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

ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (February 2021): Indicator have transferred Howard Hawks' Twentieth Century to Blu-ray. It is described as a '4K restoration'. Like The Criminal Code, it has the same attributes in a higher resolution. But more so. There is more information the frame - mostly on the left edge. It supports the film grain to a substantial degree - the 1080P is 6-7 times the bitrate of the 2005 bare-bones, single-layered DVD. While darker, the contrast is improved and the SD looks vertically stretched (slimmer faces.) Overall, this look wonderful in-motion on my system. A very impressive HD appearance for a film over 85 years old.      

NOTE: We have added 34 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Indicator use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. While there is no credited score - there is some music - Milton Ager and Jack Yellen's Happy Days Are Here Again sung a cappella by Walter Connolly (Oliver Webb). As predictable, the audio is at mercy of the film's original elements but dialogue is clear - no where near as hollow as the DVD. Indicator offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'B'-locked Blu-ray.

The Indicator Blu-ray has a new commentary by film critic and writer Farran Smith Nehme. She addresses it being, debatably, the first screwball comedy, she reads from Mary Astor's autobiography - My Story: an Autobiography (that Barrymore was the love of her life), she tells stories of Jed Harris, the physicality of Carole Lombard's performance, costume designer Robert Kalloch, John Barrymore's history past (alcoholism) but focusing more on his acting career and that Twentieth Century is one of the high points. There is talk of cinematographer Joseph H. August (The Devil and Daniel Webster, Dance, Girl, Dance, 1939's The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Gunga Din - his last film was 1948's Portrait of Jennie) and significantly more. She's passionate, clearly loves vintage cinema - especially Twentieth Century. It's well worth the listen. We get more. Academic Lucy Bolton discusses the film career of fascinating actor Carole Lombard in the new 16-minute video piece 'Stars in Her Eyes'. Briefly, from 1989, is Peter Bogdanovich Recommends ‘Twentieth Century’ - 5-minutes of appreciation by the acclaimed filmmaker. Indicator include a Super 8 version. It's a cut-down home cinema presentation running 20-minutes in weaker a/v. You can enjoyed the 1939 radio adaptation of ‘Twentieth Century’ starring Orson Welles and Elissa Landi via The Campbell Playhouse. It runs shy of an hour. There is a modern (2016) Austin Film Society trailer and an image gallery of on-set and promotional photography. The package has a limited edition exclusive 32-page booklet with a new essay by Pamela Hutchinson, Howard Hawks on Twentieth Century, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits. This is limited to 3,000 copies. 

Howard Hawks' Twentieth Century is fabulous vintage cinema. It is one of the best, and funniest, of the Screwball comedies. John Barrymore is hamming it up - almost mocking himself - and Carole Lombard is radiant and animated - commanding our vision. It's a masterpiece and luckily in the hands of Indicator who have created another magnificent Blu-ray package - commentary, plentiful extras , another great cover. Just buy it.

Gary Tooze