Film Noir Classics Double Feature: Borderline & D.O.A. - VCI Entertainment (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Theatrical Release Dates: USA, 1949 (D.O.A.), USA, 1950 (Borderline)
Directors: Rudolph Maté (D.O.A.), William A. Seiter (Borderline)
Cast: Edmond O'Brien, Pamela Britton, Luther Adler, Beverly Garland, Lynn Baggett, William Ching, Henry Hart, Neville Brand, Laurette Luez, Jess Kirkpatrick (D.O.A.), Fred MacMurray, Claire Trevor, Raymond Burr, José Torvay, Morris Ankrum, Roy Roberts, Don Diamond, Nacho Galindo (Borderline)

Release Date: May 26th, 2026
Approximate Running Times: 83 Minutes 36 Seconds (D.O.A.), 88 Minutes 10 Seconds (Borderline)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Films)
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono English (Both Films)
Subtitles: English SDH (Both Films)
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $24.95

"Borderline- Two undercover agents embed themselves inside a Mexican drug-smuggling operation--each completely unaware that the other is working the same case. D.O.A. -D.O.A. is the classic drama of suspense with Edmond O'Brien giving one of his finest performances. O'Brien plays, Frank Bigelow, a real-estate salesman whose life suddenly turns into a bizarre nightmare after he is mistakenly poisoned while on a business trip.” – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 1.5/5 (D.O.A.), 2/5 (Borderline)

Here’s the information given about the transfer, “Restored from new HD masters. First time these Film-Noir Classics have been released on Blu-ray!"

D.O.A. and Borderline come on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 31.7 GB

Feature: 19.8 GB (D.O.A.), 21.2 GB (Borderline)

Both transfers look rough; source-related imprecations and digital noise reduction strip away all filmic qualities. That said, the provided screenshots give a clear idea of what to expect from these two transfers.

Audio: 1.5/5 (D.O.A.), 2.5/5 (Borderline)

Each film comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in English with removable English SDH. Borderline’s audio fares better than D.O.A.’s audio, which sounds confined and has some sibilance issues. That said, dialogue comes through clearly enough to follow; just don’t expect much in the way of range.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a video essay about actor Edmond O’Brien titled The Man Who Made Every Second Count (4 minutes 52 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English subtitles), a video essay about director Rudolph Maté titled The Eye Behind the Shadows (5 minutes 14 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English subtitles), a video essay about actor Fred MacMurray titled From Noir Shadows to Disney Light (3 minutes 8 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English subtitles), and a video essay about director William A. Seiter titled Hollywood’s Hidden Craftsman (4 minutes 22 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English subtitles).

It should be noted that all of the featurettes are AI-generated.

Included with this release is a DVD that has the same content as the Blu-ray included as part of this combo release.

Summary:

D.O.A.: While on vacation, a man discovers that he has been poisoned and has only 24 hours to live. He then frantically searches for the reason behind the poisoning and who is responsible for it.

D.O.A. was directed by Rudolph Maté, known for other notable films including The Dark Past, When Worlds Collide, and Miracle in the Rain.

A man walks into a police station and announces that he’s just been murdered. From there he proceeds to tell his story and how he ended up in the situation he now finds himself in. The opening setup does an excellent job of grabbing your attention, and it is an exemplary way to introduce a character.

The well-executed narrative is overflowing with tense moments as it effectively builds momentum to an exceptional finale. While the narrative begins as the protagonist has exhausted most of the time he had left to live, his story is told via a series of flashbacks that reveal the who's and why's. Another area where the narrative excels is its well-placed twists, which keep you guessing where things are going.

All around, the cast are excellent, especially Edmond O'Brien (The Barefoot Contessa) in the role of the protagonist, a man named Frank Bigelow, an accountant on vacation. Once his character discovers his fate, he frantically searches for the truth, and his performance perfectly captures his character's state of mind. Lynn Baggett (The Mob) is another notable performance in the role of the femme fatale.

The premise, the look, and the mood of D.O.A. embody all the hallmarks typically associated with film noir. Visually, D.O.A. does an exemplary job heightening the mood and creating visually arresting moments. When discussing D.O.A., it is important to acknowledge its primary shortcoming: the use of a slide whistle whenever a pretty girl is near the protagonist. This element injects a sense of silliness into an otherwise serious plot, creating a contrast that feels out of place. Ultimately, D.O.A. is a standout film from Film noir’s classic era, making it a must-see for fans of these films.

