7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 4.3 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A rock star's personal appearance turns a small town into a disaster area.
Starring: Janet Leigh, Dick Van Dyke, Ann-Margret, Maureen Stapleton, Bobby RydellMusical | 100% |
Comedy | 22% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Music: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
It’s common wisdom that the so-called “rock musical” was born with Hair in the late sixties and then given a major boost a year or two later with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s iconic Jesus Christ Superstar, and while that may be technically true (at least insofar as the typical understanding of the rock musical idiom goes), it’s really possible to make a convincing argument that the real first rock musical was an unassuming little show that opened on Broadway in April of 1960 without much advance hype and with no huge name stars in its cast. That “little” show turned out to be one of the major blockbusters of the season, eventually taking home the Best Musical Tony Award that year and making relative newcomer Dick Van Dyke an overnight sensation (co-star Chita Rivera was already fairly well known for her turn in West Side Story as Anita, but few would have considered her an A-list leading lady in the day). Bye Bye Birdie played on the then well known news of one Elvis Presley having been drafted into the Army, serving up a deliciously wry slice of social commentary and satire that featured an absolutely infectious score by a team no one had heard of before the musical opened, composer Charles Strouse and lyricist Lee Adams. While the show’s more traditional sounding “Broadway” tunes like “Put on a Happy Face” and “A Lot of Livin’ to Do” were soon major hits being covered by any number of then popular “easy listening” artists, the show is quite notable for its prescient introduction of rock rhythms into the then pretty staid and formalized world of Broadway tunecraft. Everything from the gently swaying “One Boy” to the more raucous “The Telephone Hour” pulsated with a new kind of energy that Broadway had never really felt before, a youthful insouciance that signaled a new generation of Broadway professionals was on the scene, and that new approaches to songwriting were going to be part and parcel of this generational shift.
Bye Bye Birdie is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Twilight Time with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.35:1. This is yet another revelatory transfer from Columbia-Sony and Twilight Time. I'd say this high definition presentation looks like it was filmed yesterday, except that perhaps doesn't do it full justice—it actually looks like it's happening in real time before your very eyes. Nary a hint of damage crosses the elements, the image is remarkably sharp and clear (actually breathtaking at times), and the colors are gorgeously vivid and beautifully saturated and robust. Fine object detail is excellent, contrast and black levels are spot on, and a healthy layer of grain is readily apparent (there's no egregious grain in a couple of the opticals, notably "The Telephone Hour", which may mean some very judicious DNR was applied). All in all, simply a spectacular job by Columbia-Sony and another incredible release from Twilight Time from an image standpoint alone.
Bye Bye Birdie features a great sounding lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix. This may not be the most overwhelmingly immersive surround mix you've ever heard, but it presents the charming Strouse-Adams score (with sumptuous Johnny Green orchestrations and conducting) in a phenomenal setting (as is usual with these Twilight Time releases, there's also an isolated score audio option). There is some very slight boxiness to the midrange here that is most evident in the musical moments, but it may not even rise to the level of recognition, let alone annoyance, to all but the most persnickety audiophiles. Fidelity is excellent and dynamic range is varied and decently wide.
To paraphrase those oft-quoted showbiz Bible words from 42nd Street, Ann-Margret went into Bye Bye Birdie as the modern equivalent of a chorus girl and came out a star. It's easy to see why. Seldom has one young woman so effectively embodied both unabashed wholesomeness and an almost preternatural amount of absolutely smoking sex appeal. It's little wonder Bye Bye Birdie was rebuilt around the rather spectacular form of Ann-Margret. Those who love the stage version will probably carp about everything that's been changed, but the simple fact is the film is a delight on its own terms. Yes, it's definitely a relic of the early sixties, but that somehow only adds to its allure now in the early 21st century. This is an absolutely stunning transfer from a visual perspective, and the sound, while just slightly problematic (at least to this curmudgeon), is very good as well. Highly recommended.
Limited Edition to 3000
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Stephen Sondheim's Company
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Warner Archive Collection
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