7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A retiring show song and dancer leaves showbiz to start up a New England country inn with the unique idea of being open only on national holidays. Conflicts arise when his former partner shows up and they fall for the same woman, and sparks fly -as do their feet - in a variety of inventive, holiday themed song-and-dance productions.
Starring: Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds, Virginia Dale, Walter AbelRomance | 100% |
Musical | 97% |
Comedy | 90% |
Holiday | 89% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Universal has released the 1942 film 'Holiday Inn,' directed by Mark Sandrich and starring Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, and Marjorie Reynolds, to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/HDR video. This release simply repurposes the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack found on the original 2014 Blu-ray. The bundled Blu-ray and the UHD both include a single new supplement that addresses the "blackface" in the film while also carrying over most of the extras from the 2014 issue.
The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.
Universal releases Holiday Inn to the UHD format with a new 2160p/HDR presentation of the film. The picture quality is excellent, generally,
with only a few issues of note. To get those out of the way first: there are a few soft shots scattered throughout, but such appear to be inherent to
the
source rather than a product of a faulty UHD encode. Additionally, errant pops, speckles, and stray vertical lines appear throughout to some degree or
another, with some scenes just
about free and others a little more densely populated.
Outside of these issues, the UHD presentation is very good. It offers a commanding increase in sharpness over the Blu-ray, capturing a much more
naturally organic grain structure that is evident and what might be considered "heavy" but nevertheless complementary and satisfying, bringing the
picture's filmic credentials to the screen with impressive accuracy. The image sees greatly bolstered clarity as well, bringing a significant gain to facial
definition, clothes, and environments. The sense of added sharpness adds appeal to the picture and oftentimes surpasses the Blu-ray by a significant
level. The BD appears rather soft and hazy in comparison. In this area, the UHD offers a sizeable and impressive gain over the Blu-ray.
An even bigger adjustment comes with the HDR grading. The black and white source finds a significant gain to contrast and a more finely tuned
grayscale, transitioning
from the creamy Blu-ray with limited grayscale range to, here, a much firmer example of black and white imagery excellence with greatly improved
contrast in the midrange that helps to give greater differentiation and separation to elements. Black level depth is significantly improved, not only
adding depth but also shadow detail. This is vital in some of the darker suits characters wear throughout the film. White balance is much better, too,
especially as seen on white clothing and on-screen text, both of which find a striking gain against the drab and creamy Blu-ray. This is a very good
UHD
presentation from Universal.
Rather than re-encode for additional (and unnecessary for this film) channels, universal has simply, and smartly, ported over the existing soundtrack from the 2014 Blu-ray, which sounds just fine for all areas of consideration, including music and dialogue. For a full audio review, please click here.
This UHD release of Holliday Inn includes most of the supplements from the 2014 release while also adding a new extra, which was recorded
in
2022. Extras are included on both the UHD and the Blu-ray discs. Note the absence of the Coloring a Classic supplement, which was included
on the 2014 release. It is not included here, presumably, because a
colorized version is not included on either the BD or the UHD, but it still would have offered an interesting additional layer to the film's history to at
least see how the process was performed. The UHD ships with a digital copy code and an embossed slipcover.
Universal makes sure that today's audiences are aware of the "blackface" content in the film, offering both a pre-film disclaimer about its inclusion in the film and offering a new supplement in which several individuals address it. The film is certainly a classic and it has earned a wonderful and rich new UHD treatment. Holiday Inn now delivers satisfying 2160p/HDR video of the original black-and-white photography while also including a good 2.0 lossless soundtrack. Highly recommended!
70th Anniversary
1954
1945
2012-2013
10th Anniversary Edition
2008
1962
2003
Extended Dance Edition
2009
Sing-Along Edition
2018
1951
1982
Rockin' Rydell Edition
1978
Fox Studio Classics
1969
70th Anniversary Edition
1947
2011
Swing Romance
1940
1954
Two-Disc Special Edition
1954
2010
2016
1968