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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (August 2019): "The Man in the White Suit", starring Sir Alec Guinness, now appears thanks to Kino Lorber. This Ealing comedy is located on a dual layered Blu-ray and the 1.37:1 shot film is given a hefty and maxed-out bitrate. There are only a few frames showing small vertical scratches or tiny marks, sporadically appearing during the film's running time. Nothing to be upset over, in fact it only enhances the theatrical 'look' of the film (the marks are so small that to erase them would only take away from the texture). At times, the clarity of the image oscillates between a pretty sharp picture with fine detail, to a softer one. The impeccable Cinematography is due to Douglas Slocombe ( The first 3 'Indiana Jones' films, "The Lion in Winter", and "Rollerball!") and when characters are dramatically lit, the shadows and lights look just right on this Blu-ray transfer. Scenes that are a little brighter tend to suffer from what I can only assume is a modest contrast, possibly due to the source material. Either way, fans should be pleased to finally have this classic Ealing comedy in 1080p.

The film is accompanied by a 16-bit DTS-HD master audio track. The various factory noises and the lab's bubbling beakers all provide a sense of surroundings, yet things can sound a little flat. The score is thanks to Benjamin Frankel and played by the Philharmonia Orchestra (Frankel is notable for composing the music for the British version of Night and the City, plus some Noirish titles like Libel and The Man Who Watched Trains Go By, Footprints in the Fog as well as The Iron Petticoat and The Importance of Being Earnest, Mine Own Executioner). There are optional English subtitles on this Region 'A' Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.

Film Historian Dr. Dean Brandum provides an audio commentary for the film. Dr. Brandum received his PhD. at Deakin University for his writings and analysis of historical box office takings. As he states early on, a main focus for him during graduate school was the box office of British films of the 60's in the US market. Dr. Brandum goes on to talk about the film's origin story (began as a play) and the story behind Ealing Studios productions. Though the microphone seems to pick up a little too much superfluous noise for my liking, I have heard much worse. This is a fine track and worth diving into, especially for fans. "Revisiting ‘The Man in the White Suit’" is a 14-minute conversation between filmmaker Stephen Frears and critic Ian Christie as well as an interview with British Film Historian Richard Darce (author of Traditions of British Comedy) discussing Sir Alec Guinness. Christie points out that the film demands a discussion after viewing, with the question "do you think it is an accurate portrayal of what happens when the balance of nature is upset?" The two talk about the film and its context within England at that time. I also appreciate the discussion regarding Joan Greenwood. I truly wish that these interviews and insightful readings could go on for hours. The film's trailer also appears here, along with a few other Kino titles; "Kind Hearts and Coronets", "The Lavender Mob", and "The Captain's Paradise".

"The Man in the White Suit" is a fine introduction for those unfamiliar with the Ealing Studios comedy pictures. I would encourage those to also check out "The Ladykillers" and "Kind Hearts and Coronets", the latter also coming out from Kino. The Blu-ray is a treat for fans of the studios work, any A/V gripings are minimal and the commentary adds important value! 

Colin Zavitz