Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

One Hundred Men and a Girl Blu-ray Movie Review

An ode to the dreamers of the world.

100 Men and a Girl is a charming comedy-drama with a good message for audiences. Executive produced by Charles R. Rogers (My Man Godfrey, Flying Hostess), the film is based on the idea by Hans Kraly. Exploring the importance of music, 100 Men and a Girl is an ode to dreamers with a great star performance by Deanna Durbin. Don't miss it.

Patricia Cardwell (Deanna Durbin) is a headstrong young woman who wishes to help out her struggling father through his personal troubles. Unemployed and widowed, John Cardwell (Adolphe Menjou) is not doing so well and can't seem to find work as a musician. Determined to get him some work as a musician again, Patricia seeks out the help of the conducter Leopold Stokowski (as himself) so that there can be a new orchestra featuring her father and 99 other unemployed musicians. Can Patricia succeed and bring music back in to the life of her father?

At the heart of the film is the performance by Deanna Durbin. The young actress carries herself well throughout the entire production. The star of the film, Durbin showcases her amazing acting chops and her distinctive charm. The performance is a great one that fans will want to see.

The heart is full of music.

The music composed by the duo of Charles Previn (It Started with Eve, Mad About Music) and Frank Skinner (Arabian Nights, The House of the Seven Gables) is another wonderful element. The music gives the film dramatic weight and heart. There is something magical about the orchestral music and the scenes showcasing the group of musicians in action. Awe-inspiring music.

The cinematography by Joseph A. Valentine (Shadow of a Doubt, Mad About Music) is quite beautiful. The visuals are gorgeous and enhance the power of the storytelling. This is a stunning black and white production. The cinematography highlight the orchestra performances in a fun and creative way.

The screenplay by Bruce Manning (The Amazing Mrs. Holiday, Guest Wife) , Charles Kenyon (The Petrified Forest, Strange Journey), and James Mulhauser (Love in a Bungalow, Love Letters of a Star) is full of hope. The storyline is one for the dreamers of the world. The script brings the story to life in a compelling way. The journey to the conclusion is a worthwhile one.

Directed by Henry Koster (It Started with Eve, Three Smart Girls), 100 Men and a Girl is a delightful classic comedy-drama with plenty of music. Koster did well to cast Deanna Durbin in the leading role. The film is heartwarming and entertaining. A worthwhile cinematic delight. Check it out.

One Hundred Men and a Girl Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino, 100 Men and a Girl is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.37:1 full frame. Throughout the presentation, the scan impressed with some superb detail: there is a lot of depth and clarity to the cinematography. This is a generally strong transfer (even though it is not a pristine one). There is little in the way of major print damage or wear – though some thin scratches are apparent on the print. There are also some brightness fluctuations and some minor instances of telecine wobble to report. Even so, the scan of 100 Men and a Girl is sufficient and is worth a look.

One Hundred Men and a Girl Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release features a DTS-HD Master Audio mono presentation. The audio is less impressive than the video but it is still a acceptable soundstage. The track does sound a bit thin in parts – aged, worn, and lacking in fine detail. Yet the track is also never too harsh or screechy sounding. It manages to reproduce the dialogue effectively and sounds acceptable given the age of the elements.

Optional English subtitles are provided.

One Hundred Men and a Girl Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by Film Historian Stephen Vagg

The Bride Wore Boots Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2:05)

One Hundred Men and a Girl Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Deanna Durbin is delightful in 100 Men and a Girl. The film is smart, entertaining, and moving. The entire production is impressive and the end result is a fantastic Hollywood classic. Fans of actress Deanna Durbin should make sure to see this underrated gem. Highly recommended.