scenes and images will haunt you, and the ending is perfectly noir. Excellent use of shadows and light, though a dvd would show this off better. Worth viewing.
Rating:
Summary: Bogart is Bogart!
Review: Yes indeed, this is fine Bogey mister. Narration, exactly what you want in 40's noir, great acting by all (save Liz Scott), but you don't care because everything else comes off. Note the cab drivers' rearview mirror, or the night scene in the rain toward the end. Scott never looked better than she did with wet hair! The best scenes may be in the Casino hotel room where Bogie leaves his radio on the police call band, "ya know like you do sometimes". The dialogue in the car before the dame caused the crack-up was taken nearly verbatem from the "Falcon". Pick this one up, a keeper for sure.
Rating:
Summary: "Don't push me darling..."
Review: Yes indeed, this is fine Bogey mister. Narration, exactly what you want in 40's noir, great acting by all (save Liz Scott), but you don't care because everything else comes off. Note the cab drivers' rearview mirror, or the night scene in the rain toward the end. Scott never looked better than she did with wet hair! The best scenes may be in the Casino hotel room where Bogie leaves his radio on the police call band, "ya know like you do sometimes". The dialogue in the car before the dame caused the crack-up was taken nearly verbatem from the "Falcon". Pick this one up, a keeper for sure.
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