Blu-ray Review Humoresque Blu-ray Review (1 Viewer)

[Matt Hough]

Jean Negulesco’s Humoresque is a florid romantic tragedy based on a novel by Fannie Hurst.



Humoresque (1946)



Released: 25 Jan 1947
Rated: Approved
Runtime: 125 min




Director: Jean Negulesco
Genre: Drama, Music, Mystery



Cast: Joan Crawford, John Garfield, Oscar Levant
Writer(s): Clifford Odets, Zachary Gold, Fannie Hurst



Plot: A classical musician from the slums is sidetracked by his love for a wealthy, neurotic socialite.



IMDB rating: 7.3
MetaScore: N/A





Disc Information



Studio: Warner Brothers
Distributed By: Warner Archive
Video Resolution: 1080P/AVC



Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English 2.0 DTS-HDMA



Subtitles: English SDH...

Continue reading...

 

[Ray Faiola]

This is an outstanding film, very tastefully handled in every respect. Ruth Nelson is beautiful as Garfield's mother. Waxman's musical direction is indeed historic. His "Carmen Fantasie" became a staple for both Heifetz and Stern (who manned the violin solos in the film). While most of his score was adaptation, he did compose one brilliant montage cue. And the film features what is probably Oscar Levant's best performance. But it's Garfield's and Crawford's show and they are both superb. If you haven't seen HUMORESQUE, grab this disc!

 

[Robert Crawford]

Amazon has shipped my copy via UPS so I should receive it by Wednesday or Friday at the latest due to Thanksgiving being on Thursday. A personal favorite film of mine. I can't wait to watch this WA Blu-ray.

 

[Robin9]

I won't read this review until the disc has arrived I'm waiting impatiently!

 

[Bartman]

Overripe melodrama, you betcha. I saw most of these titles when they were released on DVD, courtesy of Netflix. Garfield & Crawford, two alpha males, were not a good match. I'd luvved to have been on the set during production, daggers flying!

 

[Mark Toscani]

Wow we must have seen two different films. I don't understand the tetm overripe in describing this amazing film. The music and performances and just the look of this film sucked me into their world. What I love about Crawford is that she wasn't afraid to play unattractive characters with a dark side. I don't think anyone is supposed to like Helen. I'm not even sure you're supposed to buy the relationship. Garfield and Crawford played it perfectly. As obviously by the end, this relationship was doomed. Calling Crawford "alpha male"? She was incredibly beautiful, glamorous while slowly falling apart and revealing her unlikable character. And I don't understand the "daggers on the set"? Crawford and Garfield got along beautifully. She said on a number of occasions that next to Gable, Garfield was one of her favorites. They had a lot in common since Joan was familiar with the Group Theatre from her 2nd marriage. Ok you didn't like the film. I just don't understand the personal attacks toward an actor and saying the whole daggers flying on the set thing. Anyway sorry you didn't like the film. But I think it's a masterpiece and a great example of Warners during their post war period of truly great filmmaking. Have a happy Thanksgiving.

 

[Filmic]

UK TV nostalgist Denis Norden was keen to point out unintended amusement from lines like: 'I'm tired of playing second fiddle to the ghost of Beethoven.'

 

[Richard M S]

I've been waiting for Humoresque for the longest time. Both Joan Crawford and John Garfield gave such exquisite performances, so I am happy to read that the black and white photography, and the sound, is well-showcased on the bluray. The artists working at the top Hollywood studios during that era were really at their peak with Humoresque.

I personally wouldn't describe the film as an "overripe melodrama" though, to me that's like saying "wet water", however that's just my opinion. Either way, it's a fine drama with incredible music that will hopefully be delivered tomorrow with That's Entertainment; so thanks for the review!

 

[Konstantinos]

I hear the subtitles in this are all CAPITALS!
I thought WAC had corrected this in later blu-rays, and had adopted regular looking subtitles.

 

[Robert Crawford]

I hear the subtitles in this are all CAPITALS!
I thought WAC had corrected this in later blu-rays, and had adopted regular looking subtitles.

I guess they had a relapse.

 

[cda1143]

I hear the subtitles in this are all CAPITALS!
I thought WAC had corrected this in later blu-rays, and had adopted regular looking subtitles.

I guess they had a relapse.

Very unfortunate. How in the world could this pass QC?

 

[Robert Crawford]

Very unfortunate. How in the world could this pass QC?

A lot of errors seem to be passing QC.

 

[filmnoirguy]

Along with Mildred Pierce and Sudden Fear, this is one of my favorite Joan Crawford performances. Unlike the first two, however, she did not receive a well deserved Oscar nod for Humoresque. Nor did the impressive performances from leading actor John Garfield and supporting actor Oscar Levant. Nevertheless, this is one first-rate movie on Blu-ray I'm looking forward to!

 

[RichMurphy]

A lot of errors seem to be passing QC.

I wonder if QC staff are the first to be laid off, much like copy editors for newspapers.

 

[Worth]

There are fewer people doing more work.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

They may have had the existing subtitle track already rendered in all caps from a previous release and decided it wasn’t worth the cost to redo it. Subtitling can be very expensive and these releases generally have pretty small profit margins. It just doesn’t pay in most cases to let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

 

[Robert Crawford]

They may have had the existing subtitle track already rendered in all caps from a previous release and decided it wasn’t worth the cost to redo it. Subtitling can be very expensive and these releases generally have pretty small profit margins. It just doesn’t pay in most cases to let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

That’s probably what happened. This morning out of curiosity I sampled many Warner Blu-rays and HD digitals. Most of them had capitalized subtitles. TBH, capitalized subtitles never bothered me. Frankly, I find them easier to read.

 

[cda1143]

They may have had the existing subtitle track already rendered in all caps from a previous release and decided it wasn’t worth the cost to redo it. Subtitling can be very expensive and these releases generally have pretty small profit margins. It just doesn’t pay in most cases to let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

I had no idea that subtitling was expensive.

 

[cda1143]

That’s probably what happened. This morning out of curiosity I sampled many Warner Blu-rays and HD digitals. Most of them had capitalized subtitles. TBH, capitalized subtitles never bothered me. Frankly, I find them easier to read.

Optimum subtitle sizes are very dependent on display size. What’s good on my 55” flat panel is comically large on my 110” screen.

 

[commander richardson]

There are fewer people doing more work.

and more people doing no work here in UK.


Just watched the film and it is very good indeed . Picture quality and sound are excellent . Crawford and Garfield worked well together.