Blu-ray Review A Few Words About A few words about...™ - A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur's Court -- in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

From the mind of one Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, came a tale about a gentleman from Connecticut (as was Clemens at the time - 1889) traveling through time to Olde England.

Sixty years later Paramount turned it into a Bing Crosby vehicle, supported by Rhonda Fleming, Cedric Hardwicke and William Bendix, of whom was opined by the DP, that he was the perfect specimen for the Technicolor process, with no bad way of photographing him.

Universal has released a new Blu-ray of the subject, and it's very okay, with nice colors, which are not always stable or accurate, shadow detail sometimes lacking, but overall a pleasant unrestored appearance - presumably harvested from an IP.

As might be noted by those viewing the disc, resolution is fine for the film, as even at HD level, the edge of hairpieces are obvious. This is not 4k fodder.

Connecticut Yankee is a fun entertainment that's actually fine as presented, although as one of only three Technicolor productions from Paramount in 1949, it would be nice to see it archived in 4k from the original elements.

For those who keep track of secondary players, you'll find Henry Wilcoxon and Alan Napier.

Image - 3.75

Audio – 5

Pass / Fail – Pass

Plays nicely with projectors - Yes

Upgrade from DVD - Yes

Recommended

RAH

 

[Capt D McMars]

Thanks RAH, I have a soft spot for this film, growing up with it from childhood, I learned all the songs by heart. Although far from a perfect edition, it is leagues above the washed out PD editions on TV and the local dollar bins!! A great cast and well plated as the faily tale it was ment to be, while keeping older ones in thier seats gazing the amazingly beautiful Rhonda Fleming!! And as always Bing does his thing!!

 

[Robert Harris]

Thanks RAH, I have a soft spot for this film, growing up with it from childhood, I learned all the songs by heart. Although far from a perfect edition, it is leagues above the washed out PD editions on TV and the local dollar bins!! A great cast and well plated as the faily tale it was ment to be, while keeping older ones in thier seats gazing the amazingly beautiful Rhonda Fleming!! And as always Bing does his thing!!

Is this PD?

 

[benbess]

....Image - 3.75....
RAH

This shows the big difference between Warner Archive 3-strip Technicolor releases and almost everyone else, since usually Warner Archive Technicolor releases from the same era get ratings of 5, or close to that.

 

[Thomas T]

Is this PD?

No, he's wrong about that.

 

[Kent K H]

It's certainly nowhere on the level of Adventures of Robin Hood in either production or scan, but outside of what you'd expect for some optical shots, I didn't find anything particularly egregious, either. It's a case of better than average source material for the time making for a pretty good HD picture and a charming, affable pic for those who, like me, enjoy der Bingle.

 

[Capt D McMars]

Is this PD?

If not it sure ran with the PDS like The Little Princess with Shirley Temple and Jungle Book with Sabu...I always saw it in the cutout/bargin basement by the checkout dvds!!

 

[JoeDoakes]

If not it sure ran with the PDS like The Little Princess with Shirley Temple and Jungle Book with Sabu...I always saw it in the cutout/bargin basement by the checkout dvds!!

It’s not public domain. Other versions of this story may be. Although this is perhaps a more commercial title than Tennessee Johnson, it’s probably less so than most of Warner Archive’s other releases. I’m glad it’s out there.

 

[RobertMG]

If not it sure ran with the PDS like The Little Princess with Shirley Temple and Jungle Book with Sabu...I always saw it in the cutout/bargin basement by the checkout dvds!!

It was on a double disc dvd with The Emperor Waltz might have been a bargain price for those two but question is do the negs exist --- try to get an answer from Universal - yeah sure!

 

[RobertMG]

Is this PD?

No not PD -- It was on a double disc dvd with The Emperor Waltz might have been a bargain price for those two but question is do the negs exist --- try to get an answer from Universal - yeah sure!

 

[Capt D McMars]

No not PD -- It was on a double disc dvd with The Emperor Waltz might have been a bargain price for those two but question is do the negs exist --- try to get an answer from Universal - yeah sure!

Yep it was in many a bargin bin!!

 

[RobertMG]

From the mind of one Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, came a tale about a gentleman from Connecticut (as was Clemens at the time - 1889) traveling through time to Olde England.

Sixty years later Paramount turned it into a Bing Crosby vehicle, supported by Rhonda Fleming, Cedric Hardwicke and William Bendix, of whom was opined by the DP, that he was the perfect specimen for the Technicolor process, with no bad way of photographing him.

Universal has released a new Blu-ray of the subject, and it's very okay, with nice colors, which are not always stable or accurate, shadow detail sometimes lacking, but overall a pleasant unrestored appearance - presumably harvested from an IP.

