Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

It Always Rains on Sunday Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov March 21, 2021

Robert Hamer's "It Always Rains on Sunday" (1947) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the disc include vintage trailer for the film; new audio commentary by critic Imogen Sara Smith; and featurettes. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

On the run

Tommy Swann (John McCallum) has escaped from prison and the police have started looking for him. A series of flashbacks reveal that Tommy used to be a local troublemaker who loved acting like a big-time gangster. At a popular club, Tommy met Rose Sandigate (Googie Withers), who made ends meet as a hostess, asked her out, and they started dating. Tommy then bought Rose a ring and promised to marry her -- as soon as he took care of some rather important gig. But he never did. He fumbled a smash-and-grab job, went to prison, and forgot about Rose.

Even though she settled down with George Sandigate (Edward Chapman), Rose did not forget about Tommy. He was the man she wanted to start a family and grow old with -- before and after he got caught. Her feelings for Tommy never changed, but once the police picked him up, she had to move on. When George came alone and offered her what Tommy had promised, she accepted. George was ten years older and had two girls from his previous wife, but Rose knew that she had almost run out of time to choose. Marrying George was the safe and smart thing to do, and she did it. After that, she quickly became an ordinary housewife.

But now, on a quiet Sunday morning, Rose has discovered that Tommy is hiding in the backyard of her East End home, starved and freezing after having spent the night running in the cold rain. She is secretly going to bring him some dry clothes and grub, but then what? Tommy is a fugitive, she is a housewife, and the past is the past -- or is it?

Directed by Robert Hamer, It Always Rains on Sunday is most definitely not your typical Ealling Studio film. It does have a few silly jokes, but it is not a comedy and actually has a lot more in common with the many ‘kitchen sink’ dramas that would emerge a decade or so after it. (Contrary to the popular belief, it is not a classic British film noir either).

The main story about Tommy, his escape from prison, and involvement with Rose is actually given a structure by a couple of smaller stories involving George’s young daughters and a few local characters. This is entirely intentional because Hamer very carefully uses them to capture the rhythm of life in a unique place that no longer exists. Night clubs, pubs, small stores, street vendors, petty criminals and cops then become part of a bigger and substantially different story about the passage of time and the manner in which all kinds of different people deal with it. This is the story that makes the film intriguing and worth seeing all these years later.

The acting is quite good, but from time to time there is an obvious tendency to overdramatize casual situations. Withers and McCallum have the best chemistry before the camera and are in the most memorable material.

The chase at the end is the reason why some critics have argued that the film has a noirish identity, but neither its atmosphere nor its intensity can complete such a substantial transformation. Again, there is plenty more that happens before it which is entirely incompatible with the type of identity that classic British post-war film noirs are known for.

The film was lensed by acclaimed cinematographer Douglas Slocombe, whose credits include such timeless classics as Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, The Lavender Hill Mob, Kind Hearts and Coronets, and The Italian Job.

It Always Rains on Sunday Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, It Always Rains on Sunday arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The master that was used to produce this release of It Always Rains on Sunday was supplied by StudioCanal. It is the same master that was used to produce this Region-B release in 2012.

The film was remastered by the BFI National Archive and looks quite good. However, you should not expect an all-around solid technical presentation of the type that a proper restoration delivers. For example, there are certain parts of the film with substantial density fluctuations that expose plenty of other age-related limitations as well. They can look significantly flatter and around transitions even shaky. Gamma fluctuations pop up as well. There are no traces of problematic digital work, but from time to time grain exposure can be unconvincing. The grading job is good. However, the limitations that are mentioned above introduce some inconsistencies that you will notice while viewing the film. Image stability is good. Some small vertical lines and blemishes remain, but there are no large distracting debris, cuts, warped or torn frames. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

It Always Rains on Sunday Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The audio is clear and the dialog is easy to follow. However, often times there is light buzz that comes up in the background. As it usually the case with such older films where the existing elements are not in optimal condition, there are some fluctuations in terms of roundness and overall stability. Some of the light unevenness is age-related, but the majority isn't. This is just how the audio was recorded. (See most mass/busy footage). The music is a tad thin, but still sounds quite good.

It Always Rains on Sunday Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - a vintage trailer for It Always Rains on Sunday. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Locations - a then-and-now featurette that highlights some of the key locations from It Always Rains on Sunday. Narrated by British film historian Richard Dacre. In English, not subtitled. (7 min, 1080p).

• Coming In From the Rain: Revisiting "It Always Rains on Sunday" - this featurette focuses on production history and classic image of It Always Rains on Sunday. It features clips from interviews with producer Sean O'Connor (The Deep Blue Sea), director/writer Terence Davies (A Quiet Passion), critic Ian Christie, and writer Lain Sinclair. In English, not subtitled. (17 min, 1080p).

• Commentary - this new audio commentary was recorded by critic Imogen Sara Smith.

It Always Rains on Sunday Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It is interesting to see that John McCallum and Googie Withers married shortly after It Always Rains on Sunday was completed because there is something rather special about their chemistry before the camera. As far as I am concerned, however, the most attractive material in this film comes from streets and clubs that either look dramatically different now or no longer exist. Kino Lorber's release is sourced from a fine remaster that was prepared a few years ago by the BFI National Archive. RECOMMENDED.