- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,397
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
Funny Girl.
I saw the Broadway show a couple of times. I was working at WB/7 Arts, and used to get house seats from Mr. Stark's office.
I saw the film in roadshow release, in a 70mm blow-up.
Not a great deal to discuss here, as my thoughts are easy.
Funny Girl, the Great William Wyler's only filmed musical of which I'm aware. Just watch the way that he directs the extraordinary Walter Pidgeon.
There are probably half a dozen truly great filmed musicals. The obvious ones. Singin' in the Rain, My Fair Lady, Gigi. While one could add to the list, Funny Girl must be one of them.
I've had a 16mm dye transfer print. Two 35s, one US and the other the original UK roadshow print.
I'm going to get personal here, as it's really a necessity.
Funny Girl has seen a great deal of use over the years. It isn't a happy negative. 70mm printing from the original negative was not helpful. Columbia's Grover Crisp took on the project a dozen years ago, producing dye transfer prints. The word "restoration" is heavily over-used. Funny Girl is a true Restoration.
Mr. Crisp has now outdone himself.
The new Blu-ray of Funny Girl will be one of the most perfect catalog releases of 2013. Bar none.
Color, density, shadow detail, grain structure. It's all there. In spades. David Bernstein was in charge of color for this one.
Hat's off!
If one doesn't fall for Fanny Brice by the 20 minute mark, either the viewer isn't human or has no heart.
The main titles are perfect for the first time on video. The dark reds are dead on. The flesh tones, perfect, as are the blacks.
One of the greatest musicals of all time.
An absolutely perfect Blu-ray release. This is a thousand dollar Blu-ray at a trifle of that cost.
Image - 5 *
Audio - 5
Extremely Highly Recommended.
To borrow a phrase from my friend Mr. Ebert...
"Two thumbs up, and they couldn't possibly be held higher!"
RAH
Note:
For those with an interest in the technical, this is a Sony 4k derived release, although not marketed as such. The quality went in, before the logo went on...
Have I made my point?
