The Awful Truth Blu-ray

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

Directed by Leo McCarey
USA 1937

In this Oscar-winning farce, Cary Grant (in the role that first defined the Cary Grant persona) and Irene Dunne exude charm, cunning, and artless affection as an urbane couple who, fed up with each other's infidelities, resolve to file for divorce. But try as they might to move on, the mischievous Jerry can't help meddling in Lucy s ill-matched engagement to a corn-fed Oklahoma businessman (Ralph Bellamy), and a mortified Lucy begins to realize that she may be saying goodbye to the only dance partner capable of following her lead. Directed by the versatile Leo McCarey, a master of improvisation and slapstick as well as a keen and sympathetic observer of human folly, THE AWFUL TRUTH is a warm but unsparing comedy about two people whose flaws only make them more irresistible.

***

A superbly lighthearted production, and the epitome of 1930s screwball comedies. Grant tells wife Dunne that he is going on a short Florida vacation, but then spends his time playing poker with the boys, establishing an alibi by burning himself under a sunlamp. When he returns home he finds his wife absent; then she appears with D'Arcy, a dashing voice teacher. Both Grant and Dunne assume that the other has been unfaithful and, after a rousing round of accusations, they decide to accept a 90-day interlocutory divorce.

Excerpt from TV Guide Entertainment Network, Movie Guide located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: October 21st, 1937

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Comparison:

Sony Pictures - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC vs. Criterion - Blu-ray

1) Sony - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT

Box Covers		Coming to Blu-ray in the UK by Criterion 6 days later in April 2018:
Distribution	Sony Pictures - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC	Criterion Collection - Spine # 849 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:30:30	1:31:02.457
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.2 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.37:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 44,824,020,335 bytes Feature: 27,046,232,064 bytes Video Bitrate: 35.45 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Bitrate Blu-ray
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)	LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles	English, French, None	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Sony Pictures Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • In Love With Cary Grant : Inside the Awful Truth • Previews DVD Release Date: February 7th, 2006 Digipak (see capture HERE) Chapters: 28	Release Information: Studio: Criterion 1.37:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 44,824,020,335 bytes Feature: 27,046,232,064 bytes Video Bitrate: 35.45 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • New interview with critic Gary Giddins about director Leo McCarey (24:02) • New video essay by film critic David Cairns on Cary Grant's performance (15:59) • Illustrated 1978 audio interview with actor Irene Dunne (6:53) • LUX RADIO THEATRE adaptation of the film from 1939, starring Grant and Claudette Colbert (59:39) • PLUS: An essay by film critic Molly Haskell Blu-ray Release Date: April 17th - 23rd, 2018 Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters 19

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Criterion - Blu-ray - March 2018: Criterion's Blu-ray of The Awful Truth is described as a "New 4K digital restoration". The 1080P resolution naturally exports much richer grain textures and superior layered contrast (deeper blacks and more pure whites) and it looks luscious in-motion. It is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. It probably can't look much better. Compared to the DVD it shows more information in the 1.37:1 frame on all four sides of the frame. The 4K looks wonderfully film-like. So impressive.

Criterion utilize a linear PCM (24-bit) in the original mono. Dialogue is always clear and clean and there is no credited score but has music; Joyce Compton (dubbed) as Dixie Belle Lee performing My Dreams Are Gone With the Wind as well as Irene Dunne and Ralph Bellamy Home on the Range and Dunne singing La Serenata. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles on the Blu-ray disc is available in both region 'A' (North America) and 'B' (UK).

Criterion's notable supplements include an hour long LUX RADIO THEATRE adaptation of the film starring Cary Grant and Claudette Colbert that originally aired September 11th, 1939. There is an excellent new 1/4 hour video essay by film critic David Cairns on Cary Grant's performance in The Awful Truth and the influence on it by director Leo McCarey. I was appreciative to watch the 24-minute interview with critic Gary Giddins (author of Warning Shadows: Home Alone with Classic Cinema) about director Leo McCarey and his improvisational working methods and how the film cemented the screwball comedy genre. Lastly on the Blu-ray is a 7-minute illustrated 1978 audio interview with actor Irene Dunne conducted by scholar James Harvey. The package has a liner notes booklet with an essay by film critic Molly Haskell.

Brilliant non-sensical action, witty dialogue and a classic screwball pace. Performances carry the fun vibe and this is one of my favorite of this genre. Our highest recommendation!

- Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

Criterion Region 'A' - Blu-ray

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

Screen Captures

1) Sony - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC - TOP

2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

1) Sony - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC - TOP

2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

1) Sony - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC - TOP

2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

Box Covers

Coming to Blu-ray in the UK by Criterion 6 days later in April 2018:

Distribution Sony Pictures - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC Criterion Collection - Spine # 849 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

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