Borderline: Two undercover agents who are unaware of each other infiltrate a drug smuggling ring in Mexico.

Borderline’s director, William A. Seiter, was a filmmaker whose career stretched back to the silent film era, and he was most known for working in the comedy and drama genres. Besides Borderline, his only other forays into the world of crime are Champ for a Day and Make Haste to Live.

Although Borderline falls into the era that's considered classic Film noir, it is a film that makes for an intriguing discussion about what is or should be a Film noir. While Borderline shares a connection to Film noir through its classification as part of the crime film genre, it is missing a key element that defines Film noir: a visual style that utilizes light and shadow to amplify that mood. Borderline’s visual style is characterized by a lack of visually striking moments and flat cinematography, which contrasts sharply with the expectations typically associated with Film noir.

The premise of two undercover agents who are unaware of each other provides Borderline with a strong foundation to build upon. What follows is a narrative that fails to capitalize on its promise and falls into familiar trappings of classic Hollywood romantic entanglements. Another weakness of the narrative is its inability to build momentum and its predictability when it comes to guessing where things are going.

When it comes to the cast and their performances, this is one area where Borderline is not lacking. Fred MacMurray (Double Indemnity) and Claire Trevor (Murder, My Sweet) are cast in the roles of the two undercover agents, and they have a strong onscreen chemistry that makes the moments they share the most memorable. Another performance of note is Raymond Burr (Rear Window) in the role of Pete Richie, who runs a narcotics smuggling operation that brings the product from Mexico. Ultimately, Borderline is a by-the-numbers crime film that does a poor job of exploiting its solid premise.

D.O.A. and Borderline receive underwhelming audio/video presentations from VCI Entertainment.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Gay Desperado - VCI Entertainment (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1936
Director: Rouben Mamoulian
Writers: Wallace Smith, Leo Birinsky
Cast: Nino Martini, Ida Lupino, Leo Carrillo, Harold Huber, James Blakeley, Stanley Fields, Mischa Auer

Release Date: June 9th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 87 Minutes 9 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

"As a reluctant member of Leo Carrillo's bandit gang, Martini is called on to guard the lovely and recently kidnapped Ida Lupino, with the expected romantic results—plus interference from a bunch of American gangsters moving their operation south of the border.” – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 3.5/5

Here’s the information given about the transfer, “a new restoration of The Gay Desperado, made possible with the support of the Mary Pickford Foundation."

The Gay Desperado comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 31.7 GB

Feature: 23.3 GB

The source is clean and free of any debris. Flesh tones look healthy, image clarity and compression are strong, black levels fare well, and any digital noise reduction is never too intrusive.

Audio: 3.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in English with removable English SDH. Although the audio sounds clear and balanced, it is limited range-wise.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a collection of clips for movies also released by VCI Entertainment, a poster & photo gallery with music from the film playing in the background, and an interview with film historian David Wilt (24 minutes 29 seconds, LPCM stereo English subtitles).

Other extras include a 12-page booklet with cast & crew information, an essay about the film written by Richard Barrios, and press quotes.

Included with this release is a DVD that has the same content as the Blu-ray included as part of this combo release.

Summary:

Rouben Mamoulian directed The Gay Desperado. He’s most known for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931), Love Me Tonight, Queen Christina, Blood and Sand (1941), and Silk Stockings.

A Mexican bandit named Braganza, who greatly admires Chivo, a singer who provides live entertainment in between movies, convinces Chivo to join his gang. Not satisfied with just being a bandit, Braganza tries to emulate the American gangsters he sees in the movies.

Considering the talent involved, Rouben Mamoulian, producer Mary Pickford, and actress Ida Lupino (The Hitch-Hiker), it's surprising that The Gay Desperado is relatively unknown. Critics and audiences universally praised The Gay Desperado upon its initial release. That said, most of what might have initially worked for critics and audiences back then has not aged well.

The Gay Desperado opens with a clever moment of deception. The scene initially seems to show mafia gangsters fleeing the police amidst a hail of bullets, but as the camera pulls back, it reveals that the action is actually a moment from a film being watched by a crowd. While there are no mafia gangsters in the narrative proper, the presence looms large as a Mexican bandit tries to emulate them throughout. From there, what unfolds is not a crime film, but a parody of the 1930s American crime film.

