It’s an early example of the Hollywood studios referencing the potential of a coming war – with two different endings.
Norma Shearer, one of the top talents in M-G-M’s stable received billing over Clark Gable. The rumor is that David Selznick, seeking a song and dance man, caught Idiot’s Delight at a studio screening, asked who the second lead was, and thought about using him in another film, this one in Technicolor, a first of Gable, would affect this billing for future productions.
Somehow I had never seen Idiot’s Delight except for the song ‘n dance number found in That’s Entertainment. Aside from that oddity – he’s quite bad – the film wouldn’t seem to be of much interest. Those funs of Ms Shearer may enjoy seeing her do an imitation of one of the studio’s other stars, but there just isn’t much meat on the bone here.
That does not deny the fact that it’s a gorgeous Blu-ray from Warner Archive, and a necessity for Gable completists. It was shot by William Daniels, and his work is faithfully reproduced here in all its black and white beauty. Audio is likewise faithfully reproduced.
Image
Forensic – 8.5
NSD – 10
Audio – 10 (DTS-HD MA 2.0)
Pass / Fail – Pass
Plays nicely with projectors – Yes
Upgrade from DVD – If you love the film
Worth your attention – 4
Slipcover rating – n/a
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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