Man's Castle Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		4.0

Man's Castle Blu-ray Movie Review

"Gosh, even birds can't fly all the time. They get tired and have to come home."

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown June 3, 2024

Even from our lofty 21st century cinematic vantage point, it's difficult to imagine how a ninety-year-old film like Man's Castle played to audiences in 1933. A movie about the Great Depression released in the midst of the Depression must've frayed its share of nerves and sensibilities, to say nothing of the fact that director Frank Borzage was actively pushing against artistic boundaries that, at the time, were considered untouchable. How did audiences feel watching Man's Castle? It was a box office bomb, and then some. How did they describe it to friends and neighbors? Could they feel it was as ahead-of-its-time as it is now in retrospect? How did they respond to its moral quandaries and seemingly immoral flights of fancy? Most of that, unfortunately, is left to our imaginations and analysis. However, we have the best opportunity in decades to consider such questions -- along with how much of a masterpiece or classic it was or is -- now that Sony has restored the film to a state as close as possible to its premiere cut, which was heavily censored upon re-released in 1938.

"You never know how a day's gonna feel."

Spencer Tracy stars as Central Park shantytown hustler Bill, a world-weary Borzagian free spirit, during the lowest point of social and economic hardship in the Great Depression. He makes a living taking odd jobs and sometimes survives on personal charm alone. Until, that is, he one day has a chance, perhaps star-crossed encounter with a sweet, naive woman named Trina (Loretta Young) who introduces him to a new and strangely dangerous sense of responsibility. The new version of Man's Castle also heightens Tracy’s internal conflict with the restoration of key scenes that expand his relationship with showgirl Fay La Rue (Glenda Farrell), whose, um, "easy-going" nature represents a sensual alternative (and for the '30s, erotic) to Young’s more angelic appeal. Directed by Frank Borzage (7th Heaven, Bad Girl, Lazybones), the film also stars Marjorie Rambeau, Walter Connolly, Arthur Hohl and then-child actor Dickie Moore.

Heavily censored and re-released in the late '30s in an effort to cash in on Tracy's back-to-back Oscar wins, much of Man's Castle had been thought to be lost to time. A major subplot with Farrell's showgirl? Out. Entire scenes? Deleted to appease the moral majority (as well as the guidelines of the Production Code Administration). A wedding sequence? Moved from the film's seventh reel all the way forward to its first, a devastating decision that was done only to make Tracy and Young's relationship more morally acceptable when, later, they end up bunking together in a shantytown shack. The cuts not only changed the film dramatically and substantially, each change was made without Borzage's approval or involvement, and for reasons that had absolutely nothing to do with preserving the integrity of the themes, characters and explorations of Depression life that the filmmaker first set out to deliver. Man's Castle was -- no exaggeration -- viciously butchered beyond recognition.

Does its restoration reveal a true masterpiece? Yes and no. For 1933, Man's Castle is quite engaging and far more advanced in its flourishes than I expected. But ninety years beyond its place in history, it doesn't quite play with the impact I imagine it might have had it been properly cared for over the decades. Tracy offers up a fine performance, but it's Young who comes across as the real star of the picture. She can't quite reign in the film's more disparate elements (the comedy especially). Then again, it isn't her job and hardly her focus. Her Trina offers Bill another path, a true love in waiting, and challenges his views of, well, everything. Life and love are handled with ease and, with Farrell's restored scenes, love is not a many splendored thing. Turns out it's pretty complicated, even in '33. The tug of war for Bill's heart -- even his soul -- is the thrust of the film, and on that, with the help of Young's demure presence and endearing performance, that Man's Castle builds its foundation. The end result is something not quite masterpiece but decidedly classic, and one that deserves to be rediscovered today.

Man's Castle Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Long available only in a heavily censored, post-Code reissue version of the film, Frank Borzage's Man's Castle has now been restored to its original length and structure, adding new dimensions to an already classic film."

Sony's 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer may disappoint those without properly calibrated expectations, but those who understand the limitations of the era and the aesthetics of early cinema will be delighted with what they see. Though often lessened by an ethereal haze and glow, detail has been restored magnificently, grain is intact and filmic, and Man's Castle looks precisely how I assume it looked in 1933. But even that isn't quite accurate, because contrast, black levels and visual fidelity are dialed in so perfectly that Depression-era projectionists would be jealous of the result. Grays boast smooth gradients free of banding, shadows are striking and delineated nicely, and bright whites are crisp and lively. You also won't encounter much in the way of print damage, specks or scratches, or wear-n-tear. The 4K restoration has lovingly removed almost all of it, without sacrificing texture refinement or utilizing detail-dampening noise reduction. It's what fans have been hoping for and certainly what anyone with appropriate expectations will enjoy.

Man's Castle Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Sony's DTS-HD Master Audio mix also honors the original film and plays just as you imagine it sounding in 1933. And yet there's clearly been a lot of investment in cleaning up the source without impinging fidelity. Dialogue is intelligible and neatly prioritized (though some presumably unavoidable leveling inconsistencies do creep in from time to time), sound effects are clear (while retaining the patented "canned" tone of early mixing elements), and music has the pinched-stage-performance bounce and blare of 1930s scores. All is as it should be, with little to complain about... again, if your expectations are where they belong.

Man's Castle Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Blu-ray release of Man's Island is strange. Though issued by Sony, it doesn't even have a main menu. Toss the disc in, the movie immediately starts. Press the "Top Menu" button and the movie simply restarts. Add to that a complete lack of special features and this is truly a film released with next to zero context or comprehensive information.

Man's Castle Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Man's Castle isn't going to woo any early-cinema skeptics. However, those with an appreciation for classic films and the early stages of growth in moving pictures will find plenty to love here, particularly in regards to Young's scene-stealing performance. Sony's Blu-ray release is also excellent, though I really, really wish it offered some special features. Even a menu would've been nice. Ah well. With a restoration and video transfer this terrific and a solid DTS-HD Master Audio mix, the disc has what you need in spades. Recommended.