Symphony For a Massacre Blu-ray Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Jacques Deray
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Jean Rochefort, Michel Auclair, Charles Vanel, Jose Giovanni, Claude Dauphin
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Anamorphic
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Cohen Media Group
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ France
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 50 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ August 30, 2022

 

        Symphony For a Massacre is an early 1960s French film noir that has all the seedy pleasure of the American counterparts, though it takes its time to unravel them. It is a sophisticated film about the cruel violence of men willing to betray their allies for a price. The simplicity of the storyline is what makes it so effective, and also provides director Jacques Deray plenty of time to build the suspense and outline the methods of betrayal with intricate details.

 

The Burned Barns Blu-ray Review

 

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• Director ‏ : ‎ Jean Chapot
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Alain Delon, Simone Signoret, Miou-Miou
• Studio ‏ : ‎ Cohen Media Group
• Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.66:1
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ France
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 38 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ August 23, 2022

 

         The setup for The Burned Barns promises a provincial murder mystery and police procedural following the investigation into the crime. While it does trace the inquiry of a judge into those who may be involved, the film remains more focused on how this investigation affects a slightly dysfunctional family living on a farm near where the body is discovered. Despite solid acting, The Burned Barns is somewhat disappointing in its refusal to supply the audience with expected elements of a murder mystery. The investigation holds some interest, which is all but dissolved by the unsatisfying resolution. As a character study, the film is adequate. As a murder mystery, it is a failure, regardless of the pedigree of the cast.