What Did the Lady Forget?

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

(aka 'What Did the Lady Forget?' or 'Shukujo wa nani o wasureta ka')

Japan 1937

Yasujiro Ozu followed his first talkie, The Only Son, with this nuanced 1937 comedy about a henpecked medical school professor who makes up a story for his wife so he can sneak off with his freethinking niece for a holiday. The professor's subterfuge is discovered, which has complex emotional consequences; few critics have noted the rage and rebellion that crop up in Ozu's work, and he's masterful in showing how such feelings are worked out in the context of family. More conventional and commercial than its predecessor, this feature is also uncharacteristic of Ozu in its sharp satire of the rich (its trendy banter and lighthearted boozing suggest The Thin Man as a possible influence).

Excerpt of Jonathan Rosenbaum's review from the Chicago Reader located HERE

Theatrical Release: March 3rd, 1937 - Tokyo

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DVD Comparison:

Panorama - Region 3 - NTSC vs. BFI (Early Summer Blu-ray package) - Region 2 - PAL

Panorama - Region 3 - NTSC LEFT vs. BFI (Early Summer Blu-ray package) - Region 2 - PAL RIGHT

DVD Box Cover	Thinking of buying from YesAsia? CLICK HERE and use THIS UPDATED BEAVER PAGE to source their very best...
Distribution	Panorama Entertainment - Region 3 - NTSC	BFI Region 2 - PAL
Runtime	1:11:00	1:08:14 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.83 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: ? mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Panorama
Bitrate: BFI
Audio	Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0)	Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles	English, Chinese, None	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Panorama Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Directors Biography (text screens) • Director's filmography (text screens) • Collectable handbill with production notes (in English and Chinese) DVD Release Date: June 28th, 2005 Keep Case Chapters: 12	Release Information: Studio: BFI Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Extensive illustrated booklet featuring essays and film notes by James Bell (Sight + Sound ) and Ozu biographer Tony Rayns • Contains DVD with Early Summer and What Did the Lady Forget? Release Date: June 21st, 2010 Custom Case Chapters 12

Comments:

ADDITION: BFI Dual-format package - July 2010: The BFI SD-DVD comes as an extra in the 'Dual Format' package with a Blu-ray of Early Summer (compared HERE). Unfortunately, What Did the Lady Forget? is shared on the dual-layered DVD with an SD version of Early Summer. The image looks to be from the same source as the Panorama but it is progressive where the region 3 disc is interlaced. The UK has PAL speedup but superior subtitle translation. BFI has the liner notes eclipsing the static bio/filmography screens on the HK DVD.

Weighing all the transfer attributes the BFI is the best English friendly version of the film currently available on digital.

However, I don't see the strong value of including the SD version of Early Summer - in the package - when only those purchasing will desire it for the Blu-ray transfer. Late Spring had The Only Son as a 1080P rendition and as the 1080P Early Summer is only single-layered (feature takes up 22 Gig on the BD disc) it would have fit to include What Did the Lady Forget? for an HD transfer. OR without the SD version of Early Summer it would have created more space for Lady on the DVD - perhaps making this transfer visually better.

***

ON THE PANORAMA: This is labeled as Panorama's 13th Ozu film (#13 on the spine) and it seems to have one of the highest bitrates. Considering the age of the film it is acceptable compared to the excessively worn print used for The Only Son. It's still a non-progressive transfer but it is not as noticeable as in many of the earlier Panorama discs suggesting that they are continuing to improve. It still has some flickering and minor subtitle deficiencies though, but nothing to impinge upon my total enjoyment of the film.

We would all love to see these eventually put out by Criterion, but there are so many Ozu's classics available now from Panorama, far more reasonably priced than any potential Criterion, that it is an enticing purchase that we encourage as it does allow you to see these incredible films. Hopefully our screen captures will soften any high expectations that you might have and you will enjoy this DVD as much as I did.

Gary W. Tooze

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Panorama - Region 3 - NTSC LEFT vs. BFI (Early Summer Blu-ray package) - Region 2 - PAL RIGHT