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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka 'Diamond Lil' or 'Diamond Lil, Ruby Red' or 'Ruby Red')

Directed by Lowell Sherman
USA 19
33

 

This is the story of Lady Lou (Mae West, I’m No Angel) - a bawdy nightclub singer in the 1890s, who spends most of her time tossing witty barbs at the overheated clientele. With her old man locked up in the slammer, Lou is forced to amuse herself with the legions of men fighting for her attentions. She keeps her many admirers at arm’s length, even if she does accept the generous diamond-studded gifts they bestow upon her. But the tough cookie soon finds her heart melting for a handsome young man who works at the local mission. Based on West’s play Diamond Lil, She Done Him Wrong co-stars screen legend Cary Grant (Notorious) with Gilbert Roland (Thunder Bay) and Noah Beery (Wings of the Hawk). With wonderful direction by Lowell Sherman (The Pay-Off), She Done Him Wrong earned a 1934 Best Picture Oscar nomination.

***

West's first starring vehicle, and one of her best (i.e. least diluted) movies. Adapted from her stage success Diamond Lil, it features her as Diamond Lou (a change occasioned by the original's notoriety), mistress of a Naughty Nineties saloon, setting her sights on the righteous young man (Grant) investigating the place for signs of corruption. West, making her way through ditties like 'I Like a Man What Takes His Time' and 'Frankie and Johnny', keeps most of her double-meanings single. Marvelous stuff.

Excerpt from TimeOut Film Guide located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: January 27th, 1933

Reviews                                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Universal - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover

  

  

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Universal Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:04:52          1:05:11.907 
Video 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 8.74 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.37:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 19,531,743,222 bytes

Feature: 17,483,347,968 bytes

Video Bitrate: 31.90 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

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

Bitrate:

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio English (Dolby Digital mono)

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1552 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1552 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Commentaries:

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

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

Subtitles English (SDH), French, None English (SDH), None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Universal

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1

Edition Details:

• Robert Osborne Introduction (1:59)

DVD Release Date: April 22nd, 200
8
Double-lock Keep Case 
Chapters: 17

Release Information:
Studio:
Kino

 

1.37:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 19,531,743,222 bytes

Feature: 17,483,347,968 bytes

Video Bitrate: 31.90 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Kat Ellinger
NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian David Del Valle
Introduction by Turner Classic Movies Host Robert Osborne
Bonus Cartoon: 'She Done Him Right'
6 Mae West Trailers
 

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

Chapters 9

 

 

Comments:

This review is dedicated to my friend Muir, who has been waiting for these Mae West Films to reach Blu-ray for over a decade. Get better soon, buddy!

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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (June 2021): Kino have transferred Mae West's iconic She Done Him Wrong to Blu-ray. It is advertised as a "4K Restoration". I can't imagine it looking much better... the grain is abundant and consistent. It advances upon the already strong Universal DVD from 2008 with the higher resolution providing a strong film-like presentation. Black levels are deeper and richer and the contrast is significantly more layered. There is even some depth. A beautiful transfer. 

NOTE: We have added 52 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (16-bit) in the original English language. It is another advancement in the film's audio and score by John Leipold (Merrily We Go To Hell, Christmas in July, The Devil is a Woman, The Flying Deuces, Duck Soup) effected by the era's production limitations - so weaker in the high end but authentic and clear. Among a mixture of music in the film we hear Frankie and Johnny (her signature song) played during the opening credits and the end credits and A Guy What Takes His Time, and I Wonder Where My Easy Rider's Gone performed by Mae West plus other medleys of music in the opening scenes. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray has two new commentaries; by David Del Valle and a second by Kat Ellinger. David talks about Mae constantly building her brand, the real Mae West - this and I’m No Angel with the least censorship. comparisons to Norma Desmond (the Gloria Swanson character from Sunset Boulevard), that she didn't drink or smoke, Paul Novak (a former ''muscleman'' in her stage act) being everything but her official husband, her role model for her figure being Venus de Milo, how Madonna and Lady Gaga took cues from Mae West, the relationship with her mother, My Little Chickadee being her least favorite film, her interest in occult (reincarnation) and much more. He is excellent and his knowledge of past film lore always impressive. Kat discusses how this film saved Paramount, she saved deconstructs the myth around Mae West - how she was not guarded, how she spent 10 days in prison, accused of writing pornography, censorship even before the enactment of the Hayes Code, that she was always in characters and some about the Diamond Lil persona and much more. Great job Kat! Both fill the 66-minute film with fascinating details of Mae and how she flourished in her era and beyond about sex and having a good time. Kino include the same introduction by Turner Classic Movies Host Robert Osborne, a bonus 'Pooch the Pup' cartoon - She Done Him Right and six Mae West film trailers.

We get the most iconic Mae West film and more of a young Cary Grant. It is wonderful to fully revisit this Mae West film in 1080P with two new commentaries. Who doesn't love her innuendo (self-written) lines? - filled with double entendres in the Pre-Code era featuring a 'blocked' version of large nude painting of her hanging prominently in the bar. It's joyous and fans that love vintage cinema will get great pleasure from this Kino Blu-ray. If you only see a few; She Done Him Wrong and I’m No Angel are must-see efforts with these HD presentation and commentaries finally doing them justice. Absolutely recommended!  

***

ON THE DVD (April 2008): As told to us by Osborne - the film that saved Paramount. Brash and cute showing some 'skirting' prior to the Hayes Code.

The elder statesman of the 4 simultaneous vintage comedy releases and it shows. The image can tend to me a bit muddy at times but I can't see blaming Universal as it again has a strong bitrate spread over a dual-layered DVD. There is some noticeable flickering contrast (in the beginning) and some variable top-to-bottom light scratches extending through various scenes.

Audio is similarly weak, but certainly acceptable for a film that is 75 years old. There are optional English or Spanish subtitles if desired. Once again a brief Osborne intro but this time we get a 'Pooch the Pup' cartoon - She Done Him Right. - kind of a fitting way to start the night's presentation. If you were to miss-out on one of the 4 - this would be my suggestion. Old cinema fans will still enjoy enough to cover the minimal cost so I suppose it's a personal choice. Universal should be applauded for getting these frugal editions out as good as they are at such decent prices. Bravo!

Gary Tooze

 


Universal - Region 1 - NTSC

 

Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


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

 

 


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

 

 

 
Box Cover

  

  

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Universal Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


 


 

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