Reviews of Three Classics
06-30-99 | 09:09 PM
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Okay, here are some brief reviews of the DVDs of three classic films.
"Adam's Rib"
This is the fifth of nine films Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn starred in together, and it one of the best. They play Adam and Amanda Bonner, lawyers who are married to and going up against each other in court. He is prosecuting a wife accused of shooting her philandering husband (who survived), and Amanda is defending the wife. The courtroom turns into a circus and their lives a battle of the sexes.
The disc: Typical earlier MGM snapper fare. The original theatrical trailer is included, and that is the extent of the supplements. However, for a film made in 1949, the transfer is terrific; very sharp and with nice contrasts between the different gray tones. The mono soundtrack is also good. Dialogue is crisp and clear. (Full frame)
"Diabolique" (Criterion Collection)
I don't want to say too much about the plot for those of you who haven't seen it, although most people who haven't seen it know how it ends. Michel Delassalle is the sadistic headmaster of a boy's school that actually belongs to his fragile wife, Christina. He is openly conducting an affair with Nicole, a teacher at the school. He is physically and verbally abusive to both women, and treats his students poorly. The women devise an interesting plan to kill him, and that is all I'll say.
"Diabolique" has been brought to DVD as entry 35 in the Criterion Collection. With a MSRP of $29.99, it is the typical featureless disc. The most remarkable thing about the DVD is the transfer. Full frame, preserving it's original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.33:1; the digital transfer was created from a 35mm fine-grain composite master, made from a restored negative (from Criterion's transfer summary). The Janus/Home Vision Cinema collection, in cooperation with Criterion, made the disc possible. Standard menus, also included are color bars (in case you need to adjust the settings on your TV). Packaged in a keep case, with a two-page booklet filled with an essay about the movie by Danny Peary (contains mostly run-of-the-mill info., such as the anecdote about the letter Hitchcock received from a guy complaining about his wife's shower/bathing phobia after seeing "Diabolique" and "Psycho.).
The transfer is outstanding. There are occasional, brief, moments during which the film has the same kind of grainy markings that you see when watching a movie at the theater. The rest of the time, the picture quality is excellent. The blacks are solid and there is great contrast between grays. The sound isn't as pleasing, but it is acceptable. The dialogue is all clear, as is most of the score. The English subtitles are optional (the movie is in French). My French isn't very good, but from what I recognized, some of the subtitles were translated loosely. However, the subtitles are reliable in that they are always shown during dialogue (unlike some older foreign films Criterion has released), and are nice-looking; very readable.
"Woman of the Year"
This 1942 George Stevens-directed comedy/drama marked the first pairing of Tracy & Hepburn. He is Sam Craig, who pens a sports column for the same newspaper Tess Harding (Hepburn), famous socialite and political commentator, works for. She makes a comment on a radio program about baseball that infuriates him, and they begin directed jabs towards one another in their columns. This, of course, blooms into an opposites attract romance. It isn't as good as their later work, due largely to the overly political script. Parts of it, however, are very funny, such as when he takes her to the first baseball game she has ever attended.
Like "Adam's Rib," this is an MGM (snapper) release. The film is shown in full-frame format, preserving it's original aspect ratio. The transfer is top-notch, with only occasional, minor flaws. The blacks are solid and the contrast between grays is clearly defined. The mono soundtrack is surprisingly clear for a film so old. Also included is the original theatrical trailer.
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http://www.dvdtracker.com/~ahber16.asp
[This message has been edited by DVDer (edited 06-30-1999).]
[This message has been edited by DVDer (edited 09-14-1999).]
"Adam's Rib"
This is the fifth of nine films Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn starred in together, and it one of the best. They play Adam and Amanda Bonner, lawyers who are married to and going up against each other in court. He is prosecuting a wife accused of shooting her philandering husband (who survived), and Amanda is defending the wife. The courtroom turns into a circus and their lives a battle of the sexes.