What makes The Gay Desperado so enjoyable are its performances, especially Leo Carrillo's (Phantom of the Opera-1943 version) portrayal of the Mexican bandit Braganza. He delivers a delirious exaggeration of the Mexican bandit character. The other two leads deliver solid performances: Nino Martini, known for his role in One Night with You, plays Chivo, while Ida Lupino portrays Jane, a woman kidnapped by Braganza's gang who becomes Chivo's love interest.

From its opening moments it's clear that there are going to be a lot of laughs and a few well-placed twists that ensure there’s rarely a moment that falls flat. Besides being a parody of the 1930s American crime film, The Gay Desperado is also a romantic comedy and a musical. When it comes to blending these three genres, The Gay Desperado is very effective. Another reason why The Gay Desperado works as well as it does is Rouben Mamoulian’s exemplary direction. Ultimately, The Gay Desperado is a well-crafted film that often exceeds the sum of its parts.

The Gay Desperado gets a first-rate release from VCI Entertainment that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and an excellent interview with David Wilt. Recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Girls: 2 Disc Edition – Cult Epics (UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Canada/France/West Germany, 1980
Director: Just Jaeckin
Writers: Just Jaeckin, Géza von Radványi, Jean-Luc Voulfow
Cast: Anne Parillaud, Zoé Chauveau, Charlotte Walior, Isabelle Mejias, Christophe Bourseiller, László Szabó

Release Date: May 12th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 94 Minutes 39 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / HDR10
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono French
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $49.95

"Three teenage friends--Suzanne (Charlotte Walior), Annie (Zoé Chauveau), and Catherine (Anne Parillaud, later of La Femme Nikita)--as they navigate the emotional turbulence of adolescence, love, and self-discovery. Spending their nights in discos and cinemas chasing adventure and romance, they are joined by Suzanne's younger sister, Betty (Isabelle Mejias), who eagerly imitates their behavior, only to stumble into adult consequences she isn't yet prepared for." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5 (4K UHD), 4.25/5 (Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "4K Transfer from the original negative."

Girls Comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 62 GB

Feature: 61.1 GB

The source looks excellent, free of any source imperfections. Flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look. That said, there are some moments where grain looks thicker than others.

Girls comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 43.1 GB

Feature: 22.4 GB

This Blu-ray uses the same master that is used for the 4K UHD disc.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in French with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced, and ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include an audio commentary with Jeremy Richey and Peter Verstraten.

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include a video essay by Jeremy Richey titled Who is Just Jaeckin (18 minutes 23 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival TV interview with director Just Jaeckin, and actresses Anne Parrilaud, Zoé Chaveau, and Charlotte Walior (4 minutes 39 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French with removable English subtitles), Last Interview with Just Jaeckin (16 minutes 54 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actress Isabelle Mejias (20 minutes 48 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), scenes exclusive to the German cut of Girls, which recasts Claus Obalski in the role of Jérôme (25 minutes 59 seconds, Dolby Digital mono German, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Jeremy Richey and Peter Verstraten.

Other extras on the Blu-ray disc include trailers for The Island Closet to Heaven, The Debut, My Nights with Susan, Sandra, Olga & Julie, and The Key.

Other extras include a slipcover (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

Just Jaeckin made a conscious effort to create a few films that were not like his two greatest successes, Emmanuelle and The Story of O. The first two films, Madame Claude and The Last Romantic Lover, arguably showcase Just Jaeckin's strengths as a filmmaker. The third film from this era, Girls, tells a coming-of-age story about four mischievous teenage girls who seek fun while often neglecting their responsibilities.

If someone were to watch Girls without knowing that Just Jaeckin directed it, Girls only shares a connection with his other works through the playful humor that is characteristic of his filmography. What immediately captivates viewers about Girl is its vibrant energy; it is brimming with youthful exuberance. Additionally, what distinguishes Girl is the way Just Jaeckin’s direction skillfully navigates the more sensitive moments experienced by the four young girls.

As strong as Just Jaeckin’s direction and the story are, a film is only as good as its cast, and Girls has an exceptional one. The four girls are perfectly cast, and two of them, Charlotte Walior and Isabelle Mejias (Julie Darling), are making their film debuts. The most notable cast member is Anne Parillaud, who would go on to star in the iconic role of Nikita from La Femme Nikita. The rest of the cast is populated by strong performances that complement the four leads and their characters' stories.

The opening setup does a superb job fleshing out the four main characters. The narrative is always engaging, and it does an excellent job building momentum as the four girls' risky behavior finally catches up to them, and a poignant finale of self-reflection serves as a perfect coda for the four girls' story. One standout aspect of Girls is its exceptional soundtrack, composed by Duncan Mackay and Eric Stewart of the rock band 10cc. Their iconic song "I’m Not in Love" features prominently in the series. Overall, Girls is a well-crafted melodrama where everything seamlessly comes together.

