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