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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (August 2021): Kino have transferred Frank Borzage's Desire to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "Brand New 2K Master". The 1080P is extremely thick. I don't recall Desire being released on DVD to much fanfare ('Vault Series' in 2014.) The source may have lost some density but it isn't overwrought with damage - only minor speckles and marks. It can shows some inconsistency with the grain being of varying degrees of fineness and the overall image shows softness but I was okay with the 1.37:1 HD presentation - Dietrich still shines brightly. 

NOTE: We have added 54 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (16-bit) in the original English language (and some Spanish.) Desire has no aggressive moments but a very pleasingly light score by Friedrich Hollaender (The Man in Search of His Murderer, The Bride Wore Boots, Bluebeard's Eight Wife, Angel, The Great McGinty, Christmas in Connecticut, Caught, Berlin Express, Background to Danger, The Verdict, A Foreign Affair) diversifying to the film's many moods. Kino offer optional English subtitles (SDH) on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers two new commentaries. The first is by David Del Valle and Nathaniel Bell. They work very well together reflecting on past era stars, production, a lot of Borzage, Dietrich being the architect of her stardom. David always impresses me with his anecdotes and knowledge. The second commentary is by Samm Deighan. She discusses the perception of a larger Lubitsch influence on the film than Borzage. She discusses how this was a remake of the 1933 German film Happy Days in Aranjuez. Samm covers a lot on Borzage, Dietrich (a transition point for her career), Cooper, the supporting players and much more. I didn't find the two commentaries overlapped information much at all. There is also a trailer for Desire and trailers for other films of this Golden-age period.

The Dietrich/Cooper film Desire is such a wonderful genre mix with a confidence-game, romance, comedy, crime - all expertly realized by director Borzage. It's been out of the conversation and far less-known than it rightfully deserves... plus it is produced by Ernst Lubitsch! It's full of wit, sophistication, Euro-fabricated locales, Dietrich's beautiful gowns, hats and gloves (Travis Banton) - Cooper's Americana persona and a fun storyline of a con-woman falling for one of her marks. As Dietrich stated "The only film I need not be ashamed of is Desire". There is a lot of joy here. The Kino Blu-ray has the film in 1080P and two expert commentaries! Our highest recommendation!

Gary Tooze