Rating summary
| Movie |  | 3.5 |
| Video |  | 4.5 |
| Audio |  | 4.0 |
| Extras |  | 2.5 |
| Overall | | 3.5 |
Bell, Book and Candle Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Martin Liebman February 4, 2020
Sony has released 1958's Oscar nominated film 'Bell, Book and Candle' as part of its MOD (Manufactured on Demand) line of Blu-ray
releases. The film was previously released to Blu-ray in April 2012 by Twilight Time. I did not
review, nor do I have access to, that disc, which is out of print and exorbitantly priced on the secondary market; this review will include fresh video
and audio reviews specific to this Sony release as well as a quick
compare with Twilight Time's supplements (there is both new and removed content).
For a full film review, please see Jeffrey Kauffman's writing accompanying the Twilight Time disc
here.
Bell, Book and Candle Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
After watching the Sony disc, reading Jeffrey's review of the Twilight Time disc, and perusing
the screenshots he's inserted, Sony's Bell, Book and Candle 1080p transfer appears to be pretty much identical, but below is a fresh take on
the 1080p transfer, anyway. The picture is meticulously sharp and
refined, naturally filmic with occasionally dense but largely consistent (if not slightly noisy) grain. It's complimentary and yields a handsome filmic
texturing, vital in elevating the image to very impressive heights. Textural sharpness and fidelity are excellent and border on breathtaking; fine period
attire, densely packed location details (books, wallpaper, furnishings, nicknacks, and the like), and skin are all revealing at medium distance and striking
in natural sharpness and complexity. In close-up, each of these elements offer refined, intimate clarity that pushes the Blu-ray format to its limits.
Sharpness holds for the duration; it's really a quite strong image. Colors are equally adept and faithful. The palette is balanced and vibrant. Warm
woods, a fine cross-section of clothes, book spines and dust jackets, home furnishings, even a colorful parrot: everything enjoys firm, robust, grounded
coloring that excels in every shot. Skin tones are a little pasty at times but more or less hold relatively true within the established color parameters.
Black levels are handsomely deep, whether black attire or shadowy and low light elements. There are a handful of pops and speckles but are very rare
and very light. No other source or compression issues of note are present. This is another looker from Sony; fans are going be thrilled to have this in
their libraries. Note that even though there appears to be no difference between Sony's and Twilight Time's presentation, the score above reflects my
own.
Bell, Book and Candle Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
Bell, Book and Candle features a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono soundtrack, the same configuration found on the Twilight Time disc. Listeners
will find a generally clear, detailed, and charitably aggressive track with only a few flaws confined to isolated moments, such as muffled applause in
chapter two at the 18-minute mark inside a club. But moments before, and moments after, music presents with pleasantly rich, lively, detailed, and
wide engagement. The entire front end finds coverage, out to the edges and imaging quite naturally towards the center, especially as the Jazzy music at
the 22-minute mark crescendos to a deliberately shrilly rise to excess. Light ambient effects out around town offer nicely engaging moments of
environmental fill. Dialogue images perfectly to the center, holding true to clarity and prioritization. The track is quite good in total, taking full
advantage of both the two channels at it disposal as well as the movie's somewhat limited, but largely vibrant, soundtrack and sound design. As with
the video, it certainly seems as if there's no difference between this and the Twilight Time disc based on the text within Blu-ray.com's review.
Bell, Book and Candle Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
Sony's Blu-ray release of Bell, Book and Candle includes the two primary featurettes found on the Twilight Time disc and adds a third, which is
marked
as new below and reviewed. These are also presented in high definition on this disc; the Twilight Time review notes the featurettes are presented in
standard definition there. Sony brings over the trailer but, as is customary with the Twilight Time to Sony conversions, drops the isolated score. For full
supplemental
content coverage of the carryover featurettes, please click here. No DVD or digital copies are included with
purchase. This release does
not ship with a slipcover.
- Bewitched, Bothered and Beautiful (1080p, 9:33).
- Reflections in the Middle of the Night (1080p, 15:03).
- NEW! Backstage and at Home with Kim Novak (1080p, 9:28): In voiceover above film clips, Novak discusses Jean Louis' costumes and
not wearing bras or other restrictive clothing in films. It also features Novak touring her homestead and her passion for painting.
- Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 2:36).
Bell, Book and Candle Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
Sony's Blu-ray release of Bell, Book and Candle appears to be very similar to the Twilight Time disc in terms of its video and audio
presentations; while I cannot confirm that both are identical they certainly appear to be based on the previously published review. Supplementally,
Sony's disc adds a featurette but drops the Twilight Time staple isolated score track. Thew movie is great, too. Highly recommended.
