6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Mae West plays Peaches O'Day, a con artist who can sell anything, including the Brooklyn Bridge.
Starring: Mae West, Edmund Lowe, Charles Butterworth, Charles Winninger, Walter CatlettComedy | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
English: LPCM Mono
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region B (A, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Note: This version of this film is available on Blu-ray as part of Mae West in Hollywood.
For a star who was perceived to be such a voluptuous female sex symbol, Mae West had, well, swagger. Just look at the way she
gallivants,
even
marauds, physically through
her scenes, walking almost like a prize fighter observing some prey she's just devastated. She frequently has a masculine mien in her gait, hands
on
hips almost threateningly, and with a kind of pugnacious attitude that nonetheless never completely masks a rather unexpectedly sweet and kind
aspect to many of her characters, even if those characters are just as apt to be tough as nails. Specifically in terms of West's memorable saunter, if
none of her
other unforgettable aspects, one of the commentaries included with this set calls West's distinctive stride a "shimmy" that West supposedly
overtly stated was culled from watching black women, though some may jokingly wonder if West was also watching black men for a few
pointers. What is
kind of fascinating about West's ineluctable allure in terms of behaviors and mannerisms, though, is how she manages to be slyly seductive and
ridiculously overheated almost
simultaneously, but it's
instructive to note that this layering of attitudes and demeanors, as well as "mere" physical presence, was part and parcel of West's own writing
and character building acumen, since it
seems only obvious that West was more than aware that she was putting on a show on any number of levels. West's proclivities as "another" kind
of
auteur, one who crafted a series of films that frequently were based on West's own ideas and/or writing, are rather prominently on
display in this handsome new(ish) set from Powerhouse Films' Indicator imprint, which aggregates
together ten features ranging from 1932 to 1943.
Every Day's a Holiday is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Powerhouse Films' Indicator imprint with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.35:1. The back cover of this release touts "2021 restorations of Go West Young Man and Every Day's a Holiday from 4K scans" (both features share the same disc). Though I probably sound like a broken record at this point, the "4K scan" needs to be understood within the context of an older element that has some built in deficiencies. Damage here is actually on the minimal side, with less of the prevalent scratching and nicking that afflicts some of the other transfers in this set, though that is not to imply that there's no damage here, since there is. But the overall appearance here is pretty soft, with fine detail levels in particular not overly convincing. Still, there's an appealingly organic look on display, with a nicely resolved grain field, and contrast and black levels are both secure throughout the presentation.
Every Day's a Holiday features an LPCM Mono track. This is another mid-thirties effort in this set which shows at least marginal improvements over some of the earlier films, especially in terms of a somewhat fuller sounding midrange, though the overall sound here is rather shallow and at least intermittently boxy. Music sounds decently full bodied, and all dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly. Optional English subtitles are available.
Powerhouse Films has packaged this release with both Go West Young Man and Every Day's a Holiday sharing a disc. The following is a complete listing of supplements on the disc:
There's unfortunately a certain tired quality to Every Day's a Holiday, as if West and her team were struggling to find new ways to present an almost monolithically established image. There are some fun moments here, but a lot of this effort seems listless and frankly not especially funny. Technical merits are generally pleasing within the context of an older element with some inherent limitations. The supplements are definitely weighted pretty heavily toward Every Day's a Holiday's "disc mate", Go West Young Man, for those who may be considering making a purchase.
(Still not reliable for this title)
1934
1943
1936
1936
1935
1932
1940
1916
1916
1916
1916
1917
1916
1929
1916
Vintage Classics / Digitally Restored
1984
1969
1929
1917
1916