6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Utilizing a "Rashomon" style series of flashback, various dancers offer differing points of view as they recall their relationship with the great hoofer, Barry Nichols.
Starring: Gene Kelly (I), Mitzi Gaynor, Kay Kendall (I), Taina Elg, Jacques BergeracMusical | 100% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
The 1957 musical Les Girls had a bevy of big names attached to it. It starred Gene Kelly, in what
would turn out to be his last MGM musical. It had songs by Cole Porter, in what would turn out
to be his last feature film project. It had a script by John Patrick, who had written the previous
year's MGM smash, High Society. And it had direction by George
Cukor, a veteran of The
Philadelphia Story and A Star Is Born
and a future Oscar winner for My Fair Lady.
Unfortunately for MGM, this storied assemblage did not produce another hit. Les Girls was
nominated for Oscars for sound, art direction and costume design, winning in the last category,
but it failed at the box office. In this instance, Oscar got it right, because the film is more notable
for technical polish than for engaging characters or an interesting story. It's a lesser light in
MGM's library, but Les Girls' memorable visuals can be newly appreciated in a fresh transfer
from the Warner Archive Collection.
Les Girls was photographed by three-time Oscar-winning cinematographer Robert Surtees,
whose extensive credits include Ben-Hur, Oklahama! and The Sting. The film was shot on the
version of Eastmancolor stock that has since proven to be subject to the problematic phenomenon
known as "yellow layer collapse", previously discussed in the review of Silk Stockings. Indeed,
after its struggles to obtain a viable image from the negative of Silk Stockings, the Warner
Archive Collection initially hesitated before attempting a new scan of Les Girls. However, a
thorough search of the archives turned up an interpositive that had been struck over thirty years
ago, before the full effects of yellow layer collapse degraded the camera negative. This IP had
apparently sat untouched since its creation. Upon close review, it was found to have far more
stable colors than the more recently created IP used for Les Girls' 2003 DVD.
The newly located IP was scanned at 2K by Warner's Motion Picture Imaging facility, then
color-corrected using Ektachrome production stills as a color reference, followed by WAC's
customarily thorough cleanup to eliminate dirt, scratches and age-related damage. The result on
this 1080p, AVC-encoded Blu-ray is an image that is impressively sharp and detailed, given the
limitations of the era's CinemaScope lenses, as well as smoothly film-like, with a grain field that
is observable but well-controlled. In its resolution and overall texture, Les Girls' 2K scan from
an IP compares favorably to Silk Stockings' 4K scan from negative, a testimonial to the
importance of choosing the right elements when bringing classic films to Blu-ray.
Then there's the color, which is alternately brilliant (notably in the staged production numbers
and, sporadically, in the actresses' off-stage outfits) and sedate (in courtroom sequences and
remembrances of behind-the-scenes romantic intrigue). Blacks are dark and solid, contrast is
excellent, and there isn't a sign of noise, interference or untoward digital manipulation. Optical
dissolves between scenes have been exceptionally well managed to maintain a consistent palette,
which is frequently a challenge with films of this vintage. As per its customary practice, WAC
has mastered Les Girls with a high average bitrate, here just under 35 Mbps.
The soundtrack of Les Girls was remixed for its 2003 DVD release, using the original musical recordings and dialogue and effects stems to create a 5.1 presentation. The original four-track magnetic master was used as a reference for balance and prioritization. The same 5.1 remix appears on the Blu-ray, but now encoded in lossless DTS-HD MA. The fidelity is remarkable, with smooth transitions between spoken and singing voices and a broad front sound stage with clear stereo separations in the rich orchestral presence. The surrounds are used primarily to expand the listening space. Cole Porter's songs were orchestrated by Skip Martin and none other than Alexander Courage, composer of the original Star Trek theme.
The extras have been ported over from Warner's 2003 DVD of Les Girls. The trailer has been
remastered in 1080p.
Now that WAC has done Les Girls, we can only hope that it proceeds with High Society, which
is a far superior Cole Porter musical in Warner's MGM library. My understanding is that there
are significant problems with that film's VistaVision elements, but WAC's and MPI's skills at
confronting the challenges of films from this era seem to be rapidly increasing. In the meantime,
Porter's fans (or Gene Kelly's or Mitzi Gaynor's) can enjoy Les Girls intermittent pleasures in
this splendid technical presentation.
1953
Warner Archive Collection
1957
1953
1945
1957
1982
Warner Archive Collection
1957
1949
Warner Archive Collection
1960
Warner Archive Collection
1955
Warner Archive Collection
1948
1995
1958
70th Anniversary Edition
1952
Limited Edition to 3000
1967
2016
Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
1944
Rockin' Rydell Edition
1978
1964
1951