Blu-ray Review A Few Words About A few words about…™ Captains of the Clouds – in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

It's a bit sad, in an odd way.

While other actors were getting their mugs on the screen in glorious Technicolor, James Cagney had to wait his turn until 1942. He wouldn't make another until What Price Glory a decade later. After that, everything was Eastman.

Warners made only one other Technicolor film in 1942, and none from M-G-M, so Warner Archive is slowly bringing them to market.

Captains of the Clouds, a 1942 3-strip production from Warner Bros. is just another boring Technicolor restoration from Warner Archive. Boring in that its perfection.

Glorious color, registration, nicely reduced grain structure, great black levels. All that one could ask for a film about Canadian bush pilots who join the war effort.

Image – 5

Audio – 5

Pass / Fail – Pass

Upgrade from DVD – Yes

Works up-rezzed to 4k - Beautifully

Recommended

RAH

 

[Robert Crawford]

Not among my Cagney favorites, but I'm purchasing this title anyway.

 

[JoeDoakes]

I wonder why Yankee Doodle Dandy wasn’t color. It would seem to be a better match than this.

 

[Robert Crawford]

I wonder why Yankee Doodle Dandy wasn’t color. It would seem to be a better match than this.

It just goes to show you that studios made their share of mistakes back then.

 

[Robert Harris]

It just goes to show you that studios made their share of mistakes back then.

I believe it came down to availability of cameras and labs time. I used to have a magnificent original print of YDD, and could swear it had been shot in color.

 

[bujaki]

I believe it came down to availability of cameras and labs time. I used to have a magnificent original print of YDD, and could swear it had been shot in color.

You do remember How GREEN Was My Valley?

 

[Robert Harris]

You do remember How GREEN Was My Valley?

I do, but that looked like black & white origination.

 

[bujaki]

I do, but that looked like black & white origination.

I saw a 35mm print at the Carnegie Hall Cinema that was quite beautiful.
However, the original nitrate print that MoMA has (had) was beyond compare. Miller's cinematography was breathtaking. One of the reasons Valley is one of my top Fords.

 

[Mikey1969]

I may have to pick this up. One of my dad's uncles was enlisted at the time and was involved in some way in the filming of this, the first ever Hollywood movie shot entirely in Canada.

There's some interesting background on the filming here

 

[RobertMG]

I may have to pick this up. One of my dad's uncles was enlisted at the time and was involved in some way in the filming of this, the first ever Hollywood movie shot entirely in Canada.

There's some interesting background on the filming here

Great article! Funny thing I was reading about his farm upstate NY last night which he bought in 1951 or so and how he never flew anywhere but travelled to Hollywood by car because he felt that was the best way to see the USA - he never liked planes

 

[RobertMG]

I believe it came down to availability of cameras and labs time. I used to have a magnificent original print of YDD, and could swear it had been shot in color.

Maybe Ted Turner used his compter crayons - colorization

 

[bobclampett]

Great article! Funny thing I was reading about his farm upstate NY last night which he bought in 1951 or so and how he never flew anywhere but travelled to Hollywood by car because he felt that was the best way to see the USA - he never liked planes

Great back story article, thanks very much for sharing. Looking forward to revisiting this movie when my Blu Ray arrives. I love Cagney.