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

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (December 2019): Criterion have transferred George Cukor's Holiday to Blu-ray via a "new 4K digital restoration". In a word, it's all about 'grain'. The well-layered contrast also helps the image with more pure black levels and the 1.37:1 framing shows more information (mostly on the side edges). It look so rich and film like - devoid of speckles or marks. A beautifully 1080 appearance. At times the image seems horizontally stretched beside the DVDs - we will look into which may be more correct.

NOTE: We have added 18 more large resolution Blu-ray captures for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. It likewise advances on the lossy SD notable in the film's more consistent dialogue and score by Sidney Cutner (Those Redheads from Seattle, and part of the music department for Gun Crazy and Rear Window) sounding deeper if appropriately flat. Criterion offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' / 'B' (dependant on the Continent you purchase) Blu-ray.

Criterion graciously include the 1930 Holiday in 1080P - a previous adaptation of Philip Barry’s play, directed by Edward H. Griffith. It runs 1/5 hours and has no subtitle options and the audio is lossy. It's Pre-Code for those that may be enticed by that. There is a new 35-minute conversation between filmmaker and distributor Michael Schlesinger and film critic Michael Sragow who revel in Holiday. We also get audio excerpts from an American Film Institute oral history with director George Cukor, recorded in 1970 and ’71 running juts over 20-minutes. There is also a costume gallery. Robert Mero Kalloch III (1893-1947), often known simply as Kalloch, was one of the most influential costume designers of Hollywood's golden age. He served as chief fashion and costume designer for Columbia Pictures from 1933-41, except for a brief hiatus in 1935. His costumes for Holiday display the long, slim lines he favored in his work. Presented in this supplement are a collection of his design sketches for the movie, along with film stills showing the finished wardrobe, accompanied by Columbia publicity's descriptions of the costumes. Lastly, is a liner notes booklet with an essay by critic Dana Stevens.

One of the best and most memorable of the romantic comedies of the era. Hepburn and Grant carry the film with hilarious truths with grassroots nobility of romance, self, dreams and love. It's a brilliant film that I so pleased to have on Criterion Blu-ray with the inclusion of 1930 version and Schlesinger / Sragow conversation etc. Our highest recommendation! 

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ON THE DVDs: This is a repackaging of the exact same disc from The Cary Grant Boxset that was released in February of this year - reviewed HERE. Different package and different disc label but everything else is a duplication.

Lots of grain that looks more like digital noise and there are some damage scratches and marks. Overall it still looks quite acceptable although I'd love to see the same treatment that Hawk's Only Angels Have Wings (from the Cary Grant Boxset) received. My vote is to get the Boxset which has some strong pluses.

Gary Tooze