Blu-ray Review A Few Words About A few words about...™ - Houseboat & Teacher's Pet -- in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

After 50-70 years in the vaults, Paramount has finally - over the past few years - returned to 35/8 camera negatives, and the results have been generally stunning.

With virtually all original prints only having been seen as optical dupe reductions, which still looked gorgeous, we're now finally seeing VVLA in all its large format glory. With fewer than 100 productions having been filmed in the format, they now seem to be arriving on Blu-ray at an amazing pace.

Most courtesy of Kino via Paramount.

The majority of the major releases are generally available in either 2 or 4k, with WB recently adding North by Northwest and The Searchers to the library.

As we hit the A minus and B titles, they reach us in 2k, and that's fine as even projected on a large screen or viewed on a large panel, they still exhibit every bit of their vista heritage.

Two of the latest from Kino - both from 1958 - are sweet little romantic comedies with top talent. Teacher's Pet, directed by George Seaton and starring Clark Gable and Doris Day is a black and white delight. Silly, and yet fun.

The other is an oddity from director Melville Shavelson - Cary Grant and Sophia Loren in a totally unbelievable tale of paring the odd couple in a story that doubtfully made any sense 60+ years ago.

Both look gorgeous on Kino's discs, but if you're going to go for only one, stick with black and white.

Image

Forensic - 10
NSD - 10

Audio – 10 (DTS-HD MA 2.0)

Pass / Fail – Pass

Plays nicely with projectors - Yes

Worth your attention
Teacher's Pet - Yes
Houseboat - ?

Slipcover rating - n/a

Looks like Film - Yes

Teachers Pet - Recommended

RAH





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[Jeff Fearnside]

Cary Grant is one of my favorite actors. And Sophia Loren is a timeless beauty and excellent actress, too. So odd couple pairing or not, I was always going to get this new Blu-ray to replace my careworn DVD. That Mr. Harris rates the PQ so highly ("gorgeous" is always a word cinephiles hope to hear) only further justifies that decision for me.

 

[Keith Cobby]

I like Houseboat although it's not a particularly good film. The blu ray is worth getting if you are a fan of one of the leads or VistaVision films. I think the late 50's was the high point for ladies fashions and both Sophia and Martha look quite wonderful in their Edith Head costumes (as, of course, does Cary Grant).

 

[Timothy E]

I understand that Cary Grant was a big fan of Sophia Loren so he might not have appreciated their screen pairing being summarized in a review as coupling of an odd couple, but I get your point. I am a big fan of them both so I will not be able to resist this upgrade from the Olive release.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

Teacher’s Pet indeed looks phenomenal - that was a pleasure to review on disc and a significant upgrade from the prior DVD master.

I haven’t gotten the Houseboat disc yet but it’s on my list.

 

[LeoA]

Thanks for your impressions of these two releases.

Houseboat should've been Betsy Drake, but I'm happy to hear that both of these are available in fine form from Kino Lorber. Will definitely be getting both sooner rather than later.

 

[Thomas T]

"Odd" couple pairing or not, their Houseboat outing is a more believable pairing than their previous outing from the year before, The Pride And The Passion.

 

[John Skoda]

Straying from the topic, but I can't resist. Grant and Loren aren't so bad in PRIDE AND THE PASSION. It's Frank Sinatra who was somehow, at 40+ years old, cast as a Spanish peasant boy (with a Brooklyn accent). It's astonishing.

 

[timk1041]

Teacher’s Pet indeed looks phenomenal - that was a pleasure to review on disc and a significant upgrade from the prior DVD master.

I haven’t gotten the Houseboat disc yet but it’s on my list.

Got both during the recent Kino sale.

 

[wranim8]

Teacher's Pet is on Kanopy anyone who has that service. Obviously the same source as the Blu-Ray as the VistaVision even streaming looks terrific. Fun movie! If you have Kanopy, That Touch of Mink with Doris and Cary is also there in a nice transfer, and if you're a John Astin fan.....!

