Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Desire Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov December 18, 2023

Frank Borzage's "Desire" (1936) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the release include audio commentary by film historians David Del Valle and Nathaniel Bell; archival program with Frank Borzage; vintage Lux Radio adaptation; collection of original promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

Swindling

Initially, it seems like Madeleine de Beaupre (Marlene Dietrich) is just a brilliant chameleon who works alone. In downtown Paris, she convinces the manager of an upscale jewelry store that she intends to purchase a very pricey pearl necklace and then requests that he personally delivers it to the office of her wealthy husband, who is going to hand him a check for the sale. Shortly after, she visits the office of her ‘husband’, a famous doctor with an impeccable reputation, and arranges that he accepts as a patient the love of her life since he desperately needs help to overcome the odd psychological issues that have started altering his personality. She even warns the doctor that this won’t be an easy case because sometimes the love of her life could be frustratingly irrational -- for example, he could walk into his office and demand that the doctor cut him a check for the treatment he would receive from him -- so he must plan to be patient with him. She has certainly been patient, and understanding, and forgiving, and half a dozen other things that she does not feel comfortable mentioning before him. The great doctor truly is her last hope to reclaim the man she fell in love with and have their once beautiful relationship restored.

But at the right time, Madeleine only gets the very beautiful and pricey pearl necklace handed to her, and while her two ‘husbands’ exchange pleasantries in the doctor’s office, jumps in her fancy car and heads toward sunny Spain. Fate then arranges that Madeleine crosses paths with American auto engineer Tom Bradley (Gary Cooper), who is on his way to Spain as well, and without having his consent she uses him to smuggle the pearl necklace into the country. Shortly after, Madeleine and Tom become an unlikely couple, but the former’s associates, both even better chameleons than her, appear to claim their share of the stolen pearl necklace and instantly declare their disapproval of the latter.

The vintage trailer for Frank Borzage’s Desire repeatedly emphasizes the fact that the film was the second big collaboration between Dietrich and Cooper for a good reason -- the chemistry between the two is simply superb, which isn’t a small accomplishment given how great they were in Josef von Sternberg’s Morocco. Obviously, Borzage needs to be given credit for his predictably stellar direction as well, but Desire is undoubtedly as enjoyable as it is because of how well Dietrich and Cooper engage each other before the camera.

Desire is loosely broken into two contrasting parts. In the first, Dietrich is a strikingly elegant chameleon whose ability to outsmart anyone that stands between her and the expensive pearl necklace very much reminds of the one revealed by David Niven in Bedtime Story. Dietrich’s playground is certainly quite different, but the tactics with which she makes the people around her look like dimwitted amateurs are undoubtedly borrowed from the same grand book Niven had studied. For a while, Cooper is one of these people too, though it is his heart that is primarily responsible for his struggle to judge her right.

In the second part the competitiveness between Dietrich and Cooper is greatly minimized and their romance becomes the focus of attention. John Halliday emerges as Dietrich’s ambitious and slightly jealous older mentor and repeatedly fails to break their relationship, but all of the quality material is still with the lovebirds. The finale is entirely predictable, but it comes naturally and wraps up the film with authority.

Because Desire was produced by Ernst Lubitsch, it is frequently said that it carries the so-called Lubitsch Touch. But it does not. Lubitsch’s great comedies ooze very particular wit and have an equally specific rhythm. Desire has a lot of very funny moments, especially early on after Dietrich goes to work, but it is a genuine old-fashioned romantic film that melts the heart.

Desire Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Desire arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

In 2021, Kino Lorber produced this release of Desire for the U.S. marker, which was sourced from an exclusive new 2K master. This upcoming release is sourced from a different 4K master, which was prepared in 2022. I viewed it earlier tonight and can confirm that the presentation is different.

However, the film has not been fully restored. In fact, I saw a lot of the same density fluctuations and surface inconsistencies that are present on the previous release, which means that there is still room for meaningful cosmetic improvements that could ensure an all-around more pleasing appearance. Also, in some areas, the visuals are marginally softer, though I think that many of the discrepancies come from the superior encoding on the previous release. (The previous release dedicates more space to the main feature). The grayscale is different as well. Various visuals look brighter now. I think that in some darker areas select darker nuances are a tad more convincing, but there is a lot of brighter material that clearly looks better on the previous release. Density levels appear identical, but the previous release routinely reveals better grain exposure. Image stability is good, but some enhancements could be beneficial. (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).

Desire 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 for the main feature.

Considering the type of recording limitations that were common during the 1930s, I think that the overall quality of the lossless track is very, very good. Some unevenness is easy to notice -- see the segments where Marlene Dietrich and Gary Cooper are seen racing -- plus elsewhere the music becomes a bit thin, but these are the type of common limitations that I refer to. The dialog is clear and easy to follow.

Desire Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - this recent audio commentary was recorded by film historians David Del Valle and Nathaniel Bell for Kino Lorber's release of Desire. It is a very good commentary with plenty of interesting information about Frank Borzage and Ernst Lubitsch's careers as well as their styles and the type of films they made. Also, the two commentators discuss in great detail Marlene Dietrich's work in Hollywood, Gary Cooper's image, and of course the manner in which they connect before Borzage's camera.

• Frank Borzage Oral History - in this archival audio interview, Frank Borzage discusses his family background, his early theater work, some of his directing preferences and disagreements he had with producers during the shooting of a few early films because of them, the production of A Farewell to Arms and Gary Cooper's acting skills, etc. The interview was conducted by film historian George Pratt on April 11, 1958. In English, not subtitled. (40 min).

• Mr. Cooper Goes to Hollywood: Nathalie Morris on Gary Cooper - in this new program, critic Nathalie Morris discusses the life, classic cinematic image and legacy of Gary Cooper. In English, not subtitled. (12 min).

• Lux Radio Theatre: Desire - presented here is a Lux Radio adaptation of Desire, starring Marlene Dietrich, Hebert Marshall (in the Gary Cooper role), Otto Kruger, and Zeffie Tilbury. The adaptation was broadcast on March 15, 1937. In English, not subtitled. (55 min).

• Theatrical Trailer - presented here is a vintage U.S. trailer for Desire. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Image Gallery - a collection of original promotional materials for Desire.

• Booklet - an exclusive booklet with a new essay by Christine Newland, archival interviews and articles, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and technical credits.

Desire Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It is strange that Desire isn't better known because it could easily be placed amongst Frank Borzage's best films. Is it an unusual Borzage film? Yes, but only because it emphasizes romance in a very direct manner. On the other hand, there is nothing unusual about Marlene Dietrich and Gary Cooper's performances in it. They both look terrific together, and despite Borzage's stellar direction, this really is the main reason why Desire is so enjoyable. If you do not yet have this film in your collection, I suggest that you consider picking up this release. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.