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

ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (February 2025): Indicator have transferred Vincent Sherman's Harriet Craig to Blu-ray. Gregory reviewed this on DVD back in 2012, HERE as part of TCM's Joan Crawford in the 1950s set. The new 1080P transfer is quite a welcome boost from the SD image quality. It shows a sliver more information in the frame, beautifully layered contrast and exquisite grain textures. Aside from a few rare speckles this is pristine - a very strong HD presentation. 

NOTE: We have added 58 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Indicator use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. Harriet Craig has few aggressive moments - ex. a smashed vase - and there is unremarkable depth. The haunting score was by George Duning (Houseboat, Queen Bee, Zombies of the Mora Tau. Two Rode Together, The Eddy Duchin Story, 3:10 to Yuma, Jeanne Eagels, The Shadow on the Window, My Sister Eileen, The Mob, Affair in Trinidad, Tight Spot, Johnny O'Clock, The Dark Past, Convicted, and Between Midnight and Dawn etc.) and it sounds very clean with consistent dialogue in the uncompressed transfer. Indicator offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

The Indicator Blu-ray offers a new commentary by critics and writers Glenn Kenny (Made Men: The Story of Goodfellas) and Farran Smith Nehme (Missing Reels.) They describe as a typical, if under seen, Joan Crawford melodrama. It's a wonderful discussion if the commentary sound quality is uncharacteristically weak. New is A World of Control spending 19-minutes with academic and film historian Lies Lanckman (Stars, Fan Magazines and Audiences: Desire by Design) who discusses the making of the film and its place in Joan Crawford’s career. Included by Indicator are two radio play adaptations; The Campbell Playhouse: ‘Craig’s Wife’ from 1940 running 3/4 of an hour. - radio play of George Kelly’s 1925 play, starring Orson Welles and Ann Harding plus a Lux Radio Theatre radio adaptation ‘Craig’s Wife’ subsequent of the play, starring Rosalind Russell, Herbert Marshall, and Beulah Bondi running 50-minutes broadcast in 1941. There is an original theatrical trailer and Indicator's usual image gallery of promotional and publicity material. This Blu-ray package includes a limited edition exclusive 32-page booklet with a new essay by Pamela Hutchinson (30-second Cinema: the 50 Most Important Ideas, Genres, and People in the History of Movie-making, Each Explained in Half a Minute,) an account of the film’s making featuring archival interviews with Joan Crawford and others, an overview of critical responses, and film credits. 

Vincent Sherman's Harriet Craig has Joan Crawford as... a real evil biznatch. She shines as the titular character; a bullying, self-centered, materialistic, and icy housewife that many compare to her true off-screen personality. Perhaps she just gave an exceptionally convincing performance. She did. Harriet is a selfish liar - a psychopath consumed by her mistrust of men - punishing her decent, acquiescing, husband (Wendell Corey) and any within her toxic orbit. Another significant role in Crawford's fascinating legacy. Harriet Craig and Queen Bee are fantastic titles and I'm so pleased it is a company like Indicator putting them to Blu-ray with new commentary extras booklet. Strong recommendation.

Gary Tooze