Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

Kind Hearts and Coronets Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 3, 2019

Robert Hamer's "Kind Hearts and Coronets" (1949) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; archival introduction by John Landis; documentary film about Dennis Price; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

The ruthless seducer

The film begins with the end. Alone in his cell, Louis Mazzini (Dennis Price, Bikini Baby, Noose for a Lady), a British aristocrat with Italian blood, reveals that he has very little time left to live -- until dawn, when he is going to be hanged. He admits that this would be an unfortunate end to his life, but also clarifies that it does not matter. What does is that he took care of them -- the d'Ascoynes, who disowned his mother after she ran away with an Italian opera singer. They absolutely had to die. Period.

Then Mazzini begins recalling how he killed each of his relatives. Most of them were incredibly naïve, incredibly pretentious, so easy to manipulate. And he took great pleasure in killing them -- but not before he humiliated them. Wealthy sheep, that is what they were, and he was a wolf. Patient, smart, determined to get them.

One of the d'Ascoynes liked Mazzini so much that he even gave him a job in the family controlled bank, and later on made him a partner. It was the best job he ever had because at one point all loan applications had to be approved by him. Those were glory times. He could easily rebuild and destroy lives with his signature and no one would question his decisions.

Another of Mazzini’s famous relatives was a passionate photographer (Alec Guinness, The Lavender Hill Mob). He was also passionate about alcohol. His beautiful wife (Valerie Hobson, Great Expectations) did not know about his problem and thought that he spent most of his time working in his studio. When Mazzini met her, he instantly fell in love with her and decided that he had to have her. An unfortunate accident then made his wish come true.

There was a time when Mazzini also wanted to marry his childhood sweetheart, Sibella (Joan Greenwood, Tom Jones), but she chose someone else (John Penrose, Hot Ice), a man with money and status, which at the time he did not have. But it felt so good to have their marriage destroyed later on -- though, perhaps he should have destroyed her first so that she would not have come after him.

The main protagonist in Robert Hamer’s Kind Hearts and Coronets is fascinating to behold. He is elegant, polite, respectful, and well-spoken, a true gentleman any woman would love to be seen with. But he is also a cold-blooded serial killer who absolutely loves what he does.

Most of the time Hamer treats the gentleman as a great artist, which is what makes Kind Hearts and Coronets so irresistibly funny. As he quietly explains why and how certain things are done, one is forced to regard the killings as great works of art.

The bulk of the humor is very dry and very cold but feels most appropriate for the decadent society which the d'Ascoynes belong to. The manner in which the gentleman handles his relatives isn’t any different than the way they treat the underprivileged around them; only the pretexts they use to excuse their actions are slightly different.

The film has often been praised for Guinness’ remarkable stunts as he plays the eight d'Ascoynes Mazzini kills, and rightfully so, but it is Price’s performance that delights the most. His casual but disturbing narration and elegant mannerisms are absolutely superb.

Kind Hearts and Coronets Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.32:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Robert Hamer's Kind Hearts and Coronets arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

StudioCanal recently restored this classic film in 4K and released it on Blu-ray in the United Kingdom. (We have reviewed the Region-B release here). This new release was supposed to introduce the 4K restoration in the United States, but it is sourced from the previous 2K restoration of the film. (We have a review of the first Region-B release of the 2K restoration here).

So, even though quite a bit has changed since 2011 when the 2K restoration made its Blu-ray debut, I have not changed my opinion of its overall quality. I still think that it is a very nice presentation of the film. However, I would like to point out a couple of areas where the new 4K restoration that should have been on this disc delivers meaningful improvements. The first is density, which is not only better but also more consistent on the 4K restoration. You can compare screencaptures #3 and 5 with the corresponding screencaptures from our review of the newer Region-B release to get a general ideal what to expect from the 4K restoration. Also, on the 2K restoration some transitions a shakier, while on the 4K restoration it is easy to see that different stabilization enhancements have introduced noticeable improvements. Furthermore, on the 4K restoration grain stavility is better and grain exposure more consistent. Delineation is superior as well, but the grading on the 4K restoration actually minimizes many of the key improvements, especially in darker areas where black crush emerges and collapses some native nuances. This is the main weakness of the 4K restoration, though I am fairly certain that in native 4K its effects are not as significant as they appear in 1080p. Lastly, the 4K restoration is thoroughly cleaned up -- the work was likely done manually and with newer and superior digital tools -- so overall it looks healthier than the 2K restoration. This is basically it. I think that both restorations are very nice, but one is done on modern equipment and with superior elements. With a slightly more careful grading, particularly in darker areas, the new 4K restoration could have been the definitive presentation of the film. (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).

Kind Hearts and Coronets 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.

When I received the Region-B release of the 4K restoration I did some random tests to determine if there are any additional improvements because I had previously written that the audio on the 2K restoration is very strong. The one and only thing that I noticed is slightly better balance, with a few areas where the audio also sounded a tad 'ticker'. I don't know if the encoding might be responsible for the difference, but this is what I heard. The lossless track on this release, however, is very good.

Kind Hearts and Coronets Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Introduction - an archival introduction to Kind Hearts and Coronets by John Landis. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Dennis Price: Those British Faces - a wonderful tribute to the great Dennis Price. The documentary contains plenty of clips from many of the actor's best films. In English, not subtitled. (26 min, 1080p).

• Interview with Cinematographer Douglas Slocombe - in this archival audio interview, cinematographer Douglas Slocombe recalls his collaboration with Robert Hamer on Kind Hearts and Coronets. Also, there are some interesting observations about the nature of the humor that emerges from its story. The interview was conducted by Sidney Cole in 1998. In English, not subtitled. (29 min, 1080p).

• Alternate U.S. Ending - a slightly longer but less effective ending. In English, with optional German subtitles. (3 min, 1080p).

• Commentary - an exclusive new audio commentary by critic Kat Ellinger.

• Trailer - a vintage trailer for Kind Hearts and Coronets. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Additional Trailers - additional trailers for the following releases from Kino Lorber's catalog:
  
  1. The Lavender Hill Mob
  2. The Man in the White Suit
  3. The Captain's Paradise

Kind Hearts and Coronets Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you look around you will realize that there are a lot of different opinions on the qualities that define classic British humor and the films that best represent them. 'Classic' is a term that is largely irrelevant to me, so I will just say that I find British humor most effective when it is witty and gently subversive, if the occasion justifies it unabashedly naughty as well. All of these qualities are on full display in Kind Hearts and Coronets, which is precisely the reason why I consider it one of the best of its kind.

Kino Lorber's release was supposed to introduce StudioCanal's recent 4K restoration of the film in the United States, but it is actually sourced from an earlier 2K restoration. (This older restoration was released on Blu-ray in the United Kingdom in 2011). I like the 2K restoration quite a lot, but I can't recommend this release because it does not offer what it was supposed to. I don't like speculating, but I am fairly certain that the 4K restoration will reach U.S. shores, and again via Kino Lorber.