ASK EDDIE - June 26, 2025

FNF prez Eddie Muller responds to film noir fan questions fielded by the Foundation's Director of Communications Anne Hockens. In this edition, we discuss the use of AI in film restoration; actor Glenn Ford; our favorite voices in film noir; classic era film composer/conductor/music department head Constantin Bakaleinikoff, why no one cared about spoilers in the past and why they so reviled now, and more. Plus, Eddie teases a possible new FNF restoration project. We wrap up with Eddie’s technique for making a Vesper Martini. On the cat front, a viewer asks if Anne puts a leash on Emily and takes her for walks. Timestamps and questions below:

00:00 Eddie & Tizzy in LA, talking with strangers, rare Latin noir find, Flicker Alley/Kanopy
09:08 Q1: Primary sources behind the book "Dark City Dames"
14:03 Q2: AI in film noir restoration – benefits and concerns
28:01 Q3: Was "I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang" the first film noir?
32:16 Q4: Glenn Ford in "Ransom" and "Rage" – noir or not?
45:40 Q5: Was Bogart dubbed in "The Harder They Fall"?
48:04 Q6: Favorite voices in film noir – actors with distinct vocal style
53:37 Q7: The legacy of Constantin Bakaleinikoff in noir scoring
58:36 Q8: Why hasn't "To the Ends of the Earth" seen home video release?
1:01:03 Q9: Movie spoilers, past vs. present viewing habits, and audience attention
1:22:55 Q10: Cocktail recipes - the Vesper Martini
1:25:37 Tony Curtis, NOIR CITY to Portland's Hollywood Theatre, FNF website and NC Magazine

1. What are your primary sources of the information contained in your book “Dark City Dames’? On the cat front, do you take Emily for walks on a leash? 
—Joel, Moline, Illinois
2. Based on what you’ve seen so far, do you have any thoughts on the benefits and cautions related to the use of AI in film noir restoration? 
—Lisa, Chapel Hill, NC
3. I would make the argument that the 1932 Paul Muni film “I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang” was the first film noir movie.
—Andrew
4. I‘m curious if you’ve ever seen either of these Glenn Ford movies, “Ransom” (1956) and “Rage” (1966)? And how do you explain the fact that Ford was such a huge actor in his day? 
—Maarten, The Netherlands
5. In Humphrey Bogart's last film, "The Harder They Fall" it's been reported that Bogie was sick, unable to be heard in takes and was dubbed by Paul Frees. Eddie, do you have any knowledge of this?
—Alan, San Anselmo, CA
6. I was wondering if Eddie or Anne have any favorite voices in film noir.
—Ken from Oklahoma 
7. According to IMDb C. (for Constantin) Bakaleinikoff. has an astounding 353 credits in the music department, and many are for films noir. How is he regarded in the history of cinema, and especially in the history of film noir? Is there anyone with more impact musically in the genre?
-Ron from Jupiter, FL
8. I’ve been waiting in vain for “To the Ends of the Earth” (1948), to appear on an official home video DVD or BluRay but have seen nothing. I’m curious as to why.
—Mike
9. It doesn’t seem that cinema goers of old gave much concern to “spoilers”. Is this just an internet thing?  Why didn’t Joe Movie-Watcher of old care about such things?
—David, Carmel Valley, CA
10. Regarding your cocktail recipe for the Martini (a la Luis Buñuel): do you use the same technique when making a Vesper Martini?
—Michael

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