I finally saw Allen Baron's 1961 movie BLAST OF SILENCE, a brutal, cold piece of low-budget film noir that I've been hearing great things about for years. I'm pleased to report that it lives up to the hype…and is unlike any Christmas movie you've ever seen. The fantastic, gravel-voiced second-person narration (written by Waldo Salt under a pseudonym and performed by an uncredited Lionel Stander) and the startlingly bleak visuals more than make-up for the thin plot and weak acting. I recommend it.
It is indeed very unique. I wonder why it ended up being overlooked by most film and film noir buffs. I wish Criterion uncovered more film noirs. Speaking of Criterion, have you seen their recent Golden Age of Television? It includes teleplays by Serling, Chayefsky and others.
I bought that last year and really love it too. The DVD has some nice extras too.
My only problem wit the film is that the ending is pretty much telegraphed from the start. Still its a great bleak noir which I can’t get enough of.