- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 17,821
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
We have Kino Lorber to thank for a bit of whimsy, as they're about to release two of the seven Crosby-Hope "road" pictures in Blu-ray. While Dorothy Lamour appeared in all seven, the final film featured Joan Collins, with Ms Lamour making an appearance.
The series, which began in 1940, with Road to Singapore, continued with Zanzibar in 1941, Morocco in 1942, Utopia in 1945, Rio in 1947 (concurrently released by KL), Bali in 1952, and the final edition, Hong Kong in 1962.
I visited Bali first, as it was produced in 3-strip Technicolor, and was hoping for quality elements. Of the seven, it's also the only production in color.
While not a new digital re-combine, color levels and grain in Kino Lorber's release give the viewer an excellent idea of what the film looked like upon release. Presumably derived from an existing re-combine to an IP, the majority of the film looks wonderful, with only a few shots obviously out of registration, and another handful, with minor problems, that no one will notice.
Audio is crisp and clear, with nary a problem.
Note must be made of a superior commentary track featuring Mark Evanier, and someone mysteriously going by the name of Michael Schlesinger. It's a track that makes viewing the film twice, a pleasant necessity.
Image - 4.25
Audio - 5
4k Up-rez - 4
Pass / Fail - Pass
Recommended
RAH
The series, which began in 1940, with Road to Singapore, continued with Zanzibar in 1941, Morocco in 1942, Utopia in 1945, Rio in 1947 (concurrently released by KL), Bali in 1952, and the final edition, Hong Kong in 1962.
I visited Bali first, as it was produced in 3-strip Technicolor, and was hoping for quality elements. Of the seven, it's also the only production in color.
While not a new digital re-combine, color levels and grain in Kino Lorber's release give the viewer an excellent idea of what the film looked like upon release. Presumably derived from an existing re-combine to an IP, the majority of the film looks wonderful, with only a few shots obviously out of registration, and another handful, with minor problems, that no one will notice.
Audio is crisp and clear, with nary a problem.
Note must be made of a superior commentary track featuring Mark Evanier, and someone mysteriously going by the name of Michael Schlesinger. It's a track that makes viewing the film twice, a pleasant necessity.
Image - 4.25
Audio - 5
4k Up-rez - 4
Pass / Fail - Pass
Recommended
RAH
