Love Among the Ruins Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Love Among the Ruins Blu-ray Movie Review

A made-for-television gem from director George Cukor (My Fair Lady)

A charming romantic-drama, Love Among the Ruins is a surprisingly entertaining made-for-television feature-film. The ABC production aired in 1975 and is noteworthy for its exceptional performance by lead actress, Katharine Hepburn. Produced by Allan Davis (shifting from his usual role in the director's chair), the film marks an interesting footnote in the career of Hepburn.

Jessica Medlicott (Katharine Hepburn) is tossed into unexpected drama when a former suitor of hers accuses her of romancing her strictly for money: in so many words, Medlicott is outright accused of being a “gold-digger” who wanted nothing more than extended fame and fortune. Attempting to rid herself of a gold-caressing image and to overcome the false accusations, Jessica enlists the help of the gentleman barrister Sir Arthur Glanville-Jones (Laurence Olivier) to help defeat the lawsuit against her and rectify the situation. What Jessica didn't expect was for Sir Arthur to be a lover from long ago, who still harbors feelings for her after all the years apart. Will fate bring Jessica and Sir Arthur together once more?

The production is surprisingly vital and compelling for a made-for-television film. Though many films of the era were produced with television in mind (when star-studded movie-of-the-week airings were much more common in a pre-streaming age – our modern “made for TV” films), the output wasn't necessarily consistent: Love Among the Ruins proves to be a quality effort and one which capably withstood the test of time. The production design feels more well-polished and assembled than a smaller budget TV film usually showcases: though the staging is often play-like and less cinematic, there is a clear consideration given to the craftsmanship on display throughout the film. Sets look true to the era of the story and are convincing.

The costumes are one of the greatest strengths of the filmmaking. Indeed, costume designer Margaret Furse (Anne of the Thousand Days, In Search of the Castaways) and Germinal Rangel (Hot Millions, The Darjeeling Limited) crafted some impeccable costumes for her two leads: both Katharine Hepburn and Laurence Olivier are more successful in their respective parts with attire that fits the sensibilities of these characters. The efforts of Furse pay off and the filmmaking is more effective as a result.

"Gold? I prefer silver."

The music score composed by John Barry (Diamonds Are Forever, On Her Majesty's Secret Service) is another strength of the film. Barry is a great Hollywood composer with a long history of fun scores. A subtle and dramatic score, Barry embarked in territory that was a bit different from his James Bond compositions but that fits the drama of Love Among the Ruins with relative ease. There is a clear appreciation from the composer for the story and the performances. The music brings some extra emotional depth to the core of the story.

The cinematography by Douglas Slocombe (The Lion in Winter, Raiders of the Lost Ark) is another home-run and far exceeds expectations for a television production. Though the film is far different from something like Raiders of the Lost Ark, the style of Slocombe's cinematography can be felt. Nuanced, effective, and displaying a unique visual approach to storytelling, Love Among the Ruins manages to look and feel like any theatrical-run film of the 70's.

One area in which the film could have used a bit more polish (but was still effective for the most part) is the screenplay by James Costigan (The United States Steel Hour, Eleanor and Franklin). Dialogue sometimes feels unnatural and the storyline is a bit paper-thin. If it were not for some of the other exceptional production elements (and a stirring performance by Katharine Hepburn), one could actually see this being a far-less successful television outing. The script is far from a classic but the characters are engaging despite the one-two step of the story.

George Cukor (The Philadelphia Story, My Fair Lady) is arguably the star of the show. What a fun surprise it is to have this television film unearthed in high-definition after so many years. Cukor is certainly a compelling filmmaker. Cukor's My Fair Lady remains one of the best musicals ever produced. The compelling Love Among the Ruins unites Cukor and Katharine Hepburn for an entertaining drama that exceeds the expectations of the television-movie format. There is a sense that this is an overlooked effort in Cukor's career. Fans of the filmmaker should make an effort to see it: the stamp of Cukor is resoundingly felt.

Love Among the Ruins Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from distributor Kino Lorber, Love Among the Ruins features a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in a 1.66:1 widescreen aspect ratio. Though the film was originally produced as a made-for-television feature and thereby aired in a 4:3 (full frame) ratio, the film was also clearly filmed with a wide-screen canvas in mind for international theatrical distribution (a trend with certain television films of the time-period). Kino has opted to use the full image from the original master rather than a standard 4:3 framing. The presentation is derived from a new 2K scan and the quality of the source-material is outstanding.

The level of detail and clarity in the presentation is so phenomenal that it makes the film feel every-bit as compelling as a theatrical release from the time period. Love Among the Ruins is well-produced and the high-definition scan preserves the details throughout the image with aplomb. The print is naturally filmic looking and the image is consistently stable throughout. Though colors might be a little more muted than a vibrant, modern production might merit, the scan appears pleasant and naturalistic. The transfer is free from egregious dirt, debris, and other distracting print damage.

Love Among the Ruins Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented with a DTS-HD Master Audio mono audio track. The clarity of the track is surprisingly pleasing for a made-for-television film. Though the fidelity is a bit limited (as one may expect given the production time-period), the dialogue clarity is exceptional. The audio seems crisp, clear, and easy to enjoy. The music is similarly well rendered on the lossless track. Though this is far from being a showy sound design, the mono audio fits the film like a glove.

Optional English subtitles are provided.

Love Among the Ruins Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary featuring film historian Stephen Vagg

The release also includes trailers for the following releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: The Lion in Winter (SD, 3:18), A Delicate Balance (SD, 3:23), Grace Quigley (SD, 1:49), The Devil's Disciple (SD, 2:57), and Three Sisters (SD, 2:42).

Love Among the Ruins Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Love Among the Ruins is a better-than-average made for television movie which has far more vitality than one might expect to find at the start. The film unites A-list director George Cukor (My Fair Lady) with A-list star Katharine Hepburn (The African Queen) and the results will leave a lasting impression. The production design is superb, the costumes are effective, and the lead performance is compelling. Though its no longer a movie-of-the-week, viewers might want to consider tuning in to this terrific Blu-ray presentation on a quiet Saturday night. Make some popcorn, dim the lights, and get cozy. Recommended.