- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
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- Real Name
- Robert Harris
As part of their on-going license agreement with Warner Bros., Criterion has given us George Steven's Woman of the Year, written by Ring Lardner, Jr. and Michael Kanin.
I cannot imagine anyone viewing the first five minutes of this film, and not falling in love with it. The hat at the baseball game routine, almost rings in as something out of Abbott and Costello.
The 1942 M-G-M production was the first of what would be nine films with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, over a twenty-five year period, ending with Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, which was unfortunately, Mr. Tracy's final appearance.
The film is a must-own, but I'll not pander to collector sensibilities here.
Let's talk dollars.
The film, which arrives next week, is currently priced at $26 on Amazon, but let's break it down a bit, with a quick look at the extras.
A Filmmaker's Journey, the 122-minute documentary about the career of Mr. Stevens, can be had for $7 on DVD. Either re-scanned or up-rezzed to HD (I didn't take note) it's an extraordinary document on one of the greatest directors of his, or any, era.
The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute to Katharine Hepburn, another documentary at 86-minutes, can be had for $6 on DVD.
Add to that a number of interviews that money can't buy, and you'll find that the final cost of the new release is probably under $10.
For a Criterion release.
As to quality. It's all there. Gorgeous imagery, as scanned in 2k from a fine grain master, and a crisp, clean track.
The only caveat here, and it's hardly noticeable is that the final digital restoration could have used just a bit more hand-holding, in the form of scratch removal. Not a big deal, but we just miss perfection here.
Image - 4.75
Audio - 5
4k Up-rez - 4.75
Pass / Fail - Pass
Very Highly Recommended
RAH
I cannot imagine anyone viewing the first five minutes of this film, and not falling in love with it. The hat at the baseball game routine, almost rings in as something out of Abbott and Costello.
The 1942 M-G-M production was the first of what would be nine films with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, over a twenty-five year period, ending with Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, which was unfortunately, Mr. Tracy's final appearance.
The film is a must-own, but I'll not pander to collector sensibilities here.
Let's talk dollars.
The film, which arrives next week, is currently priced at $26 on Amazon, but let's break it down a bit, with a quick look at the extras.
A Filmmaker's Journey, the 122-minute documentary about the career of Mr. Stevens, can be had for $7 on DVD. Either re-scanned or up-rezzed to HD (I didn't take note) it's an extraordinary document on one of the greatest directors of his, or any, era.
The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute to Katharine Hepburn, another documentary at 86-minutes, can be had for $6 on DVD.
Add to that a number of interviews that money can't buy, and you'll find that the final cost of the new release is probably under $10.
For a Criterion release.
As to quality. It's all there. Gorgeous imagery, as scanned in 2k from a fine grain master, and a crisp, clean track.
The only caveat here, and it's hardly noticeable is that the final digital restoration could have used just a bit more hand-holding, in the form of scratch removal. Not a big deal, but we just miss perfection here.
Image - 4.75
Audio - 5
4k Up-rez - 4.75
Pass / Fail - Pass
Very Highly Recommended
RAH
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