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On their Blu-ray, Imprint use a linear PCM dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. There is some pugilism and 'punching' effects as well as cheering crowd noises that come through authentically flat. Plus there is a score by Victor Young (Arise My Love, Union Pacific, The Accused, Strategic Air Command, The Sun Shines Bright, Johnny Guitar, China Gate etc.) He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score for Golden Boy. It sounds very supportive and clean via the uncompressed transfer.  Imprint offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Imprint has no extras - not even a trailer.

Rouben Mamoulian's Golden Boy is based on the 1937 play by Clifford Odets. It was originally intended to be a Frank Capra film and John Garfield and Tyrone Power considered for the boxer / promising violinist, Joe Bonaparte with William Holden getting the nod. The producers were initially unhappy with Holden's work and tried to dismiss him, but Barbara Stanwyck insisted that he stay on. The 1947 film, Robert Rossen's Body and Soul was partly based on Golden Boy. It is definitely in the upper-tier of early boxing-related films. The Imprint Blu-ray is overpriced for being bare-bones and will certainly be reduced when re-issued without the LE slipcase. Stanwyck is her usual great self.  

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ON THE DVDs (October 2005):  On the heels of Warner's Barbara Stanwyck Signature Collection this little gem was residing in Sony's (ex. Columbia) camp. Perfect timing for an NTSC release.

Although Sony's effort is technically dual-layered - the film definitely is only single-layered... as is the Universal PAL edition. In actuality, the UK release utilizes more space when you take into consideration the extensive supplements available on the Sony. I initially leaned towards the frugal PAL edition in terms of image. It has far superior contrast as the Sony looks a shade sepia. The Universal also includes more information in the frame (marginal). Unfortunately, the PAL edition has some falsely acquired brightness and shows more artefacts. Both are fairly clean but different speckles here and there are visible in each. Both are progressively transferred. In the end this is not an easy choice in regards to the image - both having some prominent minuses but this is one title you probably won't see hit high-definition in your (my) lifetime. Both have optional English subtitles but they are flawed in the Universal residing on a black label background (see sample below). The Sony are awful bright yellow

Another big difference are in the supplements - where the Universal (shared in a collection with Double Indemnity, The Lady Eve, All I Desire, The Bitter Tea of General Yen and The Miracle Woman. ) offers nothing - the Sony is stacked. It offers a cartoon - The Kangaroo Kid, a three-stooge-esq comedy short called Pleased to Mitt You (with Shemp!). There is also something called a 'Screen Snapshot' featurette with some footage of stars of the era at leisure including Stanwyck trying her hand at golf (just love this gal). Then we have a 1956 TV episode of Ford Television Theatre: Sudden Silence with Jeff Morrow and Barbara Stanwyck - kinda cool addition! Finally some previews and the original theatrical trailer. Way to go Sony!

I LOVE my UK Stanwyck Goddess collection but it is pricey. I also really like this film a lot... and the Sony supplements. The final choice is yours but don't pass up William Holden's debut!

Gary W. Tooze