Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Connecting Rooms Blu-ray Movie Review

Bette Davis delivers an absorbing performance that must be seen

Connecting Rooms is that rare kind of film that feels every bit as theatrical as it feels cinematic. This should come as no surprise to those familiar with the background: the film is based on the play by Marion Hart. The production remembers its theater roots and “connects” them to the cinema style. Executive produced by Dimitri De Grunwald (A Time for Loving, I Like Money) and Jack Smith (Perfect Friday, The Exorcism of Hugh), Connecting Rooms is an impressive romantic-drama that explores the perils of the heart and the journey of love so many go on.

The charming, middle-aged Wanda Fleming (Bette Davis) is living in a rather run-down boarding house all by herself. Life seems somewhat mundane. An accomplished cello player by trade (who is now down on her luck and has to take to the streets in order to perform her music), Wanda soon meets two men who take on important roles in her life.

The first man in Wanda's life is the much-younger Mickey Hollister (Alexis Kanner), a songwriter who seduces her and selfishly uses her for her money (and in order to convince her to buy him a car). He might buy her flowers but he is also sleeping with two other women on the side: his pop- star idol, whom he writes songs for, and another (younger) girl at the flat. Romantic entanglement ensues.

The other man in Wanda's life is the timid, kind-hearted, and kindred neighbor James Wallraven (Michael Redgrave), a former school teacher who was wrongfully terminated from his teaching position and who has had no luck whatsoever with his career ever since. Can Wanda find true love?

The hero of the story.

At the heart of the film is the performances. Bette Davis delivers an exceptional performance here. Given that the role required a great deal of depth, Davis was up to the challenge. She shines in her challenging dramatic role. Even though Davis is the star power, she is also joined by two talented actors: Alexis Kanner and Michael Redgrave. Both performers depend on Davis in order for their performances to work and yet each performer brings something unique to the table.

The production has some other compelling elements to note as well: an effective music score composed by Joan Shakespeare (The Ghost Goes Gear, Love Is a Woman) and John Shakespeare (You're Driving Me Crazy, It's Getting Harder All the Time) provides a strong background to the drama which slowly unfolds. The costumes by Harry Haynes (Gorgo, Night Was Our Friend) and Tina Swanson (Ladies Who Do, Saturday Night Out) are true to the characters and give some needed style to the work: the designers even had Bette Davis wear an impressive blue dress.

Franklin Gollings (The Way to Wimbledon, Battle Hell) penned the screenplay adaptation and directed the film. As the story revolves around the connecting rooms of the boarding house that connects them all, Gollings structured the film in a way that allowed adequate time be spent with each of the unique characters: together and on their own. The script is impressive. The drama that unfolds feels realistic without feeling mundane. There are many big dramatic moments and the story never veers into being too over-the-top or melodramatic. There is a sense of real character building and understanding in the script.

As a director, Gollings structured Connecting Rooms in a way that the filmmaking is both cinematic and theatrical at the same time. The pace and rhythm reminds one of stage theater and one can easily see how the film was adapted from that kind of source material. Yet there are enough “cinematic” scenes which expand on the theater-vibe and provide a reason for the adaptation to exist as a cinematic work. Working with cinematographer John Wilcox (Hell Below Zero, Legend of the Werewolf) and editor Jack Slade (Konga, The Gamma People), Gollings manages to give Connecting Rooms an energy and style which is true to the time period without feeling overly dated. It is easy to still get lost in the storytelling of Connecting Rooms and the compelling performances which make up its DNA. Don't miss out on this under-the-radar gem.

Connecting Rooms Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, Connecting Rooms has received a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.66:1 widescreen. The impressive Technicolor imagery is apparent throughout the film and looks quite splendid overall. The print manages to impress with crisp, clean, and well-defined imagery. The colors are somewhat muted (stylistically, the film looks less robust) but the colors look accurate for the cinematographic style utilized. The film is never going to feature a show-stopping presentation, but the print is satisfying.

Connecting Rooms Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Blu-ray release features a DTS HD Master Audio mono soundtrack. The lossless audio quality is quite obvious throughout the entire presentation and adds to the experience. Dialogue is crisp, clear, and easy to understand. The music underscoring the film sounds quite splendid on this audio track. While the track is somewhat static and doesn't have much going on in regards to sound effects, the reproduction of the audio is solid. Kino has capably preserved the soundstage and viewers will not be disappointed.

Optional English subtitles are provided.

Connecting Rooms Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio commentary by film historian David Del Valle

The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: Pocketful of Miracles (SD, 3:01), Burnt Offerings (SD, 2:30), and The Captive Heart (SD, 00:47).

Connecting Rooms Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Connecting Rooms is a compelling drama which explores the loneliness of the human heart. The film is aided by a great performance by Bette Davis. There is something special about the film and its unique blend of the cinematic and theatrical. The Blu-ray release features a superb video-audio presentation and is well worth picking up. Highly recommended.