Kansas City Confidential Blu-ray review
Dec 30, 2025- Permalink
Kansas City Confidential, released as a limited-edition part of Film Masters’ Archive Collection, is a 1952 film noir directed by Phil Karlson. Starring John Payne and Coleen Gray, the cast also includes Preston Foster, Neville Brand, Lee Van Cleef, Jack Elam, Dona Drake, Mario Siletti, Howard Negley, Carleton Young, Don Orlando, and Ted Ryan. Foster plays a crooked ex-police captain who masterminds an armoured car robbery with the help of three criminals (Brand, Elam, Van Cleef). The team only ever meet wearing masks, a plot point that inspired Quentin Tarantino for Reservoir Dogs. Using a delivery truck, they manage to frame an ex-con flower truck driver (Payne) in the process. Beaten by the cops and having lost his job, Payne’s character seeks revenge against the men who ruined his life. Thanks to Allied Vaughn and Film Masters, I had a chance to take a look at this Blu-ray release.
The 1080p AVC encoded digital transfer is presented in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio. This film has been in the public domain since the 1980s and some previous releases and versions available have not looked pretty. Film Masters has done restoration work on the source materials and though some nicks and scratches still exist here and there, it’s a really good looking presentation, with sharp detail on faces, sets and textiles and nice deep black levels.
On the audio side of things, there’s an English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono soundtrack. Subtitles are available for English SDH and for the included commentary track. The soundtrack occasionally shows it’s age with a few pops and crackles, but otherwise this is a great track with no hiss and effects that sound clean and crisp. Dialogue is clear and prioritized in the mix.
The Kansas City Confidential Blu-ray does not come with a digital code or any filmed extras. We do get an audio commentary from film historian Jason A. Ney and a booklet with an essay written by author Don Stradley that focuses on Jack Elam entitled “He Could Steal Scenes He Wasn’t Even In…”
I always enjoy Film Masters’ releases and the Kansas City Confidential Blu-ray is no exception. With restored audio and video, a commentary track, and a booklet, noir enthusiasts or thise just getting into noir will enjoy adding this to their library.