The disc: Typical earlier MGM snapper fare. The original theatrical trailer is included, and that is the extent of the supplements. However, for a film made in 1949, the transfer is terrific; very sharp and with nice contrasts between the different gray tones. The mono soundtrack is also good. Dialogue is crisp and clear. (Full frame)
"Diabolique" (Criterion Collection)
I don't want to say too much about the plot for those of you who haven't seen it, although most people who haven't seen it know how it ends. Michel Delassalle is the sadistic headmaster of a boy's school that actually belongs to his fragile wife, Christina. He is openly conducting an affair with Nicole, a teacher at the school. He is physically and verbally abusive to both women, and treats his students poorly. The women devise an interesting plan to kill him, and that is all I'll say.
"Diabolique" has been brought to DVD as entry 35 in the Criterion Collection. With a MSRP of $29.99, it is the typical featureless disc. The most remarkable thing about the DVD is the transfer. Full frame, preserving it's original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.33:1; the digital transfer was created from a 35mm fine-grain composite master, made from a restored negative (from Criterion's transfer summary). The Janus/Home Vision Cinema collection, in cooperation with Criterion, made the disc possible. Standard menus, also included are color bars (in case you need to adjust the settings on your TV). Packaged in a keep case, with a two-page booklet filled with an essay about the movie by Danny Peary (contains mostly run-of-the-mill info., such as the anecdote about the letter Hitchcock received from a guy complaining about his wife's shower/bathing phobia after seeing "Diabolique" and "Psycho.).
The transfer is outstanding. There are occasional, brief, moments during which the film has the same kind of grainy markings that you see when watching a movie at the theater. The rest of the time, the picture quality is excellent. The blacks are solid and there is great contrast between grays. The sound isn't as pleasing, but it is acceptable. The dialogue is all clear, as is most of the score. The English subtitles are optional (the movie is in French). My French isn't very good, but from what I recognized, some of the subtitles were translated loosely. However, the subtitles are reliable in that they are always shown during dialogue (unlike some older foreign films Criterion has released), and are nice-looking; very readable.
"Woman of the Year"
This 1942 George Stevens-directed comedy/drama marked the first pairing of Tracy & Hepburn. He is Sam Craig, who pens a sports column for the same newspaper Tess Harding (Hepburn), famous socialite and political commentator, works for. She makes a comment on a radio program about baseball that infuriates him, and they begin directed jabs towards one another in their columns. This, of course, blooms into an opposites attract romance. It isn't as good as their later work, due largely to the overly political script. Parts of it, however, are very funny, such as when he takes her to the first baseball game she has ever attended.
Like "Adam's Rib," this is an MGM (snapper) release. The film is shown in full-frame format, preserving it's original aspect ratio. The transfer is top-notch, with only occasional, minor flaws. The blacks are solid and the contrast between grays is clearly defined. The mono soundtrack is surprisingly clear for a film so old. Also included is the original theatrical trailer.
------------------
http://www.dvdtracker.com/~ahber16.asp
[This message has been edited by DVDer (edited 06-30-1999).]
[This message has been edited by DVDer (edited 09-14-1999).]
09-14-99 | 11:04 PM
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Wade,
It has been a while since I last watched that disc, but from what I remember any crackling was minimal, which I found a little surprising for a film of it's age. Then again, MGM has released many classic films that both look and sound wonderful.
--Heather
[This message has been edited by DVDer (edited 09-14-1999).]
It has been a while since I last watched that disc, but from what I remember any crackling was minimal, which I found a little surprising for a film of it's age. Then again, MGM has released many classic films that both look and sound wonderful.
--Heather
[This message has been edited by DVDer (edited 09-14-1999).]
09-15-99 | 01:32 PM
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From: Owings,MD,USA
Heather:
I totally agree with your last statement. I had two friends who bought into DVD specifically because of the way Singin' in the Rain looked and sounded. That DVD is truly outstanding for a film of that age - bravo MGM!
--Jim
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My DVD list
I totally agree with your last statement. I had two friends who bought into DVD specifically because of the way Singin' in the Rain looked and sounded. That DVD is truly outstanding for a film of that age - bravo MGM!
--Jim
------------------
My DVD list