As might be noted by those viewing the disc, resolution is fine for the film, as even at HD level, the edge of hairpieces are obvious. This is not 4k fodder.

Connecticut Yankee is a fun entertainment that's actually fine as presented, although as one of only three Technicolor productions from Paramount in 1949, it would be nice to see it archived in 4k from the original elements.

For those who keep track of secondary players, you'll find Henry Wilcoxon and Alan Napier.

Image - 3.75

Audio – 5

Pass / Fail – Pass

Plays nicely with projectors - Yes

Upgrade from DVD - Yes

Recommended

RAH

Thank you for revieiwing this fun film alongside Going My Way Bells of St Marys White Chrisitmas one of Bings best critically and money wise

 

[RobertMG]

Thanks RAH, I have a soft spot for this film, growing up with it from childhood, I learned all the songs by heart. Although far from a perfect edition, it is leagues above the washed out PD editions on TV and the local dollar bins!! A great cast and well plated as the faily tale it was ment to be, while keeping older ones in thier seats gazing the amazingly beautiful Rhonda Fleming!! And as always Bing does his thing!!

Par News also reported in mid-Nov 1947 that thirty acres of grassy woodland in Sherwood Forest, CA, was being painted with vegetable dye to change it from a fall yellow to a spring green for the king's walking tour scenes

 

[uncledougie]

I’ve always loved this film, also, very cheerful, colorful, catchy tunes - what’s not to like? I’d have thought it was Rhonda Fleming who brought out the best in Technicolor, but I’ll take the DP’s word about the versatile William Bendix. Having gotten used to his friendly persona here and on his Life of Riley series, I was admiring when he made such an impression playing the heavy as in The Glass Key (1942), which I did not catch up with until much later. All the supporting cast here in fact strike just the right tone, and it’s to my mind one of Crosby’s most enjoyable films.

 

[RobertMG]

I’ve always loved this film, also, very cheerful, colorful, catchy tunes - what’s not to like? I’d have thought it was Rhonda Fleming who brought out the best in Technicolor, but I’ll take the DP’s word about the versatile William Bendix. Having gotten used to his friendly persona here and on his Life of Riley series, I was admiring when he made such an impression playing the heavy as in The Glass Key (1942), which I did not catch up with until much later. All the supporting cast here in fact strike just the right tone, and it’s to my mind one of Crosby’s most enjoyable films.

Staple on WOR TV for many years was always an event when on! Rhonda Fleming va va va voom! Cedric Hardwicke - look at his resume - I Remember Mama -- this film - The Ten Commandments The Keys Of The Kingdom Suspicison The Lodger etc and on of the Brit Community of the Golden Age of Hollywood!

 

[Chuck_Kahn]

although as one of only three Technicolor productions from Paramount in 1949, it would be nice to see it archived in 4k from the original elements.

So is "Fancy Pants" the only time Paramount has ever gone back to the original YCM Technicolor elements?

Fancy Pants | Kino Lorber - Experience Cinema

A wisecracking out-of-work actor impersonating a British valet, is hired by a woman from New Mexico to refine her husband and headstrong daughter.

www.kinolorber.com

 

[RobertMG]

So is "Fancy Pants" the only time Paramount has ever gone back to the original YCM Technicolor elements?

Fancy Pants | Kino Lorber - Experience Cinema

A wisecracking out-of-work actor impersonating a British valet, is hired by a woman from New Mexico to refine her husband and headstrong daughter.

www.kinolorber.com

That title Fancy Pants is from 1950 so it would be Paramount the 1949 and earlier are with Universal I think a lot of 1950's Paramounts have gone back to OCN's whatever three strip or when they introduced single negatives

 

[Robert Harris]

So is "Fancy Pants" the only time Paramount has ever gone back to the original YCM Technicolor elements?

Fancy Pants | Kino Lorber - Experience Cinema

A wisecracking out-of-work actor impersonating a British valet, is hired by a woman from New Mexico to refine her husband and headstrong daughter.

www.kinolorber.com

Greatest Show?

 

[RobertMG]

Greatest Show?

Samson which Paramount kept

 

[Chuck_Kahn]

That title Fancy Pants is from 1950 so it would be Paramount the 1949 and earlier are with Universal I think a lot of 1950's Paramounts have gone back to OCN's whatever three strip or when they introduced single negatives

It's just that you usually hear about Warner going back to YCM elements for Technicolor titles (like Ivanhoe, Wizard of Oz, etc) and Silver Salt went back to YCM for the 4K of the 1955 Ladykillers for Studio Canal, but I can't recall any Paramount titles publicizing a YCM workflow.