Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		4.0

Dodsworth Blu-ray Movie Review

Lifestyles of the rich and miserable.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III March 21, 2020

Expertly directed by William Wyler (Ben Hur, Jezebel), the brilliant adult drama Dodsworth remains a high mark of Hays Code-era filmmaking. It offers an honest and mature glimpse of a marriage on the rocks, is bolstered by extremely memorable performances, and is perfectly paced with plenty of surprising -- but not cheaply manipulative -- twists and turns along the way. Based on Sidney Howard's popular 1934 stage adaptation with a screenplay by Howard himself, there's an awful lot to like about this perfectly timeless and engaging piece of classic American cinema.

The crumbling marriage in question belongs to recent retiree Sam Dodsworth (Walter Huston) and his younger wife Fran (Ruth Chatterton); Sam has given 20 years of hard work to his self-named motor company, while Fran has idled at social gatherings without much attention from her husband. As a result, he's painfully clueless about her needs (even more so, due to their age difference and personal tastes), while she's deathly afraid of getting older and, as a result, seeks attention from admirers while lying profusely about her age. Against the wishes of his longtime friend Tubby Pearson (Harlan Briggs), Sam takes a trip to England with Fran aboard the luxurious RMS Queen Mary.

As in real life, sometimes vacations just exacerbate everything wrong at home: Sam gets more and more oblivious, while his wife flirts with several men before rebuffing their advances. Yet neither of the Dodsworths are completely spotless or unlikable; they just feel like real people, regardless of their wealth or status. Soon enough, the last sparks die out -- which could've very well happened after just 10 years, let alone 20 -- and their emotional detachment leads to a nasty argument, which plays out in a realistic and sadly amicable manner. Before long, Sam and Fran are seeing other people: she's got rich playboy Arnold Iselin (Paul Lukas), and he's with someone closer to his own age. But with the urging of their daughter Emily (Kathryn Marlowe) and her husband Harry (John Howard Payne), who expect their first child in a matter of weeks, will the Dodsworths reconcile their differences...or finally admit defeat?

Maybe it doesn't sound like fun on paper...but Dodsworth is so well-acted, perfectly paced, and endlessly engaging that it's easy to fall in love with. I'd only seen this movie once -- maybe twice -- in my younger days and, not surprisingly, it didn't fully connect the way it does now. But you don't have to be married, happily or otherwise, to see the immediate charm and staying power of this brilliant production, which still feels relevant even though it predates the Golden Gate Bridge. Die-hard fans and newcomers alike are strongly encouraged to seek out Warner Archive Collection's brand-new Blu-ray, which is led by a striking new 4K-sourced restoration that makes its cinematography shine like new.

Dodsworth Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original Academy 1.37:1 aspect ratio, Dodsworth looks exceptionally clean and crisp on Warner Archive Collection's new Blu-ray. Sourced from a 2019 restoration of a 4K scan by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Film Archive and The Film Foundation in association with the Samuel Goldwyn Jr. Family Trust (with funding provided by the George Lucas Family Foundation -- yes, that George Lucas), this sparkling 1080p transfer fits in nicely with Warner Archive's own 4K in-house restoration jobs. Image detail and textures are among the best I've seen for a studio release from this era; dirt and debris are almost completely absent, and the heavy blanket of rich, natural film grain will delight visual purists. Black levels and contrast are also quite well-defined, with no obvious signs of black crush or blooming. The Blu-ray's consistently high bit rate exhibits no telltale signs of compression artifacts, banding, or other such digital eyesores, rounding out what might be the best-looking Golden Age restoration of the year thus far. It truly is a revelation that die-hard fans will appreciate, as the only slight "problems" can likely be traced back to Dodsworth's source material or chalked up to age-related wear and tear. A true five-star effort, for sure.

Dodsworth Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Similarly, the DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix stays true to the film's one-channel roots and represents the best available version of its fragile source material. Dialogue and background noise, as well as Alfred Newman's excellent original score, sound suitably well-balanced with a respectable dynamic range. A few instances of age-related wear and tear can occasionally be heard in the form of very mild hiss and crackling, but it's largely kept under control; in fact, most portions of Dodsworth are remarkably crisp with no such distractions. (A sudden forghorn in the film's third act sounded real enough to take yours truly by surprise.) No drop-outs, pops, or sync issues were heard along the way.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles have been included during the main feature. Although these are garish yellow in color, they're at least formatted properly with no ALL CAPS like most recent Warner Archive Blu-rays.

Dodsworth Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Dodsworth arrives on Blu-ray in a one-disc keepcase with poster-themed cover art and no inserts. Extras are limited and unfortunately do not include the theatrical trailer, which may no longer exist (at least that I could find).

• Lux Radio Theater Broadcast (59:32) - A one-hour program, originally broadcast on April 12, 1937, that features Walter Huston and his wife Nan Sunderland in the lead roles. A later broadcast of this public domain radio play (which aired in October of the same year) can also be downloaded in MP3 format here.

Dodsworth Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

William Wyler's adaptation of Dodsworth is a highly accessible, perfectly timeless adult drama. Chock full of memorable performances, sensational twists and turns, and one hell of an ending, it stands ready to impress a new generation of moviegoers more than 80 years after its theatrical release. A true career highlight for all involved, it's nonetheless flown slightly under the radar in recent years, with the last Region 1 home video release occurring all the way back in 2001. Luckily, Warner Archive Collection's new Blu-ray gives the film a new lease on life, led by an outstanding 4K-sourced restoration that breathes life into its terrific cinematography. It's a fine package (even without any substantial bonus features) that comes highly recommended to established fans and curious newcomers alike.