Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		2.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		2.5

A Dandy in Aspic Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 15, 2023

Anthony Mann's "A Dandy in Aspic" (1968) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include three recent programs with crew members and vintage trailer for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

It is important to remember that A Dandy in Aspic isn’t the film that Anthony Mann had envisioned. The iconic director had approved all major locations and shot quite a bit of footage there, but when he suddenly died of a heart attack Laurence Harvey took over the production process and completed the film. Also, Harvey apparently tweaked different parts of the script, though it is possible that at least some of the changes reflect improvements that he and Mann had previously discussed.

Harvey plays British double agent Alexander Eberlin (Harvey) who is summoned by his bosses in London and ordered to track down a high-profile Soviet killer known as Krasnevin. Eberlin is told that Krasnevin has eliminated several secret agents operating overseas and then shown a film that supposedly identifies him. But Eberlin is the killer, while the man from the film is his contact with the Soviets, Pavel (Per Osscarson), who has lived in London for decades and is on the verge of giving up on life because he can no longer cope with the pressure of hiding in the shadows.

A few days later, Eberlin arrives in Berlin to look for his target but encounters Caroline (Mia Farrow), a young fashion photographer from London who has previously shown a willingness to pursue a romantic relationship with him. While Eberlin’s progress is closely monitored by his increasingly suspicious superior, Gatiss (Tom Courtenay), Caroline permanently enters his private life. In the meantime, the hunt for Krasnevin comes to an abrupt halt when Pavel’s cold body is uncovered and a new report quickly confirms that he was not the mysterious killer.

The excellent period footage from London and divided Berlin make this film a good time capsule that anyone interested in the Cold War era will likely find attractive. But the rest really is as frustrating as old reviews of the film have argued over the years.

The narrative is fractured into multiple episodes that pull the film in different directions and for some strange reason without actually trying to build up a strong atmosphere that could make Eberlin’s predicament attractive. After he is dispatched to Berlin, this supposedly brilliant tactician is quickly transformed into a disillusioned loner who wants to exit the world of international espionage and return to the U.S.S.R. but does not have the guts to do it. So, instead of crafting a solution for his misery, Eberlin begins an odd relationship with a girl who temporarily makes him feel normal but finds him attractive primarily because he is an emotional enigma and therefore his actions are rarely as easy to figure out as those of the men before him that have attempted to seduce her. The blending of romantic melodrama and Cold War reality, however, never produces any intriguing developments. There are plenty of secret meetings and discussions at different locations where Eberlin identifies the true intentions of the players before him while trying to protect his identity and then returns to the girl for yet another dose of sanity. That’s it and it is never as dramatic as it was intended to be.

The film’s inability to make Farrow’s character look meaningful is unforgivable. Indeed, the girl receives plenty of attention but her appearances are so random and for a long time so irrelevant that she quickly begins to look like an unnecessary distraction. Also, the film isn’t even remotely interested in revealing the qualities that actually make Harvey’s agent want to be with her. Excluding a basic physical attraction, which presumably a seasoned agent should be able to overcome, the nature of the connection remains elusive.

There is a decent soundtrack from Quincy Jones that adds some proper flavor to the visuals. Also, the opening credits are done with a great style that reminds of Saul Bass’ work.

A Dandy in Aspic Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, A Dandy in Aspic arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

In 2019, we reviewed this release of A Dandy in Aspic from Indicator/Powerhouse Films. It was sourced from an old and unfortunately very weak master that was supplied by Sony Pictures.

Sadly, Kino Lorber's release of A Dandy in Aspic is sourced from the same master. This means that all of the age-related anomalies that were present on the previous release are retained. What are they? The one I believe most viewers will find to be quite distracting is the 'halo' effect that keeps popping up throughout the entire film. (You can see examples of it in screencaptures #2 and 5). It creates the impression that the master has been sharpened with digital tools, but this is a limitation that is inherited from weak elements. Unsurprisingly, delineation and depth tend to fluctuate a lot. There are some decent close-ups, even some darker indoor shots, but wider shots almost always look very unconvincing. Colors are stable. However, this is another area where some pretty substantial improvements can be made because entire ranges of nuances are either very problematic or collapsed. The good news is that the master is surprisingly healthy. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

A Dandy in Aspic Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

I like the lossless track a lot. It is healthy and easily produces very nice dynamic contrasts. The dialog is always clear, sharp, and stable. I am convinced that the folks at Sony Pictures did a proper remastering job on when the current master was prepared. There are no audio dropouts or distortions to report.

A Dandy in Aspic Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Time to Die - in this recent program, second assistant editor Richard Dobson, continuity manager Elaine Schreyeck, special effects artist Terry Schubert, camera assistant Nigel Cousins, and stuntman Colin Skeaping discuss the production of A Dandy in Aspic and their interactions with and/or impressions of Anthony Mann, Tom Courtenay, Mia Farrow, and Laurence Harvey. (There are some particularly interesting observations about Laurence's personality). The program was produced for Indicator/Powerhouse Films in 2019. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).

• Pulling Strings - in this recent program, titles designer Michael Graham Smith and puppeteer Ronnie Le Drew discuss the creation and unique appearance of the opening credits for A Dandy in Aspic. The program was produced for Indicator/Powerhouse Films in 2019. In English, not subtitled. (23 min).

• Inside Mann - in this recent program, critic and broadcaster Richard Combs discusses the evolution of Anthony Mann's style and the visual appearance and some of the key themes of A Dandy in Aspic. The program was produced for Indicator/Powerhouse Films in 2019. In English, not subtitled. (12 min).

• Trailer - a vintage trailer for A Dandy in Aspic. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

A Dandy in Aspic Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I don't think that the different parts of this film come together as they should, and the fact that Anthony Mann was unable to complete it is only one of many reasons why. The various very attractive vistas from Cold War-era Berlin are its greatest strength. Kino Lorber's release is sourced from the same weak master that Sony Pictures supplied to Indicator/Powerhouse Films in 2019. If you must have it in your collection, I suggest that you consider picking it up only when it is heavily discounted.