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Born Yesterday [Blu-ray]
(George Cukor, 1950)
Review by Gary Tooze
Production: Theatrical: Columbia Pictures Corporation Video: Twilight Time
Disc: Region: FREE (as verified by the Oppo Blu-ray player) Limited to 3,000 Copies! Runtime: 1:42:17.172 Disc Size: 32,127,262,863 bytes Feature Size: 30,528,024,576 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.97 Mbps Chapters: 12 Case: Standard Blu-ray case Release date: July, 2014
Video: Aspect ratio: 1.33:1 Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1024 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1024 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit) Isolated Score: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1632 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1632 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit / DN -5dB)
Subtitles: • English (SDH), None
Extras: • Theatrical Trailer 1 (1:43)• Theatrical Trailer 2 (2:47)• Isolated Score • Liner notes by Julie Kirgo
Bitrate:
Description: Director George Cukor’s 1950 screen adaptation of Garson Kanin’s hit play, Born Yesterday, is a classic of movie comedy, revolving around a corrupt junk dealer (Broderick Crawford) who comes to Washington to “buy” a congressman or two. Fatally, he brings along a Sleeping Beauty, his chorine mistress, Billie Dawn (the great, the unique Judy Holliday in her Oscar™-winning performance); under the ministrations of a newspaperman (William Holden) hired to “refine” her, Billie awakens to an appreciation of her own shrewd brain—and the nastier ways of her bully boyfriend.
The Film: Garson Kanin's Broadway hit was transferred to the screen with only a few passing nods to the stricter censorship required by films. Judy Holliday won an Oscar for her portrayal of Billie Dawn, a strident, dim-bulbed ex-chorus girl who is the mistress of millionaire junk tycoon Harry Brock (Broderick Crawford). In Washington to put a few senators and congressmen in his pocket (the better to lay the groundwork for an illegal cartel), the rude-and-crude Brock realizes that the unrefined Billie will prove an embarrassment. Thus he hires idealistic but impoverished Paul Verrell (William Holden) to pump some intelligence and "class" into Billie. Paul does his job too well; by awakening Billie's social and political consciousness, he turns the girl into Brock's most formidable foe in his efforts to buy influence in DC. Along the way Paul and Billie fall in love. Excerpt from MRQE located HEREDespite the tendency of Garson Kanin's play to go all dewy-eyed in its celebration of American democratic ideals, Cukor's screen version is still a delight. The story - rehashed later in The Girl Can't Help It - concerns the apparently dumb chorus-girl mistress of a ruthless tycoon-cum-gangster; the big shot decides she should become more sophisticated and knowledgeable (purely for the sake of appearances), and employs Holden to give her a few lessons. But the plan backfires, both because she falls for the teacher and because her education turns her against her brutish lover's rather dubious moral practices. A very simple idea, but enlivened by a sharp, witty script, and by Cukor's effortless handling of the brilliant performances: especially fine are Holliday as the dumb blonde who makes good, and Crawford as the confused sugar-daddy, nowhere more so than in the marvellous scene where her mindless singing disturbs his concentration over a game of gin rummy. Magic. Excerpt from TimeOut located HERE
Image : NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. The delightful comedy/romance Born Yesterday has come to Twilight Time Blu-ray. This is dual-layered with a max'ed out bitrate and looks strong and very consistent throughout. The transfer exports the film's inherent thickness, minor softness, and film textures are visible. Contrast has some nice layering and the visuals are pleasing without much depth exported. I noticed no noise or artifacts. The Blu-ray is solid with no major flaws - it gave me an enjoyable 1080P presentation.
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Audio :The DTS-HD mono track at 1024 kbps sounds crisp with hints at depth in the score by Friedrich Hollaender (Caught, Berlin Express, Background to Danger, The Verdict). A faithful transfer without flaws and dialogue is clean and clear. There are optional English subtitles (sample above) and m y Oppo has identified it as being a region FREE.
Extras : Only 2 theatrical trailers, and, of course, as on most Twilight Time releases - you can access the isolated film score track, and read Julie Kirgo's liner notes.
BOTTOM LINE: Gary Tooze July 22nd, 2014
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About the Reviewer: Hello, fellow Beavers! I have been interested in film since I viewed a Chaplin festival on PBS when I was around 9 years old. I credit DVD with expanding my horizons to fill an almost ravenous desire to seek out new film experiences. I currently own approximately 9500 DVDs and have reviewed over 5000 myself. I appreciate my discussion Listserv for furthering my film education and inspiring me to continue running DVDBeaver. Plus a healthy thanks to those who donate and use our Amazon links.
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