Rating summary
| Movie |  | 4.0 |
| Video |  | 4.5 |
| Audio | | 4.5 |
| Extras |  | 3.0 |
| Overall | | 4.5 |
My Little Chickadee Blu-ray Movie Review
An outstanding 4K restoration of a Mae West classic.
Reviewed by Neil Lumbard August 21, 2021
My Little Chickadee is a classic western comedy produced by Lester Cowan (Ladies in Retirement, One Touch of Venus)
and Jack J. Gross (Riffraff, Roughshod). A classic with a knock-out performance by Mae West, My Little
Chickadee is a must-see production. My Little Chickadee is newly restored in 4K.
Flower Belle Lee (Mae West) is tossed in to a scandal when she comes in to contact with a masked man in her bedroom. After leaving
town and starting anew, Flower Belle Lee soon meets Cuthbert J. Twillie (W.C. Fields) and receives an unexpected marriage proposal. After becoming
newlyweds the pair go out on adventure – and Twillie even becomes a Sheriff (as well as a bartender at the “Last Gasp” saloon).
What unexpected adventures await for Flower Belle Lee?
The lead performance by Mae West was a delight from start to finish. The lead role was a perfect match for her unique personality and
charisma.
There is something magical about her and the way West commands the screen. My Little Chickadee is an
example of one of West's best roles and fans certainly won't want to miss the performance.
The production has a number of compelling elements: the art direction by Jack Otterson (First Love,
The Boys from Syracuse) is superb throughout. The design is fantastic and helps to bring the film to a crescendo. The stages and
production merits are fantastic here. As are the costumes by Vera West (Shadow of a Doubt, The Witness
Vanishes).
A star shines bright.
The music score composed by Frank Skinner (The House of the Seven Gables, Arabian Nights) is similarly impressive. The music
helps bring a nice layer of creativity to the production. The fun compositions add to the experience and makes My Little Chickadee more
charming.
The cinematography by Joseph A. Valentine (Shadow of a Doubt, Mad About Music) is another impressive component of the
production. The black-and-white cinematography shines. This is undeniably terrific cinematography. The nuanced and artistic photography shines
throughout.
The screenplay written by Mae West (She Done Him Wrong, I'm No Angel) and W.C. Fields (It's a Gift, The Bank
Dick) is
entertaining and full of rhythm. The script has a lot of fun with the concepts and the dialogue was well-written throughout. There is so much beauty in
the
screenplay and West brings the characters to life in a compelling way.
Directed by Edward F. Cline (The Haunted House, The Boat), My Little Chickadee entertains from start to finish. The
production is well-managed by Cline and he helps the production team assemble a unique and fantastic experience. Alongside editor Edward
Curtiss (Invisible Agent, Paris Calling), Cline makes sure the pace and rhythm of the film succeeds as well. My Little Chickadee
is good fun and audiences won't want to miss it.
My Little Chickadee Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, My Little Chickadee is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original
theatrical aspect ratio of 1.37:1 full frame. The release is stunning to behold and features a 4K restoration completed with the participation of
Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese. The picture-quality on My Little Chickadee is far-and-away the best from the wave of Mae West titles
arriving from Kino Lorber. Black levels are inky dark and the scan never struggles with print wear or deterioration. A nearly pristine print, My Little
Chickadee has likely never looked better than it does here.
My Little Chickadee Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The release is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio mono. The lossless audio track on the release is exceptionally crisp throughout the presentation.
Dialogue was clear throughout the presentation. A marvelous encode which preserves all the fine details of the soundtrack. There were no egregious
issues to report in regards to hiss, crackle, warps, pops, or clicks.
Optional English subtitles are provided.
My Little Chickadee Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
Audio Commentary by Film Historians Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson
My Little Chickadee Theatrical Trailer (SD, 1:36)
The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from Kino Lorber: Night After Night (SD, 2:39),
I'm No Angel (SD, 1:58), Belle of the Nineties (HD, 1:54), Goin' to Town (SD, 1:42), and Every Day's a Holiday (HD,
2:27).
My Little Chickadee Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
My Little Chickadee is one of the best Mae West films. The storytelling is fun and full of charm from beginning to end. The production
merits are exceptional throughout. Universal has restored the film: presenting a new 4K restoration which was completed with the participation
of Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese. Fans of Mae West won't want to miss this classic gem. Highly recommended.
