Bluebeard's Eighth Wife Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Bluebeard's Eighth Wife Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov April 23, 2023

Ernst Lubitsch's "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife" (1938) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by critic Eloise Ross; archival audio interview with Claudette Colbert; vintage trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

Have you ever wondered why the most honest people are usually dismissed as awful cynics? It is because they don’t spare the ‘ugly’ that is part of the truth they are revealing. They tell it as it is, which routinely offends those that believe that the truth ought to be delivered like a poem. Predictably, the offended are also the ones that would tirelessly argue that there are different shades of truth, which of course is an utterly ridiculous concept. The truth is the truth, it is neither ugly nor beautiful, and some people just can’t handle it.

Ernst Lubitsch’s film Bluebeard’s Eight Wife is a ‘truth speaker’ that deconstructs marriage while pretending to be a silly comedy. Why did the film play with multiple identities? Because its revelations are so cynical that in the late 1930s they could have been divulged only if a portion of its audience was tricked to believe that they were needed for the humor to flourish.

The film follows closely two characters that at least initially see the world around them differently. Michael Brandon (Gary Cooper) is an American millionaire who has arrived in Nice to enjoy the beautiful weather and do a bit of socializing without talking business. He is also a bachelor but isn’t shopping for a soulmate. The right type of pajama, without the pantaloni, is the only thing missing in his life. But while trying to purchase one Michael bumps into Nicole De Loiselle (Claudette Colbert), the single daughter of a penniless French aristocrat, and after she helps him make up his mind he begins pursuing her with the intent of starting a serious relationship that could lead to marriage. The relationship becomes a reality, then quickly blooms, and much to Michael’s delight eventually Nicole agrees to become his wife.

On the special day when Michael and Nicole’s union is supposed to be legitimized, however, the former accidentally reveals that he has been married and divorced seven times, forcing the planned family ceremony they have organized to be put on hold. Following a heated discussion with plenty of clarifications, Michael then agrees to sign a prenuptial agreement that grants his future wife an annual payment of $100,000 if for some reason he decides to part ways with her. After the financial arrangement is finalized, Nicole enthusiastically agrees to marry Michael. However, soon after the happy husband slowly begins to wonder if his wife might be on a mission to rearrange his entire life.

The sophistication on display is a key element of the narrative, but it is just a façade that allows Lubitsch to reveal how under the right circumstances the two sexes are perfectly comfortable using marriage as an arrangement to advance personal goals. Does this sound like a shocking revelation now? No. But in the film, the arrangement is crafted and later defended with arguments that actually effectively invalidate all of the civilized posturing that defines the two sexes.

Regrettably, the film’s cynicism, which sadly is entirely justified, makes it awfully difficult for the humor to be effective. There are a few nicely timed jabs that ridicule the role-playing that is underway, but the Lubitsch wit that is required for this type of material to be engaging is simply missing. Quite predictably, this also hurts the ability of the leads to make their characters even partially attractive. Indeed, there is nothing particularly wrong with Cooper and Colbert’s performances, but after the department store encounter, their characters are essentially required to behave as spoiled buyers and sellers with constantly evolving needs. It is a very straightforward theater and with the cynicism highlighting the ugly in their decisions, it becomes almost impossible to care about them.

Bluebeard's Eighth Wife Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.36:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Bluebeard's Eighth Wife arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

The release is sourced from the same master that the folks at Kino Lorber worked with to produce this for the U.S. market. This is an older, a bit rough, but quite good master. What are some of its limitations? The surface of the visuals could be a bit uneven, occasionally revealing age-related imperfections as well. While pleasing, the grayscale could be superior as well. Image stability is good, but a few minor enhancements can be introduced. I think that the rest looks either good or very good. Yes, you will be able to tell that the film has a dated appearance, but it has fine organic qualities and even on a big screen looks rather nice. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Bluebeard's Eighth Wife Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided of the main feature.

I did not encounter any issues to report while revisiting the film. The audio is stable and easy to follow. It is possible that the upper register could use a bit of cosmetic work, but I do not think that the overall quality of the audio will be noticeably better. Dynamic intensity is quite modest, but this is to be expected considering that the film was completed in the late 1930s.

Bluebeard's Eighth Wife Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critic Eloise Ross.

• The Guardian Interview with Claudette Colbert - this archival audio interview with Claudette Colbert was recorded at London's National Film Theatre on July 8, 1984.

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage theatrical trailer for Bluebeard's Eighth Wife. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Image Gallery - a collection of original promotional materials for Bluebeard's Eighth Wife.

• United States (1944) - military training film, narrated by David Niven during his time away from Hollywood to serve in the RAF, and produced to instruct British troops in the history of their American allies. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. (46 min).

• Booklet - a limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Pamela Hutchinson, archival interviews with director Ernst Lubitsch, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and technical credits.

• Cover - reversible cover with vintage poster art for Bluebeard's Eighth Wife.

Bluebeard's Eighth Wife Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There isn't enough of the Lubitsch wit in Bluebeard's Eighth Wife to make its cynicism compatible with the humor. The truths that emerge in it are admirable, but they are part of a predictable theater whose needy characters are awfully easy to forget. Frankly, I'd recommend Bluebeard's Eighth Wife only to Lubitsch completists or die-hard fans of Gary Cooper and Claudette Colbert, and even then I would still suggest that you explore other titles before it. Indicator/Powerhouse Films' release is sourced from an older but nice organic master that was supplied by Universal Pictures. RENT IT.