Plot: What’s it about?
Phillip Davidson (John Mills) has just been released from prison, after serving over a decade for murder he didn’t commit. The time he spent behind bars has changed him, as he doesn’t trust others and wants to keep to himself. He takes up residence in a run down old barge, but he isn’t exactly alone there. Concerned that Davidson might go after the witnesses that condemned him, the local police keep him under constant surveillance. After all, he has made his disdain for the witnesses well known, claiming they are nothing but liars. Even with the police around, Davidson is determined to track down the witnesses and learn the truth behind their false testimonies. This path leads him into an unexpected connection with a mysterious woman, not to mention on the trail of the real murderer. But as Davidson seeks out vengeance, will he become consumed with revenge and wind up becoming more of a monster than the actual killer?
This kind of movie has been done numerous times, as an innocent man treads a fine line between redemption and over the top vengeance. The Long Memory tries to mix things up with some twists and turns, but most of them just don’t work. The romance between Davidson and Ilse stands out as a more prominent misstep, but that is just one example. I think a simpler approach would have worked better, even if it wouldn’t be as fresh. While the writing is not superb, The Long Memory still manages to offer solid entertainment thanks mostly to the cast. John Mills is excellent in the lead, bringing the pain, bitterness, and frustration of Davidson to life in palpable fashion. The rest of the cast also provides solid work, but Mills is the stand out and his performance is the main reason to check out the movie. So if you’re a fan of vengeance driven dramas or just love a great performance, The Long Memory is certainly worth a watch.
Video: How does it look?
The Long Memory is presented in full frame, as intended. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the visuals here, but the movie actually looks quite good. The print has some signs of age, but the film is almost six decades old, so that is more than reasonable to expect. The image is still clean however, so the print looks good, just a little worn at times. I found detail to be solid and contrast performs well, which is crucial since this is a black & white film. So in the end, the visual presentation is more than passable and fans should be pleased.
Audio: How does it sound?
The soundtrack here does what it needs to, but never stands out as memorable. Which is fine, since the film’s audio needs are basic across the board. The dialogue is the key element and vocals have a clean, well balanced sound. The other sound effects are passable and the music sounds fine, but again this isn’t powerful audio material. This disc also includes English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes no bonus materials.
