Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.0

Honor Among Lovers Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov February 26, 2024

Dorothy Arzner's "Honor Among Lovers" (1931) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by critic Eloise Ross; new program with critic Lucy Bolton; archival program with cinematographer George J. Folsey; vintage promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

It's all gone wrong.

As soon as the closing credits of Honor Among Lovers appeared on my screen, I tried to recall the last time I saw a pre-Code film and disliked every single one of its characters. I am not exaggerating when I write that I spent a couple of hours struggling to come up with one. But, in the end, feeling disappointed, I gave up.

Before I explain why this happened, I wish to clarify something that I think is important. I did not form my opinion of Honor Among Lovers and its characters while thinking of the current status quo of the ever-evolving bond between the two sexes. Just like a lot of what is depicted in Honor Among Lovers looks awfully dated now, there is a lot in the present that is already dated too, even though we are being told that it is the new and universally accepted normal. I do not believe that society has the power to dictate what is normal between a man and a woman who are genuinely in love. Society can demand that they do a great deal of acting so that it appears that they have succumbed to the normal, but this is a strategy that is quite easy to circumvent. In other words, what the current normal may frame as unacceptable in Honor Among Lovers was not a factor when I formed my opinion of it and its characters.

Honor Among Lovers follows closely two characters, a man and a woman, who come from different areas of society but have found that they have a lot in common and become very good friends. In fact, while spending time together, they have become so attached to each other that both have considered marriage. However, both have also enjoyed their freedom and spent time with other partners, and both have considered drastically different options.

The man is Jerry Stafford (Fredric March), a very wealthy businessman running a famous company, while the woman is Julie Traynor (Claudette Colbert), whom he employs as his secretary. Each morning, they meet in his posh office, work on his schedule, and then inevitably switch to ‘friendly talk’ that concerns different aspects of their future. The flirting is unavoidable and both enjoy it, but occasionally the magic evaporates, and they hurt each other’s feelings. When it happens, there is a quick readjustment of the employer-employee relationship, and then the ‘friendly talk’ with the flirting resumes.

Eventually, the businessman gathers the courage to ask his secretary to marry him. Much to his disappointment, she runs away with a different man (Monroe Osley), who has big ambitions and a small bank account. After the forced breakup, the former friends begin pursuing happiness in entirely different ways. However, it is not too long before both discover that they have made terrible decisions and rekindle their friendship. It is all it is -- just a friendship that keeps them connected. But several dramatic developments provide the two with another chance to do the right thing.

Like most pre-Code films, Honor Among Lovers rushes through some events, which is why it looks quite uneven at times. But this does not affect the integrity of these events. Unfortunately, the behavior that makes these events possible is very suspicious. It is also what effectively destroys the integrity of the main characters. Here are a few samples that should help you understand why:

The supposedly very intelligent and suave boss is depicted as a man who follows random instincts that have blurred and possibly even irreversibly compromised his comprehension of love. As a result, his attempts to convince his secretary to marry him routinely transform him into a spoiled, strikingly insecure man-child that cannot possibly be of any interest to a woman with a properly functioning head. However, the secretary, who supposedly knows him well, not only tolerates his embarrassment but enjoys it very much. She does it because the longer it lasts, the more it solidifies her decision to start a new chapter of her life with the right man. Her boss, whose wealth can guarantee her a very comfortable life, is not this man.

After they part ways, the secretary ends up marrying her right man, who quickly proves to be many times worse than her boss but without his wealth. However, instead of correcting her error, the secretary insists that he evolves into a replica of her boss, which is why not too long after, to support her expensive lifestyle, he makes a risky trade with borrowed money and destroys their future.

The reunion between the former friends is logical but very awkward. It is logical because it is their failure that brings them together. It is awkward because they once again trick each other, though this time it is for ‘honorable’ reasons.

Directed by Dorothy Arzner, Honor Among Friends feels a lot like the rushed dissertation of a graduate student who set out to prove that marriage is a tragic compromise between players with different, frequently unrealistic ambitions. Needless to say, this is not true. A healthy marriage requires a lot of compromises, some good and some bad, but this is something entirely different.

Honor Among Lovers Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Honor Among Lovers arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

The entire film has a dated appearance. However, despite many obvious limitations, I would describe the majority of the visuals as pretty decent, at times even attractive. It is because there are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Yes, there is plenty of softness, some flatness too, but you have to understand that the major limitations that are responsible for them are inherited. The grayscale is decent, too. Stability is good, but expect to see a few shaky transitions. The surface of the visuals reveals tiny black spots, some blemishes, and minor scratches. However, I did not see any large cuts, debris, warped or torn frames to report. My score is 3.25/5.00. (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).

Honor Among Lovers 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.

The dialog is easy to follow. However, sometimes there are very noticeable fluctuations in terms of clarity and sharpness. Also, dynamic intensity is well below average. But these are inherited limitations, so even an extensive restoration of the audio will not make a significant difference in its overall quality. I did not encounter any audio dropouts to report in our review.

Honor Among Lovers Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critic Eloise Ross.

• George Folsey Oral History - in this audio interview, cinematographer George J. Folsey explains how he fell in love with cinema at a very early age and discusses the evolution of his career. Also, there are some quite interesting comments about Folsey's understanding and management of lighting and film stock. In English, not subtitled. The interview was conducted by curator and film historian George Pratt. (130 min).

• Sugar and Spice: Lucy Bolton on Ginger Rogers - in this new program, critic Lucy Bolton discusses the career of Ginger Rogers and the character she plays in Honor Among Lovers. In English, not subtitled. (13 min).

• Image Gallery - a collection of original promotional materials for Honor Among Lovers.

• Short Films -
  
  1. Hail and Farewell! (1943). A short promotional film about women serving in the U.S. military. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. (8 min).
  2. To the Ladies (1944). Another short promotional film about the U.S. military and the sacrifices men and women make during a time of war. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. (15 min).

• Booklet - limited edition exclusive 44-page booklet with a new essay by Pamela Hutchinson, an account of the film's production using archival interviews and articles, extracts from an archival interview with Dorothy Arzner, an overview of contemporary critical responses, Anthony Nield on Arzner's films for the WAAC, and film credits.

• Cover - reversible cover with vintage poster art for Honor Among Lovers.

Honor Among Lovers Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Even though over the years marriage has been frequently abused for different type of gains, it has never been viewed as a tragic compromise between players with different, frequently unrealistic ambitions. But this seems to be one of the messages that emerges from Dorothy Arzner's film Honor Among Lovers, which is pretty strange. Its characters are even stranger because not a single one of them is easy to like. Unsurprisingly, I could not enjoy Honor Among Lovers. If you decide to pick up this release, please keep in mind that it is Region-B "locked".