Blast of Silence (1961) Kills it On the Criterion Collection
On April 15, 2008, the Criterion Collection released Blast of Silence on Blu-ray. Allen Baron directed the film starring Allen Baron, Molly McCarthy, and Larry Tucker.
‘Blast of Silence’ Criterion Summary
Swift, brutal, and black-hearted, Allen Baron’s New York City noir Blast of Silence is a sensational surprise. This low-budget, carefully crafted portrait of a hit man on assignment in Manhattan during Christmastime follows its stripped-down narrative with mechanical precision, yet also with an eye and ear for the oddball idiosyncrasies of urban living and the imposing beauty of the city. At once visually ragged and artfully composed, and featuring rough, poetic narration performed by Lionel Stander, Blast of Silence is a stylish triumph.
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Director-Approved Special Edition Features
- New, restored digital transfer
- Requiem for a Killer: The Making of “Blast of Silence”
- Rare on-set Polaroids
- Locations revisited in 2008
- Theatrical trailer
- PLUS A booklet featuring an essay by film critic Terrence Rafferty and a four-page graphic-novel adaptation of the film by acclaimed artist Sean Phillips (Criminal, Sleeper, Marvel Zombies)
New cover by Sean Phillips
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Universal Pictures released Blast of Silence on June 5, 1961. Allen Baron directed the film which starred Allen Baron, Molly McCarthy, and Larry Tucker.