Blu-ray Review The Man I Love (1946) Blu-ray Review (1 Viewer)

[Matt Hough]

Director Raoul Walsh mixes some sturdy song standards with melodramatic noir touches to produce The Man I Love.



The Man I Love (1946)



Released: 11 Jan 1947
Rated: N/A
Runtime: 96 min




Director: Raoul Walsh
Genre: Drama, Film-Noir, Music



Cast: Ida Lupino, Robert Alda, Andrea King
Writer(s): Catherine Turney, Jo Pagano, Maritta M. Wolff



Plot: A homesick, no-nonsense lounge singer decides to leave New York City to spend some time visiting her two sisters and brother on the West Coast. Eventually she falls in love with a down-and-out ex-jazz pianist.



IMDB rating: 6.7
MetaScore: N/A





Disc Information



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

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[Robert Harris]

The Song Bill was removed from the negative in the ‘50s because of underlying mx rights for TV. It’s been returned for the first time in 60 years.

 

[Matt Hough]

The Song Bill was removed from the negative in the ‘50s because of underlying mx rights for TV. It’s been returned for the first time in 60 years.

Thanks for giving the specific information about the previously cut material. Here's what the liner notes say about it:

This new Blu-ray presentation restores 6 minutes cut from the film and unseen for nearly seven decades.

 

[Garysb]

I always thought the voice dubbing for Ida Lupino was a very good match to her speaking voice in this film. Just my opinion. I wasn't aware it was dubbed until I saw one of the videos on youtube about voice dubbing and a clip from the film was shown as an example.

I always liked the family aspects of the film and the little things like Petey helping her sister out by pretending to buy cloths for herself and then saying she didn't like them and her sister should take them. She shows up unexpectedly solves all her family's problems and then leaves just as unexpectedly. Like an angel. A good Christmas movie though it usually isn't described as such, it is set during the end of year holiday season. The weakest part of the movie for me is Bruce Bennett whose acting seems so wooden . I don't see the pain the character is supposed to be in. Instead you have Petey explaining to him what his feelings are.

 

[Garysb]

TCM showed the restored version of "The Man I Love" including the song "Bill" today. It is streaming on Watch TCM until 9/1/2024 for those interested in watching it that missed it. What a difference from what they use to show as I still had an earlier TCM recording on my DVR. In addition to singing "Bill" the song is used as background music in parts of two scenes and those scenes were cut to remove the song in the version that has been available until now. I guess back in the day they couldn't replace the background music so they cut the scenes.

I am a little surprised TCM didn't air this first showing at a time where it would be hosted to make a bigger deal about the broadcast premiere of a restored film with footage that has been missing since it was first released in the 1940's or 1950's when it was first broadcast on TV.

 

[jayembee]

Nice article on IndieWire:

‘The Man I Love’ Shows at Least One Studio Still Sees Life in Physical Media

Raoul Walsh's 'The Man I Love' arrives on Blu-ray from Warner Archive with six minutes not seen in 60 years restored

www.indiewire.com

 

[Filmgazer]

Nice article on IndieWire:

‘The Man I Love’ Shows at Least One Studio Still Sees Life in Physical Media

Raoul Walsh's 'The Man I Love' arrives on Blu-ray from Warner Archive with six minutes not seen in 60 years restored

www.indiewire.com

Jay -- Thanks so much for posting that link. Very interesting review!

 

[cda1143]

Jay -- Thanks so much for posting that link. Very interesting review!

Indeed. Deserves to be in Warner Archive thread, where I’ll quote Jay’s post.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Indeed. Deserves to be in Warner Archive thread, where I’ll quote Jay’s post.

On second thought, you’re right so a copy of that post is back in that thread.

 

[mskaye]

On second thought, you’re right so a copy of that post is back in that thread.

Had never seen this before and watched this last night. I give it a solid A-. Has some great things in it - most notably the music, cinematography, the performance of Ida Lupino, and of course Walsh's direction (no surprise there.) Felt it pulled a few narrative punches that may have made it a little more impactful but loved what was there. I also can't imagine that the song "Bill" was removed for so long. It's like the best thing in it! Has anyone ever brought up how similar the end of this is to Fellini's Nights of Cabiria ??? PS - the transfer from OCN etc. is beyond exquisite. GF and his team never disappoint.

 

[jayembee]

Indeed. Deserves to be in Warner Archive thread, where I’ll quote Jay’s post.

On second thought, you’re right so a copy of that post is back in that thread.

Yeah, I originally posted it to the Warner Archive thread because of the comments in the article with respect to studio label interest in physical releases. I didn't take issue with it being moved to this thread, though. Thanks for moving it back, Robert.