Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House Blu-ray Movie Review

The Original Money Pit.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III May 26, 2021

Based on Eric Hodgins' novel of the same name, H. C. Potter's Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House will still ring true for anyone familiar with the wonderful world of home improvement. But this isn't a DIY situation: affable advertising executive Jim Blandings (Cary Grant), together with his wife Muriel (Myrna Loy) and two daughters, Betsy and Joan (Connie Marshall and Sharyn Moffett), are in the market for a house in the country. Described as a middle-class family, the Blandings make due on Jim's $15,000 salary (that's over $160,000 in today's dollars -- how times have changed) and have enough saved to finally escape their cramped New York City apartment. After settling on a roomy fixer-upper in suburban Connecticut, Jim and Muriel are told that they're better off just bulldozing the whole thing and starting over from scratch. That's where the real fun begins: soon enough, Mr. Blandings is nickel-and-dimed to death by an endless sea of contractors and estimates, all of which turn the family's dream house into a never-ending nightmare.

It's an enjoyable enough comedy, thanks in no small part to the great lead performances by Grant and Loy; the former had already established his "put-upon dad" routine and would return to it often during the next two decades, while the latter polished "perfect wife" to a shine with an steady supply of Thin Man movies. They play off one another superbly during what would be their final on-screen pairing after Wings in the Dark and the previous year's The Bachelor and the Bobbysoxer. Both have very different ideas about their ideal home and can't quite meet in the middle, but aren't about to end their marriage over it. A little bit more (slightly unnecessary) drama in that department is generated by long-time family friend William "Bill" Cole (Melvyn Douglas, Being There); though a few sitcom-grade mix-ups increase the possibility of nasty lovers' quarrels, the drama thankfully never escalates beyond slightly raised voices.

Not surprisingly, then, most of Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House maintains a similarly light touch. Although the first reel spins its wheels a bit -- we get it, the apartment is small -- it mostly breezes by during its modest 94-minute running time and coasts on the considerable strength of its lightweight, accessible story and almost absurdly likable performances, which extend further down the poster to supporting players such as Reginald Denny (Rebecca), Jason Robards Sr. (The Heart of Maryland), and Louise Beavers (Imitation of Life). And while more walls get built than broken during Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, none are as thoroughly obliterated as the fourth wall during its winking coda, which puts a nice stamp on what amounts to be a cheeky but warm-hearted family comedy. Of course, the fun wouldn't stop there: Cary Grant paired with his real-life wife Betsy Drake for the radio show Mr. and Mrs. Blandings, which ran briefly during the early 1950s. More than a dozen episodes are readily available for listening here.

For now, this original adaptation still holds up well enough and Warner Archive's striking Blu-ray presentation is far and away the best way to (re)discover the show. Featuring a top-tier 1080p transfer sourced from a recent 4K scan of the original camera negative, not to mention lossless audio and a few interesting bonus features, it's a great throwback choice for family movie night -- or even a pretty solid double feature with Warner Archives' Room for One More which, like Mr. and Mrs. Blandings, also features Grant and Drake as a playful, persnickety husband and wife duo.

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Advertised as a new 4K scan of the original camera negative, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House shows all the hallmarks of another top-tier catalog title remaster by Warner Archive. Image detail and overall density are simply fantastic, with patterned suits and background details looking especially crisp and well-defined with absolutely no traces of edge enhancement or artificial sharpening. These elements are bolstered nicely by a fine layer of natural grain which, considering the likelihood of its source material being nitrate film, is quite substantial at times but never intrusive. Shadow details and overall black levels are also nice and deep with no apparent crush, while only the brightest whites occasionally show signs of blooming -- but this is likely a source material issue and nothing more. Actual complaints here are almost nil; as usual, it's a very well-rendered, stable, and exceedingly clean picture that will delight die-hard fans and purists alike, and one that's well-authored and runs at a very high bit rate from start to finish.

As usual, Warner Archive has uploaded a few YouTube videos showing off their new transfer; these include the full four and a half-minute opening sequence and the Blandings' first attempt at being amateur architects.

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Similarly, the DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix stays true to the film's one-channel roots and represents the best available version of its source material. Dialogue and background noise, as well as Leigh Harline's original score, sound suitably well-balanced with a respectable dynamic range. A few instances of age-related wear and tear can be heard in the form of very mild hiss and crackling, but it's largely kept under control; in fact, the wide majority of of Mr. Blandings sounds remarkably crisp with no such distractions. No drop-outs, pops, or sync issues were heard along the way.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during the main feature only -- not the extras, unfortunately.

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a standard keepcase with original one-sheet poster art and no inserts.

• House of Tomorrow - This vintage Tex Avery cartoon offers a tongue-in-cheek look at futuristic homes from a 1949 perspective. It fits the theme well enough -- and if you want more, it's one of four "Tomorrow" shorts included on Warner Archive's Tex Avery Screwball Classics, Volume 2, released late last year.

• Lux Radio Theater Broadcast (55:45) - Originally broadcast on October 10, 1949, this abridged adaptation of Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House features Cary Grant and Irene Dunne in the lead roles.

• Screen Director's Playhouse Broadcast (18:00) - Another radio adaptation of the main feature, this piece stars Cary Grant and Betsy Drake and first aired on July 1 of the same year. Sponsored by Pabst!

• Theatrical Re-Issue Trailer (1:36) - This vintage promotional piece can also be seen here.

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

H. C. Potter's Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House is a likable, lightweight comedy supported perfectly by great lead performances by Cary Grant and Myrna Loy... and the supporting cast ain't too bad, either. This is still familiar territory for modern homeowners, too: while the dollar values have obviously changed, anyone with their toes in the water of home building -- or even expansion -- should find something to relate to. As usual, Warner Archive's Blu-ray is basically flawless, especially its new 4K-sourced transfer. Flanked by lossless audio and a few light but appreciated extras, it's another solid package by one of the most reliable boutique labels in the business. Recommended.