Girls gets an excellent release from Cult Epics that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of insightful extras. Highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a MPC-HC player and lossless PNGs.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

Mona Lisa: Limited Edition – Arrow Video (4K UHD)

Theatrical Release Date: UK, 1986
Director: Neil Jordan
Writers: Neil Jordan, David Leland
Cast: Bob Hoskins, Cathy Tyson, Robbie Coltrane, Michael Caine, Clarke Peters, Joe Brown, Perry Fenwick

Release Date: May 11th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 103 Minutes 51 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / HDR10 Dolby Vision
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: £29.99 (UK)

"Five years after The Long Good Friday, Bob Hoskins returned to the gangster genre, but his character George is a mere underling this time, a chauffeur hired by a mesmerizingly slimy gangland kingpin (Michael Caine) to transport a high-class prostitute (Cathy Tyson) from client to client. When she enlists his help in tracking down an old friend, George finds himself exploring a hellish underworld that he never imagined existed." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Mona Lisa was exclusively restored by Arrow Films. The original 35mm camera negative was scanned in 4K resolution. The film was restored in 4K resolution and graded in HDR10 and Dolby Vision. Scanning, grading, and picture resolution were completed at Silver Salt Restoration, London. All materials for this restoration were made available by Handmade Films via the BFI."

Mona Lisa comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 82.3 GB

Feature: 72.8 GB

This new 4K transfer is a massive improvement over this film’s previous home media releases. The most noticeable area of improvement is image clarity, especially during darker scenes. Flesh tones look healthy; colors are nicely saturated; contrast, black levels, image clarity, and compression are solid; and the image always retains an organic look.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in English with removable English SDH. The audio sounds excellent; dialogue always comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 32 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), an archival interview with screenwriter David Leland (19 minutes 1 second, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with producer Stephen Wooley (13 minutes 36 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with director Neil Jordan (19 minutes 57 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival audio commentary with actor Bob Hoskins and Neil Jordan, reversible cover art, a slipcover (limited to the first pressing), and a 20-page booklet (limited to the first pressing) with cast & crew information, an essay tilted Mona Lisa written by Mike Sutton, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Neil Jorden directed Mona Lisa. He’s known for Company of Wolves, The Crying Game, and Interview with the Vampire.

Recently released from prison, George collects a favor from an old friend who gets him a job as a call girl’s driver. What begins as a routine job quickly spirals into chaos when George decides to assist the call girl he has been driving around in her search for a missing friend. Will he manage to find her friend, or will they both become entangled in a dangerous underworld where life holds little value?

If ever there was a film whose title perfectly summarizes what the film is all about, then Neil Jordan’s Mona Lisa would be such a candidate. And just like the painting by Leonardo da Vinci, which bears a smile that has fascinated everyone who has laid their eyes upon it, perception plays an integral role in the story that unfolds in Neil Jordan’s film.

Mona Lisa starts as a tale of a protagonist attempting to escape his old habits, but by the time its shocking conclusion arrives, it transforms into something completely different. The protagonist ultimately realizes that he will continue to fall into the same traps as long as he allows others to exploit him.

Content-wise, Mona Lisa incorporates many elements commonly associated with films about underworld crime. However, these elements serve primarily as superficial embellishments rather than integral components of the film's message. Consequently, the overall effect leans more toward a drama than a thriller.

The cast are excellent in their respective roles; there are three performances in particular standing out above everyone else and equally deserving of recognition. Bob Hoskins (The Long Good Friday) plays the film’s protagonist, George, while Cathy Tyson (The Serpent and the Rainbow) portrays Simone, a high-priced call girl whom George is tasked with driving to her various clients. Later on in the film, her character convinces George to help her find her missing friend, who is also a call girl and underage. The last of these three performances is Michael Caine (Dressed to Kill) in the role of a sleazy crime boss named Mortwell.

From a production standpoint, there is not a single area where Mona Lisa does not excel. The pacing is consistently strong, and the visuals remain impressive throughout. Although Mona Lisa features many visually striking moments, none are as shocking as the explosive finale. Ultimately, Mona Lisa is a captivating melodrama that quickly draws you in and whose finale stays with you.

Mona Lisa gets an excellent release from Arrow Video that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of insightful extras. Highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a MPC-HC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer