Blonde Ice

Starring:Robert Paige (IV), Leslie Brooks (II), Russ Vincent, Michael Whalen, James Griffith, Emory Parnell, Walter Sande, John Holland, Mildred Coles, Selmer Jackson, David Leonard, Jack Del Rio, Julie Gibson, Rory Mallinson, William H. O'Brien
Director: Jack Bernhard
Studio: Alpha Video
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

A fast-paced, murderous, low-budget programmer, and not bad
Ice just nice
A Good B-Movie Film Noir Is Rescued
"You're not warm. You're cold...like ice."

Blonde Ice
Starring: Robert Paige (IV) , Leslie Brooks (II) , Russ Vincent , Michael Whalen , and James Griffith
Director: Jack Bernhard
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009NZ6W0
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Customer Reviews:

A fast-paced, murderous, low-budget programmer, and not bad.......2006-11-29

Claire Cummings, San Francisco society reporter, blonde and gorgeous, is a woman to die for. If you make the mistake of marrying her, you probably will.

Claire (Leslie Brooks) goes through men who want to marry her like a sharp knife through your side. She keeps news columnist Les Burns (Robert Paige) handy even when she marries a very wealthy San Francisco businessman. She makes the mistake of letting a letter to Les fall into her husband's hands on their honeymoon. "My darling Les," she writes, "three more weeks until I can see you again, dearest. Poor stupid Carl tries so hard to be a good husband, but he can't get used to an expensive wife." Carl says it will be a divorce. Twenty-four hours later, Carl isn't going to say anything ever again.

Blonde Ice lets us tag along as Claire not only goes through her new husband, but through a blackmailer and a new, high social fiancee. She manipulates Les, who loves her, until even he has her number. "I once said I couldn't figure you out," he tells her. "I can now. You're not a normal woman. You're not warm. You're cold...like ice. Yeah, like ice...blonde ice." It might not have been wise to be so frank with Claire because now she plans for him to take the fall for one of her murders. Justice finally comes to Claire, as it must to all bad people in Hollywood movies of that time. Even then, it takes a three-way set-up, some psychoanalysis and a bullet to do the job.

The movie is a great example of a low-budget B programmer which just manages to rise a little above the average. The script is okay, the acting is adequate, the story is interesting. What makes it work? Director Jack Bernhard, just as much a journeyman as the actors, keeps the film moving briskly, with little time to let us get bored or impatient. The photography helps quite a bit, with several noirish scenes at night. Also important is Leslie Brooks as Claire. Brooks was an actress that stayed firmly planted as a lead in B movies, with an occasional foray as a second lead in A movies. She's not an actress who would worry the A crowd, but she does a fine job as Claire, the self-centered, manipulative and deadly ice queen. The only really weak part of the movie is the conclusion, when psychiatry is used as an explanation for her behavior. For me, this undercuts her nicely murderous actions; after all, don't we all just want the nice things in life?

There are even tips for fine living. What could be a healthier lunch than "martinis, chicken salad for two and coffee, please." Or "four Manhattans, waiter, with half French, half Italian vermouth." Why, that's a Perfect Manhattan.

Be sure to buy the VCI Entertainment version of this public domain title. The VCI DVD transfer has the quality of a clean but old VHS tape. The audio is fine. The VCI disc also holds several extras. These include an episode from an old TV program named "Into the Night," a movie music short titled "Satan Wears a Satin Dress" and a commentary by Jay Fenton, who was instrumental in doing the restoration work on the VCI release and is knowledgeable about noir films. Evidently, what he had to work with was awful. Fenton also wrote the printed essay on restoration and Blonde Ice which is included as an insert in the VCI DVD case.

Ice just nice.......2006-08-20

First and foremost, if you are going to buy the DVD, then make sure it is from VCI as they spent the money to restore two prints into one good version and the sound is excellent. If you don't care about picture and sound quality, the Alpha Video version is adequate.

This is a B-movie and never rises above such although the budget was substantial. Leslie Brooks gives an adequate performance but the script never affords much opportunity. While some think this is classic film noir, it is just another B crime-drama without much suspense or thrill.

While certainly entertaining, it is never rises above ice melting for suspense and unfortunately the ending is not predictable but extremely contrived. I had the feeling the ending was shot on the last production day and they only had one hour before the crew bailed.

Forget the words "great" or "significant" boldly touted by other reviewers. You will not be keeping this after watching nor thinking of watching a second time. It is like a second-rate novel you take to the beach or on an airplane: light entertainment to fill time.

A Good B-Movie Film Noir Is Rescued .......2005-08-13

Blonde Ice was one of hundreds of movies made by "poverty row" movie studios such as PRC and Monogram. Many of these were literally thrown in the trash once their theatrical run was over. A large number of these movies are lost - there are no prints in existence anymore.

Blonde Ice was thought to be in that category until film restorer Jay Fenton, working with VCI, put together two prints that he discovered. Each was significantly damaged, but when the good parts of each print were combined a single print in good condition was created. This process, along with many other stories, are told by Jay Fenton as special features on the VCI version of Blone Ice.

The film itself will not make anyone, even hardcore B-Movie noir buffs, forget Double Indemnity, but it is one of the better movies to come out of poverty row in that era. Leslie Brooks is perfectly cast as the title character, and the story is fairly well written and directed (considering the miniscule budget that the movie had).

As to which version of Blonde Ice to buy, I've got to recommend the VCI version. They spent the time and money with Jay Fenton to restore the movie, and it was an investment well spent as their DVD of Blonde Ice is truly something special. You will not find a better print of Blonde Ice available (or even one as good), and the extras on their DVD are worth the price of admission alone! (By the way, I am NOT on the VCI payroll, I just believe in rewarding and crediting those who go above and beyond the call...)

If you're a B-Movie fan, a film noir fan, or just curious about Hollywood's poverty row studios of the 1940's you should definitely check out VCI's Blonde Ice DVD (and skip this version from Alpha/Gotham).

"You're not warm. You're cold...like ice.".......2005-07-03

Starring in what might just be THE definitive femme fatale role of film noir, Leslie Brooks plays Claire Cummings, a selfish, cold-blooded, and very sexy young blonde who uses men and then discards them while climbing her way up the social ladder. Eventually, Claire murders one husband, then a second husband, along with a would-be blackmailer who underestimated "Blonde Ice". Before she can kill again, the police (and her discarded boyfriends) learn the truth and set out to stop her.

While the ending was totally predictable, I still found this awesome classic one of the very best B noirs I've ever seen. I'd never heard of Leslie Brooks before watching this film and from what I've since read this was her best role (and performance). "Blonde Ice" is an unusually dark movie, even for film noir, and I guess that's why it stands out among the dozens of B noirs that were released in the 1940's and 1950's. The Alpha dvd has a good picture quality but the sound is rather poor. Still, for the cheap price I paid for it I'm not complaining. A definite must for all fans of film noir!

Average customer rating:

A B-level programmer, but it sets a brisk, murderous pace
"You're not a normal woman."
You're not well, Claire
B Noir Murderess--the first black widow

Blonde Ice
Starring: Leslie Brooks , Mildred Coles , Julie Gibson , James Griffith , and John Holland
Director: Jack Bernhard
Manufacturer: Vci Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000C2IVE
Release Date: 2003-09-30

Description

Thought lost since the early 70's, BLONDE ICE tells the bizarre tale of a beautiful society columnist who's desire for money and position turn her into a serial killer--a story most Hollywood studios of the 1940's wouldn't touch! The tagline "ICE in her veins-ICICLES in her heart" perfectly describes Claire Cummings as she eagerly seduces rich and powerful men. This recently discovered "B" film gives new meaning to the phrase "willing victims" and shows what film noir on a tiny budget could look like. Bonus Features: Commentary by Jay Fenton, Film Restoration Consultant| Bonus Film Noir TV Episode - "Into the Night"| Bonus 'Soundie' - "Satan Wears a Satin Dress"| Photo Gallery| Bonus Film Noir Trailers| Video Interview with Jay Fenton on Film Restoration| Edgar Ulmer - A Fascinating Possibility| Bios and Filmographies| Liner Notes written by Jay Fenton. Specs: DVD9; Dolby Digital Mono; 74 minutes; B&W; 1.33:1Aspect Ratio; MPAA - NR; Year - 1948; SRP - $9.99.

Customer Reviews:

A B-level programmer, but it sets a brisk, murderous pace.......2006-11-29

Claire Cummings, San Francisco society reporter, blonde and gorgeous, is a woman to die for. If you make the mistake of marrying her, you probably will.

Claire (Leslie Brooks) goes through men who want to marry her like a sharp knife through your side. She keeps news columnist Les Burns (Robert Paige) handy even when she marries a very wealthy San Francisco businessman. She makes the mistake of letting a letter to Les fall into her husband's hands on their honeymoon. "My darling Les," she writes, "three more weeks until I can see you again, dearest. Poor stupid Carl tries so hard to be a good husband, but he can't get used to an expensive wife." Carl says it will be a divorce. Twenty-four hours later, Carl isn't going to say anything ever again.

Blonde Ice lets us tag along as Claire not only goes through her new husband, but through a blackmailer and a new, high social fiancee. She manipulates Les, who loves her, until even he has her number. "I once said I couldn't figure you out," he tells her. "I can now. You're not a normal woman. You're not warm. You're cold...like ice. Yeah, like ice...blonde ice." It might not have been wise to be so frank with Claire because now she plans for him to take the fall for one of her murders. Justice finally comes to Claire, as it must to all bad people in Hollywood movies of that time. Even then, it takes a three-way set-up, some psychoanalysis and a bullet to do the job.

The movie is a great example of a low-budget B programmer which just manages to rise a little above the average. The script is okay, the acting is adequate, the story is interesting. What makes it work? Director Jack Bernhard, just as much a journeyman as the actors, keeps the film moving briskly, with little time to let us get bored or impatient. The photography helps quite a bit, with several noirish scenes at night. Also important is Leslie Brooks as Claire. Brooks was an actress that stayed firmly planted as a lead in B movies, with an occasional foray as a second lead in A movies. She's not an actress who would worry the A crowd, but she does a fine job as Claire, the self-centered, manipulative and deadly ice queen. The only really weak part of the movie is the conclusion, when psychiatry is used as an explanation for her behavior. For me, this undercuts her nicely murderous actions; after all, don't we all just want the nice things in life?

There are even tips for fine living. What could be a healthier lunch than "martinis, chicken salad for two and coffee, please." Or "four Manhattans, waiter, with half French, half Italian vermouth." Why, that's a Perfect Manhattan.

The DVD transfer has the quality of a clean but old VHS tape. The audio is fine. Surprisingly, especially for a VCI Entertainment disc, there are several extras. These include, among others, an episode from an old TV program named "Into the Night," a movie music short titled "Satan Wears a Satin Dress" and a commentary by Jay Fenton, who was instrumental in doing the restoration work on the film and is knowledgeable about noir films. Evidently, what he had to work with was awful. Fenton also wrote the printed essay on restoration and Blonde Ice which is included as an insert in the DVD case.

"You're not a normal woman.".......2004-11-27

Claire Cummings (Leslie Brooks) juggles three men at her wedding reception--millionaire hubbie Carl Hanneman (John Holland), cast-off beau Les Burns (Robert Paige), and newspaper man, Al Herrick (James Griffith) who flaunts a lighter that was an expensive gift from Claire. Within the first few minutes of the film, Claire is established as a seductive femme fatale, and for a film noir character, she's as wicked as they come. Many film noir femme fatales resort to manipulating their men to murder--not Claire--she murders and doesn't blink an eye. Claire murders men when they cross her or become roadblocks to her ambition, and through the entire film, she manages to blind-side lovesick Les Burns to the obvious facts.

"Blonde Ice" is a B film noir--the cast members are mainly forgotten, but someone had the brains to revive this gem and sell it on DVD. The quality of the film is more than adequate, and the DVD is loaded with extra features:
A television episode of "Into The Night" (this had me in stitches)
Performance of the song "Satan Wears a Satin Dress"
Interview with film restorer Jay Fenton
Commentary by Jay Fenton
Film noir trailers.
Bios of the stars
"Edgar Ulmer-A Fascinating Possibility." (Details the possibility that cult director Ulmer may have written the screenplay)

The main characters deliver good performances. Leslie Brooks as Claire is spectacular--her manner seems sincere but there's also an emotional vacancy there. She's one of the most appallingly evil femme fatales I've seen on film. The plot disintegrates right at the film's conclusion, but for originality and content, it still deserves 5 stars. Film noir fans should make a point of seeking out a copy of this obscure film. Favourite line: "Don't let's quarrel. We can do that after we're married."--displacedhuman

You're not well, Claire.......2004-07-25

Claire (Leslie Brooks) is blonde, beautiful, and deadly. As is true of most film noir heroines, money and power are more important to her than love, and this society page columnist lets nothing stand in the way of her shady ambitions. Or, as the tagline has it - Ice in her veins, icicles on her heart. Claire marries and murders, is the target of an extortionist and murders, becomes engaged and murders. Off in an innocent corner is sports columnist Les Burns (Robert Paige,) his love blinding him to her homicidal ways.
Brooks and Paige head an unusually strong cast of veteran character actors in the Poverty Row movie BLONDE ICE. In a role that could easily have been taken over the top, Brooks plays the sociopath with passionate restraint. Paige, who appearance here is evidence to the downward track his career was on, plays the poor love-struck sap with a sensitive touch.
True to its Poverty Row heritage corners were cut and money was saved at almost every turn. There aren't a lot of expensive tracking and dolly shots, and you'll notice the same curtains in Les's apartment, in a lawyer's office and hanging off the windows in a room holding an election night party.
The cast is filled with veteran character actors who'd either fallen off the A-movie list or were on it only as bit players. Nobody strays too far out of their comfort zone in this one. For instance, Emory Parnell plays police Capt. Bill Murdock. In the 250 movies he's credited with appearing in, Parnell almost always played the cop, good or bad (in this one he's a grouchy good one.) The only non-veteran in the cast is James Griffith, who plays newspaperman Al Herrick, a friend and co-worker of Claire and Burns who smells a rat a little earlier than anyone else. Although BLONDE ICE is his first movie, Herrick would go on to appear in about 100 more. Here he plays a bit of a weasel, someone who's every look, word and gesture carries an insinuation.
The VCI Entertainment dvd comes with a number of special features that truly make this one a bargain value. The special features include:
- A twenty-two minute, early 1950s television episode of Into the Night, starring Wallace Ford. This one offers another take on the theme of the deadly female. Fans of Ford will get a kick out of this one, although I have to admit that I find him annoying. Non-fans won't miss anything by skipping this it completely.
- Ray Barber does an early (1950?) music video, singing the bluesy "Satan Wears a Satan Gown" while Johnny Stage-struck waits in the alley for his lady love.
- A number of trailers for vintage film noirs.
- An interview with film restorer Jay Fenton.
- A commentary track with Jay Fenton.
- Film bios of the stars.
- And, for hard-core noir geeks, there's "A Fascinating Possibility," which in text discusses the possibility that legendary DETOUR director Edgar Ulmer may have had a hand in writing the script for BLONDE ICE.

The five stars are for fans of the genre. If you count yourself a fan of film noir, you'll love BLONDE ICE.

B Noir Murderess--the first black widow.......2003-11-01

The forerunner of 1987's Black Widow (Theresa Russell, Debra Winger), Blonde Ice features B actors in a B film noir. Leslie Brooks plays the title character, a newspaper columnist who marries for money and makes sure she gets the dough she's due from her marriages as soon as she can. The whole time she's hooking up with rich guys, she's really in love (or whatever dames like this call love) with a guy she works with on the same paper.

One of the most interesting things about this film is the possibility that noted B director Edgar Ulmer (Detour, Bluebeard, Strange Illusion) may have written the script for the film under its original title, Single Indemnity. The intent, no doubt, was to play off the huge success of the A noir Double Indemnity, released four years earlier. But the releasing studio didn't cotton to this blatant title rip-off and threatened suit. Hence the title change to Blonde Ice.

This is a compact little film, clocking in at around 74 minutes. The DVD comes with some nice extras. Aside from a short description of the Edgar Ulmer connection, there's film restorer Jay Fenton, who's interviewed about film restoration and who supplies both the liner notes and a commentary on the film. There's a bonus very early TV noir episode, "Into the Night"--very creaky. An even wackier extra is some big-voiced crooner singing "Satan in Satin", no doubt inspired by this film. There's bios and filmographies of the cast and crew. And there's even a postcard showing our heroine dolled up in a bathing suit in a cute pose, circa the '40s.

This is not a strong, compelling film noir like Murder, My Sweet or Double Indemnity. But it's worth having as one of the premier B noirs for those, like me, who're noir fanatics.

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