 

[haineshisway]

I'm very happy to concur with Mr. Harris 1000 percent on these two transfers. I saw both films when they came out - Teacher's Pet I saw when it hit my three neighborhood theaters - yes, it played all three, which were within two miles of each other - I saw it at the worst of the three. I'm not sure I loved it back then, and I have not seen a frame of it since - well, it's kind of delightful. Gable is charming and funny, Doris is always fun and lovely, and Gig Young practically walks away with the movie (nominated for an Oscar for it). At times, it's laugh out loud funny, the writing is sharp (Fay and Michael Kanin) and Seaton was a wonderful director who seemingly excelled in whatever genre he took on. And the transfer - absolutely stunning.

Houseboat suffers from the Mel Shavelson "touch" - he loved getting all maudlin and boy does he lay it on thick here. I saw this one my favorite of the three nabes. I think Mr. Shavelson made one great movie, although he pours on the maudlin pretty thick there, too - The Five Pennies. And yes, let's have that one, please, and Li'l Abner. The transfer and color are perfect, which helps, as does the lovely George Duning score. I think this film and Some Came Running are the reasons I never liked Martha Hyer - just don't like those characters and she played them really well.

 

[The-Cinema-Upstairs]

Appreciate your published thoughts on these two recent releases.

Every classic film library should have this new release of TEACHERS PET included. Great entertainment and looks incredible. I haven't picked up HOUSEBOAT yet but it is on my list and all indicators point to it being a film I'll genuinely enjoy despite its absurdities. I'm one of those lucky people who can enthusiastically enjoy such things without having to critically rationalize or pick it apart along the way. Its all about entertainment; lush colors, sets and costumes ...and having a good time.

 

[The-Cinema-Upstairs]

Teacher's Pet is on Kanopy anyone who has that service. Obviously the same source as the Blu-Ray as the VistaVision even streaming looks terrific. Fun movie! If you have Kanopy, That Touch of Mink with Doris and Cary is also there in a nice transfer, and if you're a John Astin fan.....!

Oh...I have so much love for THAT TOUCH OF MINK!!! Its not a popular opinion but it definitely ranks among my most favorite (and re-watched) Doris Day films!!

 

[Josh Steinberg]

Oh...I have so much love for THAT TOUCH OF MINK!!! Its not a popular opinion but it definitely ranks among my most favorite (and re-watched) Doris Day films!!

It’s a favorite of mine both for Doris Day and Cary Grant - a perfect confectionary.

 

[The-Cinema-Upstairs]

It’s a favorite of mine both for Doris Day and Cary Grant - a perfect confectionary.

From the opening credits to "The End", I couldn't agree more!
Its great to meet another THAT TOUCH OF MINK fan!

 

[Filmgazer]

Oh...I have so much love for THAT TOUCH OF MINK!!! Its not a popular opinion but it definitely ranks among my most favorite (and re-watched) Doris Day films!!

And Doris Day's repartee with sleazy John Astin is very funny!

 

[Matt Hough]

And Doris Day's repartee with sleazy John Astin is very funny!

Among my favorite parts of the movie. And the running gags with Gig Young in the automat.

 

[Filmgazer]

Among my favorite parts of the movie. And the running gags with Gig Young in the automat.

Yes, he keeps getting slapped by Audrey Meadows. It's a memorable running gag.

And I love it when Doris Day has to call John Astin to pretend like she's interested in him and asks him to meet her at a motel. Her expression of utter disgust is priceless!

 

[Noel Aguirre]

Enough of Touch of Mink.
I have been waiting for House boat on Blu-ray for the longest time, a personal favorite of mine. Houseboat is a charming little film that with some pretty interesting undertones re class and ethnic stereotypes that Sophia quite intelligently pulls off and plays for winks. And the site of her in that Edith Head gold lamé dress in the final fourth of the film in all its Vista-vision glory is worth the price of the disc alone. Spectacular! Grant's not that bad looking either- George Clooney go away. They don't make stars like this anymore sadly. With it's nod to Arturo Toscanini and also featuring Paul Peterson, Harry Guardino and Werner Klemperer- I love it!

 

[Osato]

For Teachers Pet does the digital Apple version use the same transfer?