Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.5

Dirigible 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown December 13, 2024

Marking yet another high-definition debut in the Frank Capra at Columbia Collection, Dirigible tells the story of friends turned rivals who vie to be the first to fly to the South Pole. (A dirigible is key to the plot, of course, unlikely though that seems today.) The Blu-ray features a strong AV presentation for a film of its age, but only offers a single theatrical trailer as an extra.

Dirigible fleet commander Jack Bradon is tasked with helping famous explorer Louis Rondelle with an expedition to the South Pole. While Rondelle wants to use traditional airplanes to accomplish his spectacular feat, Jack is determined to impress him with the Navy's dirigibles. Alas, the prowess and show-stealing acumen of Lieutenant Frisky Pierce convince the explorer otherwise. Pierce is both Jack's friend and rival but, unbeknownst to the daredevil pilot, has a bigger problem brewing: Jack is in love with Frisky's wife, Helen. Hoo boy. Helen, in turn, is so afraid of the danger a trip to Antarctica poses that she begs Jack to keep Pierce off the expedition. Jack concedes, at the cost of his friendship with Frisky. The expedition commences but Frisky, undeterred, quits the Navy and joins Rondelle's team. Who will reach the South Pole? Will Jack's dirigibles be up to the task? What will become of Helen's heart? Will she stay with the man who choses adventure over love, or drift to the man who pines for her presence? All is answered in a dramatic trip into the depths of a lost continent, where blizzards howl, temperatures plummet, and death seems all too eager to collect any wayward souls who wander off course.

How spectacular and miraculous a dirigible must have seemed in 1931, particularly six years prior to the Hindenburg disaster. A massive, gleaming, silver airship capable of long distance travel, offering the latest in air technology not only to pilots, but promising flight to the common man. And then imagine seeing planes swoop past, roaring in the cinema speakers, lifting you out of the audience, and placing you right alongside aircraft you never conceived you'd reach. Capra's aptly named Dirigible aims to instill awe and wonder in the latest advancement in the skies, and the picture works magnificently... if, that is, you can shut off your futurist's knowledge of things to come and place yourself squarely in the early '30s, when it seemed the 21st century clouds would be dotted with dirigibles as far as the eye can see. It's all quite quaint in retrospect really, but it's fascinating to be placed squarely in the midst of what younger generations today have lost: a child's visions of limitless possibilities sure to be ready for the taking when they become adults. Not that Dirigible is a kids' film by any means. Harrowing and fraught with danger, its adventure is a race to glory that doesn't go at all as planned, requiring the assistance of the titular air vehicle to save the day. The more you slip in, the more exciting it all gets. Capra makes it that easy to sit back, switch off modern eyes, and believe again. Not the first time, and definitely not the last time, the famed filmmaker would do as much.

Dirigible 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Though presented with SDR (standard dynamic range) rather than HDR, Sony's 2160p presentation of Dirigible flies high. Had I not known about the lack of HDR, I'm not sure how quickly I would have identified the difference, particularly in a black and white film. A good transfer is a good transfer, so I've no intention of picking nits. Contrast is attractive and pleasing throughout. Snowier third-act scenes are difficult on the eyes at times but HDR wouldn't have improved matters. Besides, it makes the danger of the Antarctic that much more visually palpable. Black levels are nice and deep, whites are plenty crisp, and midtones are striking and effortlessly resolved. Fine textures look great as well, as does grain, which is fairly consistent other than when early forms of compositing and fx are used to keep dirigibles and airplanes in the sky. Blocking, banding and other anomalies are absent too, making for a proficient encode through and through. It isn't perfect -- some print wear is still visible at times -- and halos creep in here and there, but little of that makes an impact.

Dirigible 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Despite some occasional air hiss, Dirigible's DTS-HD Master Audio Mono mix delivers. Voices are clean and clear, dialogue is intelligible even when storms rage just outside a tent, the wheen and roars of airplanes sound great, and the thrum and hum of the dirigibles is surprisingly hefty (given the lack of LFE support). Music is a touch thin, but that's to be expected with soundscapes of the era and shouldn't be a surprise.

Dirigible 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The only extra included is the film's theatrical trailer.

Dirigible 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Dirigible is high-flying adventure of... not quite the highest order, but it is a lot of nail-biting fun, especially some ninety years after its release. You can almost hear the crowds gasping and cheering in 1931, and the more you're able to shut off your modern mind, the more you'll enjoy all Capra has to offer here. Sony's 4K SDR presentation is a strong one, as is the disc's lossless mono mix. The film's supplemental package is sadly about as barebones as they come, but so it goes. I still had a blast.