8 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
In the early twentieth century, young Louis Mazzini vows to take revenge on his family, the D'Ascoynes, when he learns how they disinherited his mother. Working his way into their trust, Louis begins to bump off his distant relatives one by one, but complications set in when Edith D'Ascoyne, the widow of his first victim, falls in love with him.
Starring: Dennis Price (I), Valerie Hobson, Joan Greenwood, Alec Guinness, Audrey FildesDark humor | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.32:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
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
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).
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.
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.
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