Now, Voyager, is quintessential Davis, at the peak of her Warner Bros. years.
Rightfully, famous for the work of the leads – Ms Davis, along with Paul Henried and Claude Rains and Gladys Cooper, the film has never before been available on Blu-ray, although it has been around for years on other formats.
Derived principally from the original camera negative, via a new 4k scan for Criterion at WB’s MPI, it’s everything that I’d hoped It’s a Wonderful Life would be.
Beautiful blacks, whites and a full rich gray scale – even the dupes shine – and the film begins with 90 seconds or thereabouts of them. Sol Polito’s cinematography shines.
The score by Max Steiner is a classic, and won the Academy Award. Gladys Cooper and Bette Davis were nominated.
Not a great deal needs to be noted. Simply put, one of the great films, that deserves a place in every serious library.
The supplements, in typical Criterion fashion, are superb. I especially like Ms Davis appearing on the Dick Cavett Show – style and substance.
The only query that some might have is “who is Irving Rapper.”
Mr. Rapper, came to the Colonies from England, making his way to Hollywood in the early 1930s.
He began as a dialogue director, working on such films as Charge of the Light Brigade, The Life of Emile Zola and The Adventures of Robin Hood. He served as an assistant director as well as dialogue coach on a 1938 production, The Sisters, which paired Bette Davis and Errol Flynn.
You can probably see where this is going.
His first directorial credit was for Shining Victory in 1941, and the following year made his mark with Now, Voyager, returning to work with Ms Davis on The Corn is Green, and Deception.
Later work included The Glass Menagerie, The Brave One, and Marjorie Morningstar.
Image – 5
Audio – 5
Pass / Fail – Pass
Upgrade from DVD – without a doubt
Very Highly Recommended
RAH
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Patrick McCart
I'll be picking this up from Barnes & Noble this week due to the Criterion sale - $20 is a steal for such a class, plus I'd also recommend checking out The Heiress, which they released earlier this year. Also a masterpiece of classic Hollywood, with Olivia de Havilland in just as much of a jaw-dropping central role.
You need to watch "The Letter". It's Davis at her best.
JoelA
Now, Voyager will probably be one of the best "blind buys" you ever make in life. Magnificent film and so pleased to hear it's been given the treatment it so richly deserves. I envy you getting to see it for the first time.
Patrick McCart
It's on my list and definitely going in the next round of Warner Archive buys (along with Days of Wine and Roses, The Bad and the Beautiful, The Set-Up, and a few catch-ups). The Criterion Channel is also adding 18 Bette Davis films next month - besides Now, Voyager and All About Eve (to coincide with their physical releases), they'll have Jezebel and The Letter. They've been getting a steady stream of great classics from Warner Bros., many of which aren't on Blu-ray yet.
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She wasn't very likable in Separate Tables either,
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She was a fine actress.And Rex Harrison's mother in MFL. Her career goes back to 1913.
bujaki
And gorgeous in her youth.
Will Krupp
Slight correction in that her FILM career goes back to 1913 but she had appeared on the stage as early as 1905. Her early years as a model made her one of the most photographed young women of her day.
I have always loved Gladys Cooper, especially because she wasn't afraid to play unsympathetic parts for the "good of the show." She always brought class to any part, whether it be in an A picture or a B. Her presence raises programmers like THE BLACK CAT and THE GAY FALCON into something much classier than their budgets would suggest. She was thrilled to get to play Lady Nelson in THAT HAMILTON WOMAN but was less than thrilled that, due to the mechanics of the plot, she had to be unsympathetic. It brings up an interesting connection in that her both her son, John Buckmaster, and her stepson, Jack Merivale, were bookend companions to Vivien Leigh before and after the Olivier years.
AND, despite their on screen fireworks, she and Bette Davis were quite good friends!
Rob_Ray
AND, despite their on screen fireworks, she and Bette Davis were quite good friends!
I just saw a Dick Cavett Show from 1971 in which Bette Davis sadly notes that Gladys Cooper had just died the night before. Miss Davis expressed great admiration for her talent. The show is a bonus extra on one of the new Criterion BluRays of either ALL ABOUT EVE or NOW VOYAGER. Each disc has a different Cavett episode.
Now, Voyager has that interview, and Davis speaks quite lovingly about her talent, her beauty, and her legacy.
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