Cocktail Hour Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

Cocktail Hour Blu-ray Movie Review

"I didn't write the rules of this game of sex. I don't even say they are fair."

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown June 15, 2024

Ah, Pre-Code era Hollywood. A small sliver of relative creative freedom that fell between the pre-Depression 1920s and the launch of the Hays Code censorship guidelines in 1934, Pre-Code Hollywood allowed for the exploration of numerous topics the moral elite would quickly deem inappropriate for American audiences. While adorably quaint by today's standards, these ventures into more adult subject matter shocked and offended a small but influential group of people determined to legislate and regulate what viewers could and could not see on the big screen. Many Pre-Code films have been lost to time, but others, like the newly restored Cocktail Hour (1933), offer a unique glimpse into a part of film history that doesn't typically get a lot of attention or play. And as a foundational building block, there's something here for anyone who's eager to learn more about the slow, not always steady evolution of American cinema and the earliest steps movies took out of the silent-era primordial ooze.

Based on the story "Pearls and Emeralds" by James K. McGuinness, Cocktail Hour follows Cynthia Warren (Bebe Daniels), an artist leaving for Europe who begins to attract numerous admirers. But while the likes of the wealthy Prince Phillippe de Longville (Barry Norton) takes as bold a step as to introduce his potential bride to his mother (Jessie Ralph), Cynthia refuses to marry because -- of all things -- he's three years younger. Cynthia's boss Randolph (Randolph Scott), meanwhile, also wants to wed and presumably bed Cynthia, though she prizes her freedom and detests the traditional life he offers. Instead, her eye is drawn to William Lawton (Sidney Blackmer), an American living in England, despite a warning from her new friend Olga (Muriel Kirkland)... a woman from Topeka who's posing as a Russian. (Don't ask. It's a whole thing.) Indecision and even infidelity is soon in hot pursuit as Cynthia's heart is caught in a tug of war she isn't prepared for. Directed by Victor Schertzinger, the film also stars George Nardelli, Marjorie Gateson, Jay Eaton, Wild Bill Elliott, Willie Fung, Forrester Harvey, Kenneth MacDonald, Alphonse Martell, Paul McVey, Dennis O'Keefe, Lorin Raker, Rolfe Sedan, Phillips Smalley, Oscar Smith, John St. Polis, Larry Steers and Florence Wix.

Cocktail Hour isn't a particularly substantive film. It isn't even all that funny or engaging, though it does have its occasional share of wit and wile. (Randolph: "I didn't write the rules of this game of sex. I don't even say they are fair. But, there they are, and neither of us can rewrite them." Cynthia: "You're a narrow minded, stubborn, egotistical, fatuous, detestable..." Randolph: "Just say man and be done with it." Cynthia: "Man!") But what's the value of a film from 1933? Is it only in its ability to hold up to the test of time? Or is it much more? Cocktail Hour, for better or worse, represents a director, writer, crew and actors experimenting with the earliest tools of cinema. It wasn't quite the Wild West -- things had progressed beyond that -- but trial and error was still in full force, and Hollywood was trying to find its footing and establish what the next phase of entertainment would look like. Would it be more challenging? Authentic? Adult? Or would it struggle in striking a tone between what audiences could take and what they would accept? It's an interesting visit with a time in America that was fraught with moral questions and sensibilities. In that regard, Cynthia is as much a symbol of progressiveness in an age of traditionalism as she is a character trying to decide which of three men she wants to spend her life with.

It seems strange to think a movie about a woman working so hard to find a husband could be so offensive. But, as it turns out, William is *gasp* married already, and Cynthia doesn't have many qualms about pursuing him in spite of his vows. It's almost tepid to the point of being dull in 2024, but in 1933, it was the kind of plotline that censors could point to when making the case that someone needed to step in and stop Hollywood from corrupting the public. How naive we all were then. The value of history, though, can't be measured by what it is to us today. It happened and is a part of what has brought us to where we are with films, art and culture as a whole. There's a whole study itching to be made in Cocktail Hour alone. The only downside? There are far better movies from the Pre-Code era to explore. Kudos to Sony for restoring yet another film that, until recently, was largely lost in time. But better to spend your time seeking out classics than something a bit too trite for its own good.

Cocktail Hour Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Much like Sony's Blu-ray release of Man's Castle (also from 1933), Cocktail Hour features a relatively gorgeous, wholly filmic 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer created from a meticulous 4K restoration. Black levels are rich and satisfying, bright whites are crisp and clean, and every gradient between is smooth and lovely. Grain is intact and natural, without inconsistencies mucking up the image. Clarity certainly dips on occasion -- a product of the cameras and the limitations of the original photography -- but only insofar as featuring a haze or glow around edges. Otherwise detail is quite good, and far better than you might expect from the era. Moreover, I didn't notice anything in the way of crush, banding, blocking or other issues, making for a presentation as proficient as it is excellent.

Cocktail Hour Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Though there's little to rave about, Sony's DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track renews and restores Cocktail Hour's original sound design. Voices are clear and intelligibly prioritized (while retaining the distinct tone and tenor of dialogue of the era), effects are crisp and bright (though rather canned by today's standards), and everything from music to other elements are preserved without flaw.

Cocktail Hour Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Blu-ray release of Cocktail Hour doesn't include any extras... so much so that there isn't even a menu. Sony continues to skimp in this regard when it comes to lesser-known black-and-white oldies. Come on, guys. How hard is it to add a menu?

Cocktail Hour Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Cocktail Hour isn't a bonafide classic by any means. I wouldn't even consider labeling it essential. But it is a stepping stone in Pre-Code film history and offers a glimpse into what creative freedom meant in 1933. Fortunately, Sony has given the film a wonderful AV treatment, even if the disc is as barebones as barebones gets.