Review by Gary Tooze

 

Production:

Theatrical: Famous Artists Productions

Video: Kino Lorber

 

Disc:

Region: 'A' (as verified by the Oppo Blu-ray player)

Runtime: 1:48:36.801

Disc Size: 22,642,481,711 bytes

Feature Size: 21,995,575,296 bytes

Video Bitrate: 23.93 Mbps

Chapters: 8

Case: Standard Blu-ray case

Release date: August 26th, 2014

 

Video:

Aspect ratio: 1.66:1

Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Audio:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1629 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1629 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)

 

Subtitles:

English, None

 

Extras:

• Trailer (2:54)

 

Bitrate:

 

Description: It's tough being the cat's meow! A zany blend of slapstick gags and madcap comedy (Cue), this hilarious (Motion Picture Herald) romp, starring Peter Sellers, Peter O'Toole and Woody Allen in his acting and screenwriting debut, is the wildest, wackiest (Boxoffice) film to emerge from swingin' 60s. Michael (O'Toole) is a mademoiselle magnet. His demented psychiatrist (Sellers) and sex-starved friend (Allen) would kill for this problem, but his would-be fiancé (Romy Schneider) might just kill him. Undergoing therapy, Michael tries to reform, but it won't be easy with sex kittens like Ursula Andress, Paula Prentiss and Capucine on his tail! Wonderfully directed by Clive Donner (The Nude Bomb) and featuring the hit title song written by Burt Bacharach and performed by Tom Jones and featuring other Bacharach hits performed by Dionne Warwick and Manfred Mann.

 

 

The Film:

A notorious womanizer, fashion editor Michael James (Peter O'Toole) decides to seek the help of a psychiatrist when he begins to feel that his inability to commit to a relationship is adversely affecting his personal life. Desperate to remain faithful to his fiancée Carole (Romy Schneider), Michael enlists the help of Dr. Fassbinder (Peter Sellers), blissfully unaware that as Dr. Fassbinder is making the moves on a patient who secretly longs for the seemingly irresistible Michael. As Michael and Carole check into the Chateau Chantelle in hopes of patching up their relationship, Dr. Fassbinder has also arrived at the Chateau in hopes of finally cementing his relationship with the comely patient. As the two couples check into the hotel, disaster looms just beyond the bend in a series of hilarious mishaps that will test both Michael's faithfulness and Dr. Fassbinder's sanity.

Excerpt from MRQE located HERE

At the time, Richard Williams' credit titles were thought to be better than the film they introduced. In retrospect, it is clear that while Woody Allen, who wrote the script and appears as the hero's friend, saw it as a satire on womanising - the O'Toole character is based on Warren Beatty - Clive Donner saw it as a morality tale in the form of a farce. The mixed results are entertaining, if flawed. O'Toole is the promiscuous hero, with Schneider, Andress, Prentiss and Capucine as some of his women, and Sellers the decidedly camp psychoanalyst he goes to for help.

Excerpt from TimeOut Film Guide located HERE

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

What's New Pussycat? is now on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.  Colors are rich with depth but the overall image is quite thick and a bit soft. I don't know if this is authentic or not, but the appearance is consistent and you get used to the flat, heavy image fairly quickly. It actually looks pleasing in-motion. There are no artifacts or noise. This Blu-ray provides a modest but enjoyable presentation with the video often taking a backseat to the audio.

 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audio :

The audio may actually be the more notable feature of the film. Kino-Lorber use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel at 1629 kbps. Effects are not as prominent as the film's music - a lovable, fun score by Burt Bacharach with Tom Jones singing the memorable main theme. We have songs by Dionne Warwick and Manfred Mann. It sounds wonderful in the lossless. There are a few effects with depth via the lossless. There are optional English subtitles offered and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'A'-locked.

 

Extras :

Nothing but a trailer.

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
I'm always reminded of 1967's Casino Royale - a similarly fun mid-60's romp - that I actually prefer to What's New Pussycat?  Despite the very thick Blu-ray image, I enjoyed my viewing. O'Toole, Woody and all the gals are great. And, of course, there is the music that transports you back to a niche time of zany, sexy freedom. Those keen to revisit that may consider indulging. 

Gary Tooze

August 11th, 2014

Released by Eureka in the UK on December 2nd, 2019: