DVD Review: Now, Voyager (1942)
11-19-01, 10:54 PM
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DVD Review: Now, Voyager (1942)
I must be the first to here offer accolades for Warner's sterling transfer of Now, Voyager. Just spinning the disc tonight, my jaw practically fell to the floor! The single best-looking transfer of a vintage b&w film on DVD. Positively blemish-free, pin-sharp, and picture-perfect gradation of gray values.
Let me emphasize this last point. I have had the disconcerting misfortune of encountering a plethora of recent classic b&w releases from various studios which exhibit a markedly flat and depressing rendition of overall contrast--disappointing, to say the least. The logic seems to be that a low-contrast image preserves superior detail--at the expense, it seems, of deep blacks and a pleasing separation of gray values. The result can often be a strain to watch. Warner and LDI prove with Now, Voyager (as well as Citizen Kane) that a rich, boldly-contrasted gray-palette can do the job just as well, if not better. An infinite gradation of luminous gray values straddle bold, bright whites (replete without unwelcome blooming or moire effects), and pure, pitch-like blacks. The single best job of suggesting, digitally, the sparkling gray palette once possible with nitrate-stock film. Please, all other studios take a lesson (and, please, Warner, provide us soon with an equally-beautiful edition of Kings Row!).
While I am in agreement with a distinguished, audio-restorationist acquaintance of mine that overprocessing has unfortunately drained much of the "punch" from Max Steiner's AA-winning score (this hopefully will be an example which will not become a trend), the visual simply cannot be faulted. The new benchmark, in my judgement, for assessing quality b&w transfers on DVD.
Let me emphasize this last point. I have had the disconcerting misfortune of encountering a plethora of recent classic b&w releases from various studios which exhibit a markedly flat and depressing rendition of overall contrast--disappointing, to say the least. The logic seems to be that a low-contrast image preserves superior detail--at the expense, it seems, of deep blacks and a pleasing separation of gray values. The result can often be a strain to watch. Warner and LDI prove with Now, Voyager (as well as Citizen Kane) that a rich, boldly-contrasted gray-palette can do the job just as well, if not better. An infinite gradation of luminous gray values straddle bold, bright whites (replete without unwelcome blooming or moire effects), and pure, pitch-like blacks. The single best job of suggesting, digitally, the sparkling gray palette once possible with nitrate-stock film. Please, all other studios take a lesson (and, please, Warner, provide us soon with an equally-beautiful edition of Kings Row!).
While I am in agreement with a distinguished, audio-restorationist acquaintance of mine that overprocessing has unfortunately drained much of the "punch" from Max Steiner's AA-winning score (this hopefully will be an example which will not become a trend), the visual simply cannot be faulted. The new benchmark, in my judgement, for assessing quality b&w transfers on DVD.
