And so it is that Charles Waters’ 1956 High Society has joined the fray, as one of only two M-G-M films shot in VistaVision. Warner Bros. had only one.
Nathan Hale once said, “If one is going to do something it is best done correctly.”
That’s what High Society in 4k is all about. There will be no comparisons here to an earlier (non-musical) film entitled The Philadelphia Story, as none need be made.
For obvious reasons, I would bring your attention to Cat Ballou, another film with which High Society shares a basic concept.
What we have here is a perfect representation of a VVLA film of the era, scanned in high resolution, with perfect color, densities, black levels (look at the tuxes) and shadow detail. And grain.
But put all of those attributes together, and don’t finalize correctly…
So Warner Archive has done final with a little company called Fidelity in Motion.
Unlike many other VVLA films that might never be seen outside of an optical track. M-G-M recorded the film as though it was to be released in 4-Track Magnetic. LCR Orchestra. LCR Vocals. DME Monaural.
Just a magnificent 4k disc!
Image
Forensic – 10
NSD – 10
Audio – 10 (Dolby Atmos and original monaural)
Pass / Fail – Pass
Plays nicely with projectors – Yes
Makes use of and works well in 4k – 9
Upgrade from Blu-ray – You better believe it!
Worth your attention – I believe so
Slipcover rating – to be updated
Very Highly Recommended
RAH
Robert has been known in the film industry for his unmatched skill and passion in film preservation. Growing up around photography, his first home theater experience began at age ten with 16mm. Years later he was running 35 and 70mm at home.
His restoration projects have breathed new life into classic films like Lawrence of Arabia, Vertigo, My Fair Lady, Spartacus, and The Godfather series. Beyond his restoration work, he has also shared his expertise through publications, contributing to the academic discourse on film restoration. The Academy Film Archive houses the Robert A. Harris Collection, a testament to his significant contributions to film preservation.
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