A Few Words About A few words about...™ What's New Pussycat -- in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

I would presume that more people recall the title tune from What's New Pussycat?, as crooned by Tom Jones, that the plot of this frothy bit of fun.

With a screenplay from Woody Allen, (who would not direct his first real production for another couple of years), and a cast list that reads like a "who's who" of actors c. 1965, it a film in search of a reason to be.

Image-wise, the new Blu-ray from Kino Lorber is okay, but nothing to write home about.

It appears to be taken from an IP, and possibly an older transfer, as the image seems to need a bit of overall stabilization.  The cause of this could be in the creation of the secondary element, or in the transfer itself, but regardless...

Image stability if our friend.

Overall, the image is good enough for our purposes, and audio is strong.  I'd be happier is this was a disc with a $15 street price, as opposed to $25, but those Woody Allen completists should be pleased.

What's New Pussycat?, at least from a historical perspective, may be the single biggest waste of thespian talent of the era.  Half a century later, the Blu-ray succeeds at a higher level than the film contained therein.

WNP? has an interesting production history, which is worth researching, and can throw some light on the final film.

Image - 3

Audio - 4

RAH

 

[Vahan_Nisanain]

Robert, was there really an uncensored international version (this film was an American/French production)? An individual named moviepas claimed that there was. He also claimed that it was originally in stereo, and that MGM ordered the wiping of the stereo and international materials of this version of the film, after they bought out United Artists in 1981.

I have no idea where he got this information from.

 

[haineshisway]

Robert, was there really an uncensored international version (this film was an American/French production)? An individual named moviepas claimed that there was. He also claimed that it was originally in stereo, and that MGM ordered the wiping of the stereo and international materials of this version of the film, after they bought out United Artists in 1981.

I have no idea where he got this information from.

That guy is, well, uninformed. There is one cut of the film. The film was NEVER in stereo anywhere. He got his information where most of these people get their information - I believe the term is called whole cloth.

 

[davidmatychuk]

The Peter Biskind biography of Warren Beatty explains the genesis of "What's New Pussycat" about as well as it can be explained. I've loved this indefensible movie, and its natural bookend, the equally indefensible 1967 "Casino Royale", since I was a boy lugging the paperback novelization (with photos!) around as if it was some kind of comedic Bible to adulthood. I'm glad to have a decent Blu-Ray of this old favourite of mine, and because I had the subtitles on the third or fourth time I played it, I was delighted to notice for the first time in my life that Peter Sellers, in the opening scenes, makes reference to his ability to use "the great Bert's judo method", a shout-out from the original Clouseau to the great Burt Kwouk, OBE.

 

[Angelo Colombus]

Makes a great double feature with the 007 spoof Casino Royale with some of the actors in both films and Charles K Feldman producing both of them.

 

[Angelo Colombus]

Robert, was there really an uncensored international version (this film was an American/French production)? An individual named moviepas claimed that there was. He also claimed that it was originally in stereo, and that MGM ordered the wiping of the stereo and international materials of this version of the film, after they bought out United Artists in 1981.

I have no idea where he got this information from.

This is part of the blu-ray review from DVD SAVANT by Glenn Erickson:

"Note that the film's on-screen main title has no question mark, although all the advertising does. The original ad campaign featured a Frank Frazetta 'merry chase' artwork, pictured above. A trailer is included but it is missing an announcer's audio track. I wish that some European archive would come up with a full cut of this film's lost 'continental version', just to find out what it consists of. The ragged jump cut marking the missing Paula Prentiss striptease will always be a point of curiosity".

 

[haineshisway]

There was no jump-cut in the theatrical release of this film. If there is NOW a jump-cut then it was cut subsequent to the film's release.

 

[Vahan_Nisanain]

Well, I think the best way to solve this mystery would be to pay careful attention to the current print of the film on Blu-Ray. If there is an awkward-as-hell jump cut, then the myth is true. If there isn't, then it it just that. A myth.