Miss Sadie Thompson (1953 / 2D and 3D) (BLU-RAY)
Company: Twilight Time
Starring: Rita
Hayworth, Jose Ferrer, Aldo Ray, Russell Collins, Diosa Costello, Harry
Bellaver, Charles Bronson
My Review and Thoughts:
My Rating: 4 out of 5
This one is a total treat considering you get two different versions, a standard 2D version and an interesting 3D version. So basically double the watching.
This one is a total treat considering you get two different versions, a standard 2D version and an interesting 3D version. So basically double the watching.
Starring the wonderful beauty. All around classic master of
cinema. The goddess. Guru of multiple talented acting. The one and only Rita
Hayworth. What really needs to be said about this Queen of cinema that has not
already been said. Well I guess I can give my two cents of thoughts on this passionate,
powerful lover of the screen. She is and will always be one of the finest
Golden Tickets of Hollywood. Film shinned with her face, stance, exposure and
beyond graced this flawless gem of cinema perfection. Twilight Time has honored
this true icon of cinema with this special edition Blu-ray. This is a must own
piece of Hollywood just for the fact that this has all the wonderful performers in this
film.
Not only the amazing Rita, but you have also starring the true
Hollywood icon Jose Ferrer. He was a true performer in everything he did in his
long career. Ferrer was a true god of cinema, not only acting but as director
of stage plays and so on, which might I add won him many awards. Most famous
stage productions such as The Shrike, The Fourposter and the one and only
Stalag 17. But I think it has to be his master in front of the camera in a
wonderful mixed bag of characters that truly stand out. Nominated for three
Academy Awards and also winner of the Academy Award for best Actor in the
amazing Cyrano de Bergerac. All one has to do is look at his amazing career,
1952’s Moulin Rouge which he was nominated for an Academy Award for. 1954’s The
Caine Mutiny, 1962’s Lawrence of Arabia, 1965’s The Greatest Story Ever Told.
One of my personal favorite underrated horror films 1977’s The Sentinel. He was
in a slew of wonderful Drive-in style films of the 70’s and 80’s, more or less
the late night B-movie style of entertainment. If you know me I am a huge
B-movie and Cult film lover and Ferrer shinned in many of these, the aforementioned
The Sentinel. Also 1978’s The Swarm, 1978’s Dracula’s Dog, 1981’s Bloody
Birthday, 1982’s Blood Tide, 1983’s The Being, and the one and only personal
favorite of mine, the classic science fiction, dark tale and wonderment of imagination by David Lynch, the iconic 1984’s DUNE. Twilight Time has also released another film he was involved with on Special Edition Edition Blu-ray, Woody Allen's odd-ball A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy which you can read my review for HERE.
Also starring Charles Bronson. Bronson is my boy. One of my
all-time favorite tough guys. I am a huge Charles Bronson fan. My favorite will
always be, the Death Wish saga. I own every one of his films on VHS, and DVD,
and now many of his films are coming out, or have already came out on Blu-ray.
Bronson came from a time of cinema when, Manly men owned the camera. The tough
guy persona ruled, and operated a no holds bar attitude of dominance in film.
There was a time when the male figure demonstrated a control of the character
they were playing. Now days the white ghost teeth, slick hair, metrosexual,
male figure becomes somewhat laughable in cinema, compared to the brutes of men
in the 40’s, all the way to early 90’s cinema. What happened to the days of the
sophisticated tough guys like, Richard Burton, Yul Brynner, James Cagney, James
Coburn, Bronson, Eastwood, Hackman, Lee Marvin, Gary Cooper. How Hollywood has
missed the mark in not creating the tough guy persona, just amazes me in all
its stupidity. Don’t get me wrong there are still tough guys, but the style,
and approach has changed. The original tough guys did not have to demand your
attention, they already had your attention, and Charles Bronson was that style. Twilight Time has released many of his films on Special Edition Blu-ray. Chato's Land which you can read my review for HERE. Also 10 to Midnight which you can read my review for HERE. Twilight Time has also released 1972's The Mechanic.
Also starring the very, how should I put it and not to sound
sexist, oh forget about it, she was flipping hot. Diosa Costello was a true an
eye catcher. Not only beauty, but was a powerhouse in entertainment. A true performer.
Living all the way to 100, she had beauty, brains and most of all, perfect
talent. Amazingly that beauty and ultimate stardom was mainly for the stage
plays. She only acted in 3 films which was a total bummer, but she shinned in
those few small roles. When asked why she did not act in more films, it was
because she loved to improvise, and on stage you could do that, but on film, you
had to stick to the script that the director wanted. She was beautiful, amazing
and it was awesome seeing her in this film again. I have often studied her
career and wrote an article on her during my college days, she is just one of
those strong performers that lives a lasting mark.
A small little trivia about this movie. Is this is not the
only version of this film. You see this movie is based on W. Somerset Maugham
short story titled originally, Miss Thompson. In 1928 there was a movie version
titled Sadie Thompson. The short story changed its name to the title, “Rain”.
In 1932 there was another film version with the new title Rain starring the one
and only icon Joan Crawford ("No wire hangers, ever!") Also there was
another film version that changed many aspects of the movie and entered the
subject of race, Dirty Gertie from Harlem U.S.A. which was put out in 1946. Now
the Dirty Gertie version was an unauthorized version.
Miss Sadie Thompson was directed by a wonderful visionary
behind the camera. He directed one of my favorite psychological film noir
movies 1947’s amazing Possessed, starring the one and only Joan Crawford. Curtis
was a true one of a kind German director that had away with capturing a plot, creating it around the tension, and beauty of his actors, actress’s
performing on screen which was his true trade mark in my viewpoint. I have seen 31 of his films and each one capture a freshness about it, or an
ability to seem as if it’s real, or happening before your eyes. His performers
seem to be real characters. No matter what type of film subject he directed he
gave an interesting trip into the core of its story, and Miss Sadie Thompson is
no different.
Audio/Video:
My Rating: 5 out of 5
Absolutely stunning. This was my first time seeing this in
3D which was a total treat and very, very, impressed with Twilight Time's ability
to allow the viewer to see it in both versions, if they wish to. Both versions
are vibrant in color, crisp in imagery. Loved the 3D Effects, which really came
out, which also was a solid Grade A+ to this Blu-ray release. The audio is
equally powerful and very intense. The sound is crystal clear. Twilight Time
aced it again in this department in my viewpoint.
LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 1.85:1 2D and 3D
AUDIO: English 1.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
Extras:
My Rating: 4 out of 5
Isolated Music & Effects Track which is done by 3
persons. The first being composed by George Duning. Duning was a true golden
ticket of music perfection. He was nominated for many Academy Awards in his
career. He worked on such memorable films as 1955’s The Man from Laramie,
1955’s Picnic which might I say both where Twilight Time releases on a Special
Edition Blu-ray's. 1956’s The Eddy Duchin Story, which might I also add
Twilight Time released on a Special Edition Blu-ray which you can read my
review for HERE. Also composed for the film Cowboy which Twilight Time also has
released on Special Edition Blu-ray which you can read my review for HERE. He truly mastered so many realities in music,
from TV to major motion picture. From a personal favorite of mine 1957’s 3:10
to Yuma, and another personal favorite the 1978 Disney TV movie, Child of
Glass, to working on the original Star Trek Series. Twilight Time honored this
music god with this special feature.
Next up in the music department would be the excellent
songwriter and composer Lester Lee. Sadly, Lee died very young, but left a
world of great examples of his mastery in music. Which might I add is still
being used on soundtracks for movies today. One of his most famous works is
Blue Gardenia. He wrote countless examples of music that stand out still today.
A true master in the music world and the lyrical world. He shined and is still
shinning today even after his death 50 years later.
Next up is another musical master at his craft. Ned
Washington was truly an American songwriter that shinned in a way that few lyricists
could ever want to be. Nominated for 11 Academy Awards and winner of two. His
mastery was a fresh golden ticket of perfection and listening wonderment of the
soul, both wanting to be sentimental and also tapping the feet to dance. Miss
Sadie Thompson is one of the nominated songs for an Academy Award. I think the
one and true thought for me knowing and remembering him is for the Disney
classic masterpiece 1940’s Pinocchio’s classic song: “When you wish upon a Star”,
which might I add won him his Oscar along with Leigh Harline and Paul J. Smith.
A wonderful special feature added to this special edition film. Twilight Time
honored this wonderful music, and this was a spectacular special feature in my
viewpoint.
Audio Commentary with Film Historians David Del Valle and
Steven Peros. A wonderful listen as always. I love listening to film historians
that have a passion, and love affair for cinema, and this one showcases that
beauty, very informative.
Introduction by Actress Patricia Clarkson. A wonderful
opening, for a wonderful film.
Original Theatrical Trailer
Also the amazing 8-page booklet insert by the one and only
Julie Kirgo, which is always a plus. These booklets are always cherished.
Overall:
Yet again Twilight Time has honored an older film with an excellent
new outlet for a new generation to experience, or an older generation to
revisit. Wonderful seeing it in both versions, 2D and 3D. Some good special
features. Awesome and amazing video and audio quality. This is another must
own, must experience film that lingers with you long after it’s over. It’s one
of those films you can return to often, and enjoy it all over again. Highly Recommended.
INFO:
Make sure you head over to www.screenarchives.com to buy all
the wonderful Twilight Time Blu-rays. The main page that gives you these
beautiful releases on top quality Special Editions.
Also head over and like Twilight Time on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/twilighttimemovie