Press Release Criterion Press Release: Love Affair (1939) (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

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Golden-age Hollywood’s humanist master Leo McCarey brings his graceful touch and relaxed naturalism to this sublime romance, one of cinema’s most intoxicating tear-wringers. Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer are chic strangers who meet and fall in love aboard an ocean liner bound for New York. Though they are both involved with other people, they make a pact to reconnect six months later at the top of the Empire State Building—until the hand of fate throws their star-crossed affair tragically off course. Swooning passion and gentle comedy coexist in perfect harmony in the exquisitely tender Love Affair (nominated for six Oscars), a story so timeless that it has been remade by multiple filmmakers over the years—including McCarey himself, who updated it as the equally beloved An Affair to Remember.
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FILM INFO​

• United States
• 1939
• 88 minutes
• Black & White
• 1.37:1
• English
• Spine #1114

SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES​

• New 4K digital restoration by The Museum of Modern Art and Lobster Films, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
• New interview with film critic Farran Smith Nehme about the movie’s complicated production history
• New interview with Serge Bromberg, founder of Lobster Films, about the restoration
• Two radio adaptations, featuring Irene Dunne, William Powell, and Charles Boyer
• Two shorts directed by Leo McCarey, both starring silent comedian Charley Chase: Looking for Sally (1925) and Mighty Like a Moose (1926)
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: An essay by author Megan McGurk
  
  New cover by Raphael Geroni
  
  February 15, 2022

 

[Robert Crawford]

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[Robert Crawford]

Well, we finally got this title!

 

[Justin Ray]

I bought the Lobster Films release, and it looks damn good! I'll definitely double dip- love this film!

 

[Thomas T]

While I prefer the 1957 remake (An Affair To Remember), it's great to see it rescued from the public domain. A no brainer for upgrading.

 

[battlebeast]

I didn’t know lobster released it… so happy for this!!

 

[lark144]

Last week I almost pulled the trigger on the Lobster release, but a quiet, plaintive voice in the back of my head, said, "Wait. I have a funny feeling Criterion has licensed this." To which I replied, "Maybe, but Criterion always takes a decade to release stuff after they license it." To which that voice replied, "Wait and see." And here it is.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Thank you for supporting HTF when you preorder using the link below. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link. As an Amazon Associate HTF earns from qualifying purchases

 

[Robin9]

I watched this disc yesterday. I'm very grateful to Lobster Films and the MOMA for restoring this. I think RAH will accept my use of restoration in this instance. I agree with Thomas T in Post 5 about preferring An Affair To Remember and I'll re-watch that in the next few days.

Irene Dunne is an actress I admire far more than I like, and her singing in this film reduces the movie for me.