Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Not Wanted Blu-ray Movie Review

A first-rate directorial debut by the great Ida Lupino

An ahead of its time drama which is centered around an unplanned pregnancy, Not Wanted is the directorial debut (then uncredited) of the great Ida Lupino. The film is produced by Anson Bond (Unwed Mother, Journey Into Light) and Lupino. Though most of Hollywood would find such a controversial topic “not wanted” themselves, Lupino tackles it head-on and made the film with independent channels by co-founding The Filmakers. This Emerald Productions Inc. film was a groundbreaking effort for Lupino as she transitioned from actress to director.

Sally Kelton (Sally Forrest) is a beautiful, young, and somewhat befuddled woman struggling through her daily life and the many obstacles which come into play. She meets the charming musician Drew Baxter (Keefe Brasselle) and the two spark a romantic longing for one another that brings romance between the sheets. This leads to an unwanted and unplanned pregnancy.

As Not Wanted unfolds, the storyline becomes more complex in examining the impact on Sally and her world. The film knows that there are no easy answers. Given that the concept of unwed pregnancies was considered a taboo subject for much of Hollywood (and the overwhelming general public at the time of the film's production and release), Not Wanted pushed the envelope and helped to expand the conversation.

A remarkable debut

There are many impressive aspects of the filmmaking which are on display. One of the most beautiful components of the film is undoubtedly the haunting music score by Leith Stevens (The War of the Worlds, Destination Moon). The often brooding score helps to create an euphoric energy which channels the imagery into a captivating experience. It is accompanied by the vivid black-and-white visuals from cinematographer Henry Freulich (It Came from Beneath the Sea, Murder in Greenwich Village).

The screenplay by Paul Jarrico and Ida Lupino manages to both maneuver between the topic at hand and being a character-piece with relative ease. In other words, Not Wanted succeeds as both a dramatization on the subject and as a study of its characters with its own unique merits on display. Though the film was credited to director Elmer Clifton the production marks the directorial debut of actress Ida Lupino (Never Fear, Outrage). Lupino proves her directorial chops are superb. From the scope and visual finesse of the birthing scene to the noir-like tone of the film's conclusion, the work clearly marks the development of a great director. Not Wanted is exactly the opposite of what it's title seems to suggest: audiences definitely “want it” (very much so). Pun intended.

Not Wanted Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Not Wanted arrives on Blu-ray from distributor Kino Lorber with a brand new 4K restoration. The film features a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation. It is presented in the original 1.37:1 full frame aspect ratio. The good news is that there are obvious improvements in the film's presentation due to the impressive 4K scan source. The level of detail gained is impressive. The black and white cinematography shines at many moments throughout the scan and leaves viewers with a favorable impression. Unfortunately, the video-transfer is not consistently strong with regards to achieving a perfect presentation and there are some issues.

Despite the improvements that are found in the image because of the 4K restoration, it feels as though even more effort could have been made on this edition. While this is a decent restoration it is not a flawless one. There are several scenes throughout the film in which there is a slight drop in quality (such as a slight change in picture clarity around the 37 minute mark). In these such moments the transfer becomes notably softer for a few seconds and it can be a minor distraction.

There are also moments of slight print wear (such as occasional black blemishes) and thin scratches on the print. At the 1 Hr. and 3 min. mark, several dark scratches along the image impact the print. It's distracting, disappointing, and worth noting. In the end, Not Wanted looks generally pleasant with its 4K scan. It could have looked even better but what was done should prove satisfactory to most.

Not Wanted Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The mono audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio. This is a generally pleasant track with clear vocal reproduction. Dialogue is easy to understand. While the limited fidelity of the audio is obvious, the overall clarity is still acceptable. Unfortunately, there are some moments throughout the film where there is distracting hiss and static (such as the 45 minute mark). Though the audio never sounds as if it is distorted, it does have some disappointing spots where the level of crispness is inconsistent. While not a perfect lossless audio track, it's inconsistent quality seems comparable to what is found on the video-presentation. Optional English subtitles are provided.

Not Wanted Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by Barbara Scharres, Director of programming at the Gene Siskel Film Center with Filmmmaker/Historian Greg Ford

The Wrong Rut (HD, 10:51) is an alternate-title given to Not Wanted when the film was re-released by exploitation film distribution channels in the 50's. This supplement is a short film which accompanied these theatrical screenings and which utilized footage from Not Wanted along with sex ed information. The film reel explores unwanted pregnancies and the female body.

The release also includes trailers for other releases from distributor Kino Lorber: Daisy Kenyon (SD, 2:45), Female on the Beach (SD, 2:24), I'll Be Seeing You (SD, 1:51), The Tarnished Angels (SD, 2:41), and Portrait of Jennie (SD, 1:43).

Not Wanted Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Not Wanted is a fascinating drama with impressive performances. The topic of unwanted and unplanned pregnancies is addressed in a thoughtful manner. The direction on display by the then-uncredited filmmaker Ida Lupino is superb. Even as a directorial debut it's obvious Lupino had a distinctive style and craftsmanship. The release features a 4K restoration. Fans of the film will want to see it in high definition. Recommended.