- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,424
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
What can you say about a 55 year-old film that died?
Like several other of his films, the rights to Operation Petticoat (shades of Alfred Hitchcock), apparently reverted to Cary Grant's company after a license ended with Universal. And similarly to The Grass is Greener, Father Goose, Indiscreet, That Touch of Mink...
The elements seem to have lost their way bit.
And so it is, with Olive's Blu-ray release of Operation Petticoat -- a poster-film for restoration -- in that it reeks of fade, poorly preserved opticals, and in typical fashion, occasional flicker, discolored images, scratches and both positive and negative dirt.
Mr. Grant deserves better.
Also, while the point should be made that 1959 was not a good year for film stocks, it should not restrict a film of this quality from being preserved, and properly represented on Blu-ray, which is likely the only way people are apt to see it.
A wonderful, typically easy-going performance from the great Grant, and a similarly nuanced role from Tony Curtis.
Color is generally okay, while a bit weak overall, and while I can't say that I recall precisely what the film looked like in theaters when new, I can assure you that the great cinematographer, Russell Harlan (Rio Bravo, To Kill a Mockingbird, Ruby Gentry, Red River, Hawaii, and The Great Race, would not be smiling.
Densities are likewise, okay, as is film grain.
If there is one overriding problem with this release, beyond the aged look the film, especially in dupes, are the almost continuous bit of positive and negative detritus, along with more scratches than should be permissible.
A wonderful film, finally making its way to Blu-ray, in rather embarrassing form.
Image - 2
Audio - 5
RAH
