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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Alexander Hall
USA 1935

 

Screen legend Mae West (I’m No Angel) shines as a saloon girl turned devilish debutante in her first western comedy, Goin’ to Town. Bride-to-be Cleo Borden (West) suddenly becomes the benefactor of her fiancé’s ranch and oil business after a fatal shootout. Now a rich woman, she sets out to oversee the ranch and is met with disdain by British oil expert Edward Carrington (Paul Cavanagh, A Bill of Divorcement). Sensing a challenge, Cleo takes a crash course in culture to get his attention. Her first test comes when she follows Edward to Buenos Aires where she successfully mingles with society’s elite in the glamorous world of horseracing. The toast of all men (except the one she’s after), Cleo agrees to marry affluent Fletcher Colton (Monroe Owsley, Indiscreet) but soon learns of his dangerously obsessive gambling habits. Co-written by West and directed by Alexander Hall (Here Comes Mr. Jordan).

***

Cleo Borden grew up in a saloon, loves the menand the men love herbut her aspirations lead her to enter into a contract to marry a wealthy man. When he dies and leaves her all of his fortune, she soon learns that although she has money, she is not yet a lady, so she embarks on a journey to become one. She has no desire to change herself, but the man she sets her sights on does so she obliges.

Posters

Theatrical Release: April 25th, 1935

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Review: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover

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Bonus Captures:

Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:10:54.208        
Video

1.33:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 21,851,027,577 bytes

Feature: 20,276,865,024 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.40 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1558 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1558 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

Subtitles English (SDH), None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Kino

 

1.33:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 21,851,027,577 bytes

Feature: 20,276,865,024 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.40 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Kat Ellinger
Trailer (01:42)
Other Mae West Trailers


Blu-ray Release Date:
June 29th, 2021
Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 9

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (July 2021): Kino has transferred many Mae West Films, including Alexander Hall's Goin' To Town, on Blu-ray. This is a single layer Blu-ray disc, with the 1.35:1 1080P image boasting a high bitrate. The image details appear soft, typical of films of the period. When compared to the older SD DVD version, one can spot an advancement in contrast (the older SD print can have darker blacks, but lacks the wider spectrum of grays in this new Blu-ray). Also gone is the rather thick grain which almost used to masquerade as detail, this is most likely from the same print as the old SD release due to similar damage marks (looking better if not totally cleaned up on the Blu-ray). Surely this Blu-ray is an upgrade that West fans will want to grab.

NOTE: We have added 40 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

For a picture from 1935, Kino's 16-bit DTS-HD Master audio track certainly could sound much worse. While the dialogue can sound a little muddied and flat at times, the picture's energetic music and sound effects keep the viewer interested. Though uncredited, the music in the picture is thanks to John Leipold, Stephan Pasternacki, and Tom Satterfield. This is a Region 'A'
Blu-ray from Kino Lorber with optional English subtitles.

The main draw of Kino's new
Blu-ray release of Goin' To Town is a new audio commentary with film historian and author, Kat Ellinger. Typical of Ellinger's commentary style, Kat imparts the film's history and context, as well as providing deeper-level readings of the picture (and star). Some of the topics discussed in this track include; West's fondness for the innuendo based comedy over the more popular screwball style of the times, West's streetsmart and masculine qualities (not to mention her assertiveness and refusal to be a reactionary character), her casting approval of leading men, choice of career over marriage, her frequent affinity and camaraderie with those characters with a racially diverse background (Ellinger also imparts a bizarre story of West visiting a school and lining up the male students on the football field to look them over, while casting the role of Laughing Eagle), and Ellinger relays this quote from West's autobiography ("Goodness Had Nothing To Do With It"): "I had to acquire certain skills, or at least enough of them to be convincing in my films. I had to learn to handle a lariat with a certain amount of western ability, had to learn to be fast on the draw from the hips — a valuable part of my anatomy— and twirl a six-shooter like a real gunslinger. I had to acquire the knack of shuffling and dealing cards like a professional gambler, with an ace somewhere hidden to be put into the game when needed. I was also instructed in the art of Judo, which amazed a few over-bold friends. I learned to play the drums and traps like a cool cat, and to mess around the piano with a boogie beat. "
Like previous commentaries by Kat Ellinger, listeners are in for a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening experience. Kino Lorber's
Blu-ray includes the film's trailer, as well as trailers for other Mae West pictures. That is all for the extras.

Fans of Mae West surely need no extra encouragement to pick up this new
Blu-ray of Goin' To Town from Kino Lorber. Those new to West's canon will be pleasantly surprised by this film's lavish costumes, sets, and of course West's zinger-filled script. Kat Ellinger's audio commentary is another must-listen. Recommended.

Colin Zavitz

 


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

 

1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC  TOP

2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC  TOP

2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Universal - Region 1 - NTSC  TOP

2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE

 

 

 
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Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


 


 

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