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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (August 2025): Kino have transferred a Pre-Code Classics Double Feature to Blu-ray. The films are both from 1931 and both star Sylvia Sidney; Confessions of a Co-Ed and Ladies of the Big House. They are described as "Brand New HD Masters – From a 4K Scan". The 1080P transfer quality is surprisingly strong. The films exemplify the transitional visual style of early talkies with its black-and-white cinematography by Lee Garmes (Shanghai Express) and David Abel (Merrily We Go to Hell,) employing straightforward compositions and natural lighting to capture collegiate settings like fraternity parties and snowy ski huts in the 1.20:1 aspect ratio, favoring intimate close-ups on Sylvia Sidney's expressive face to convey emotional turmoil amid the film's melodramatic narrative, while occasional dynamic shots during accidents or romantic encounters add modest energy without the flair of later sound-era innovations; the overall look feels efficient and unadorned, reflective of Paramount's budget-conscious production, with subtle art direction emphasizing youthful exuberance through crowded dance scenes and rustic interiors. These 4K scans deliver a substantial upgrade from prior standard-definition transfers and archival prints that often suffered from wear and tear; this restoration preserves the black-and-white cinematography's natural grain and contrast, enhancing details in collegiate settings and prison interiors with sharp textures on costumes, facial expressions during emotional close-ups, and dynamic sequences like riots or romantic encounters, while minor imperfections such as occasional specks or flicker are minimal given the films' age and Paramount's vault conditions. The transfer balances grayscale that brings out the era's lighting nuances - subtle shadows in dramatic scenes and brighter highs in lighter moments - resulting in a bitrate around 35 Mbps for smooth playback, making this the definitive visual presentation for these overlooked pre-Code melodramas.

NOTE: We have added 82 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use DTS-HD Master dual-mono tracks (24-bit) in the original English language. Auditorily, the films utilize Western Electric's early sound-on-film technology in monaural format, delivering clear but rudimentary dialogue recording that occasionally suffers from the stiffness of nascent talkie techniques, complemented by an uncredited score from composer John Leipold (both of these pre-codes as well as film like Exclusive, Dangerous to Know, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Christmas in July, The Devil is a Woman, The Flying Deuces, Duck Soup) that provides understated orchestral cues for dramatic swells, punctuated by lively diegetic musical performances from The Rhythm Boys (including Bing Crosby) singing "Ya Got Love" and "Out of Nowhere" to inject jazzy levity into party sequences, creating a sonic blend of romantic sentimentality and period-appropriate tunes that enhances the pre-Code frankness without overwhelming the intimate storytelling. The mixes prioritize vocal prominence without modern enhancements, preserving the films' sonic limitations as historical artifacts. Kino offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray features newly recorded audio commentaries by film historians David Del Valle (Six Reels Under) and Stan Shaffer (You Should Have Been with Me), who deliver engaging, informative tracks - one per film - delving into Sylvia Sidney's early stardom, the directors' styles (Dudley Murphy's co-direction on Confessions and Marion Gering's debut on Ladies,) production anecdotes like Ernest Booth's real-life inspirations for the prison drama, and contextual analysis of pre-Code themes such as unwed pregnancy and wrongful conviction, all with a mix of scholarly insight and archival trivia that enriches repeat viewings

Thematically, Confessions of a Co-Ed explores the clash between youthful passion and societal expectations, critiquing the rigid moral codes of 1930s America through Patricia's predicament, where pregnancy forces compromising decisions amid economic hardships evocative of the Great Depression; it delves into betrayal, jealousy, and redemption, with diary narration providing introspective insight into female agency in relationships. Ladies of the Big House critiques legal corruption and wrongful conviction, mirroring Great Depression-era disillusionment with institutions, while exploring gender dynamics in prison life - focusing on sorority-like bonds among women inmates akin to collegiate settings in other Sidney vehicles - and the lingering impact of past relationships on innocence; it contrasts the grim reality of imprisonment with hopeful redemption, less bleak than contemporaries like I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang but resonant with The Big House's ensemble drama. Both films are elevated by the performances of Sylvia Sidney (You and Me, Fury, An American Tragedy, Street Scene, Sabotage.) I'm going to have to add this to our "Women in Prison Cinema" webpage. Kino's Pre-Code Classics Double Feature stands as an important release for fans of pre-Code Hollywood, with its 4K-sourced masters providing strong HD presentations for these Sylvia Sidney-led melodramas through pristine visuals and solid audio that highlight their emotional depth and social commentary, complemented by illuminating commentaries from Del Valle and Shaffer that add significant scholarly value. This Blu-ray is a recommended pickup for collectors interested in early talkie dramas and the transitional era before the Hays Code. Wonderful.

Gary Tooze