Nothing But the Best Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.5

Nothing But the Best Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 14, 2024

Clive Donner's "Nothing But the Best" (1964) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of StudioCanal. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new program with screenwriter Frederic Raphael; archival program with Clive Donner; and vintage trailer. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

Everything is up for grabs, even the very best.

Jimmy Brewster (Alan Bates) has better manners, but what comes out of his mouth are many of the same truths Alfie unloads. Both look straight into the camera too, fully aware that they are addressing a large audience ready to scrutinize everything they utter with surgical precision. Both have killer looks that can instantly disarm a lady and make her behave in several very inappropriate ways for a night, quite possibly even longer.

But Jimmy and Alfie see the way to the top, where they want to be, differently. Jimmy wants to perfect his game and become a brilliant chameleon capable of emerging a winner from any situation life throws at him, and for this very reason, he is willing to take lessons from anyone who is already ahead of him. Alfie is willing to take lessons too, but the only teacher he recognizes is Alfie, the constantly improving womanizer and brutal cynic. It is why Jimmy and Alfie are similar yet very, very different players.

Fate acknowledges Jimmy’s willingness to improve and introduces him to veteran con artist Charlie Prince (Denholm Elliott), who needs a partner for a bank scheme designed to support his lifestyle. They connect, become roommates, and shortly after begin helping each other -- Jimmy repeatedly tricks the bank officials on Charlie’s behalf and Charlie teaches him how to be a virtuoso scammer but be seen as a gentleman.

At the right time, the ambitious student kills the experienced teacher, stuffs his body in a giant suitcase, and begins his ascent to the top. His vastly improved game and newly acquired confidence easily impress Ann (Millicent Martin), the similarly ambitious daughter of his boss (Harry Andrews) at the real estate company where he is employed, and in a matter of days he inspires her to ditch her boyfriend, a clueless, strikingly pompous upper-class bachelor, who works with the same clients he does. However, as the all-important doors on the way to the top easily begin to open and Jimmy and Ann start planning their wedding, the giant suitcase with the teacher’s body reappears.

Clive Donner directed Nothing But the Best two years before Lewis Gilbert did Alfie. These films not only have similar messages, but they share a couple of big stars too. (Martin and Elliott have major parts in both). However, Nothing But the Best packages and dispatches its truths with a lot of wonderfully witty humor, while Alfie sprinkles some of its truths with humor but delivers them with blistering cynicism. Unsurprisingly, they connect with their audience in drastically different ways.

Their male stars could not be any more different as well. Indeed, despite juggling various personalities, Bates effectively plays a gentleman who blends in and skillfully outmaneuvers his opponents in the great class game where society picks its winners and losers. Understandably, his truths about what it takes to be a winner are very pragmatic. Michael Caine’s monologues and truths target a lot more -- from the insecurities of the two sexes to the socio-cultural norms they have established to the politics behind the supply-and-demand process making his character’s existence possible. Caine is not a gentleman and does not pretend to be one. He is an unlikable cynic but an intriguing thinker.

Unsurprisingly, Nothing But the Best is a much easier to digest and enjoy film. Even though it lacks similarly striking visuals, it looks like a close relative of Rene Clement’s Purple Noon, which chronicles the deeds of another very ambitious chameleon determined to reach the top where the winners enjoy life in a seemingly impeccable style.

Donner's director of photography was Nic Roeg, who less than a decade later will begin directing and deliver such renowned films as Walkabout and Don't Look Now.

Peter Bogdanovich has stated that he became a fan of Elliott after watching him play the con artist in Nothing But the Best. Bogdanovich's comments can be heard in an archival audio commentary recorded for Saint Jack.

Nothing But the Best Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Nothing But the Best arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of StudioCanal.

It is very easy to tell that Nothing But the Best has been recently restored -- this year it celebrates its 60th anniversary -- because it looks stunning in high-definition. To be honest, I thought that all aspects of its presentation were as convincing as they could have been. For example, delineation, clarity, and depth are either excellent or of what I consider to be 'reference quality'. Grain exposure is very even and always very attractive. Color reproduction is fantastic, too. All primaries are exceptionally healthy and wonderful balanced, while the supporting nuances are pitch-perfect. Image stability is outstanding. The entire film looks spotless as well. Incredible restoration and presentation of the film. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Nothing But the Best Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

It is just as easy to tell that the audio has been fully remastered. All exchanges are crystal clear, sharp, and very stable. There isn't even a whiff of instability, thinning, or dynamic unevenness. I actually found this a bit surprising because this year Nothing But the Best celebrates its 60th anniversary and the majority of films from the same era tend to reveal some tiny age-related imperfections. While viewing Nothing But the Best, I did not detect any, not even minor dynamic fluctuations.

Nothing But the Best Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage trailer for Nothing But the Best. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• The Best of Everything - in this exclusive new program, screenwriter Frederic Raphael explains how the idea for Nothing But the Best, how he became involved with the project, and what it was like to work with Clive Donner. Also, there are some quite interesting comments about the casting choices. Apparently, Raphael recommended that Millicent Martin is cast to play Ann. In English, not subtitled. (17 min).

• Interview with Clive Donner - in this archival program, Clive Donner discusses the conception of a couple of different projects and their characters and themes. In English, not subtitled. (29 min).

Nothing But the Best Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Why wasn't Nothing But the Best as successful at the box office as Alfie? It tells truths but is careful not to offend, plus it targets only the hypocrisy of the privileged ones. Alfie carries a bigger stick and does not discriminate, so it strikes targets on both ends of the social ladder and produces greater truths. Nevertheless, I think that Alan Bates and Michael Caine give equally impressive performances, so it is great to have these films, both true British classics, available on Blu-ray. If you decide to pick up Nothing But the Best for your library, please keep in mind that it is Region-B "locked". VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.