6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Ambitious model Diana Scott uses her relationships to turn a low-rent career into a high-gear smorgasbord of jet-setting, love-making and the pursuit of hedonistic happiness. But as she moves from one fiery tryst with a TV writer to another with a suave playboy and yet another with a crown prince, she finds that happiness is the one thing that may elude her forever.
Starring: Julie Christie, Dirk Bogarde, Laurence Harvey (I), José Luis de Vilallonga, Carlo PalmucciDrama | 100% |
Romance | 93% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.64:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
English: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region B (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Winner of Golden Globe Award for Best English-Language Foreign Film, John Schlesinger's "Darling" (1965) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of StudioCanal. The only bonus feature on this disc is an original theatrical trailer for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".
The ambitious girl
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.64:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, John Schlesinger's Darling arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of StudioCanal.
The release does not use as a foundation an extensive new restoration -- as it is the case with StudioCanal's release of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's The Tales of Hoffmann -- but the end result is good. Generally speaking, depth and clarity are quite nice. The majority of the well-lit close-ups typically have the best depth, but some of the outdoor panoramic shots also look very good. Grain is visible throughout the entire film, but it is somewhat uneven. To be perfectly clear, it does not have the tightness fresh scans typically introduce (see screencaptures # 3 and 18). This is arguably one of the key reasons why depth isn't as impressive as it could be. Edge-enhancement isn't an issue of concern, but there are traces of very light built-in sharpening (traces of halo effects can be seen in screencaptures #10 and 13). Overall image stability is good, but there are a few shaky transitions. Lastly, some minor damage marks, a few vertical lines, and some dirt specks occasionally pop up here and there, but never become distracting. All in all, even though the film has not been fully restored and there is some room for improvements, overall this is a fine organic presentation. I personally would rather have the film look exactly as it does now -- a bit rough and free of compromising digital corrections -- as opposed to having it "repolished" for Blu-ray. My score is 3.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0 (with small portions of Italian and French). Optional English SDH subtitles have been provided for the main feature.
The audio has been remastered and there isn't even a whiff of background hiss. Depth and clarity are very good and there are no balance issues. John Dankworth's lush jazzy score effortlessly open up the film in all the right places. The dialog is stable, very clean, and very easy to follow. Finally, there are no audio dropouts or distortions to report in this review.
John Schlesinger's Darling can be awfully cynical at times, but this is precisely the reason why it feels so relevant today. We are all brainwashed to desire success, but very few of us fully understand what we are after and the price we would have to pay for it. The film could look better on Blu-ray, but this is a fine presentation that should please its fans. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Indicator Series
1966
1971
1975
2009
2013
Indicator Series
1967
1940
2011
Warner Archive Collection
1968
1946
1985
1945
Indicator Series
1934
1967
Vintage Classics
1962
2016
Arrow Academy
1941
1987
Masters of Cinema
1957
1987