Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

One from the Heart 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman May 14, 2024

It may not exactly rise to the levels (?) seen on the old chestnut Unsolved Mysteries, but when Lionsgate released a Francis Ford Coppola: 5-Film Collection many years ago, it contained the first 1080 release of One from the Heart which had some of the wonkiest (a technical term) video I've personally encountered, as I cite in my One from the Heart Blu-ray review. Things were so strange looking I reached out to a rather wide gamut of people, including some folks at American Zoetrope, with the result being general consternation but despite some early promises no ultimate explanation as to what happened. While I may therefore still be stumbling around in the dark vis a vis the anomalies seen on that release, the really important news is that the powers that be (whether Coppola, Lionsgate, or some combination thereof) have fixed things for this new release, which also offers the potential allure of two cuts of the film, the original 1982 theatrical version (on 1080 disc) and a slightly different "reprise" version (on the 4K UHD disc).

For my thoughts on the original theatrical version of the film, please head over to my old One from the Heart Blu-ray review. It's a bit confounding in terms of the verbiage about the negative on the back of this release as well as various running times on both releases of the film, to wit: the original 1080 ran 1:38:54, while the "1982" version on the 1080 disc here runs 1:43:07 and the Reprise cut on the 4K UHD disc runs 1:33:39, which makes the back cover's assertion that "six minutes of footage have been added to replace the original negative, previously thought to be destroyed", at least a bit confusing and which arguably frankly makes no sense whatsoever no matter which way you slice it, at least contextually where this "addition" of footage seems to refer to the Reprise version. Were new negative elements discovered? Why would the original negative be replaced for a transfer? Also, if six minutes have been added, why is the Reprise cut the shortest of the three released thus far? I'll assume when American Zoetrope gets back to me about the weirdnesses on the first 1080 release, they'll also clarify this conundrum (and, yes, that's a joke, folks). There are definitely different edits on tap, and some occasionally head scratching variances. For example, the brief establishing shot seen in screenshot 1 of my original 1080 review is nowhere to be seen (that I could find, despite repeated re-viewings) in the "1982" cut, but shows up at circa 1:05:00 in the Reprise cut.

One from the Heart 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

One From the Heart is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Lionsgate Films and American Zoetrope with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 1.37:1. The 1080 disc in this package offers the film in an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.37:1. The good news here is the bizarre scrim like crosshatched anomaly that afflicted the old 1080 release is gone (or nearly gone, read on) in both versions (and for anyone who thinks I needed to have my eyes adjusted vis a vis that old review, I'd simply pointed them to the "black dots" section of the restoration demonstration offered on the 4K UHD disc in this package, where the anomaly I tried, probably ineffectively, to describe in my old 1080 review is more than obvious). The film is awash in old school opticals, especially as it gets more and more convoluted in its third act, and as a result grain can be quite heavy at times, to the point that this is yet another dual 4K UHD / 1080 release where I wouldn't be surprised to hear some may actually prefer the 1080 version since that resolution may not highlight just how thick (and at times, splotchy) the grain can be. On the plus side, the 4K UHD's HDR / Dolby Vision adds some incredible luster to Coppola's absolutely psychedelic array of lighting and grading choices. Tones on both the cool and warm end of the spectrum have some noticeably added vigor in the 4K iteration when compared to an already excellent 1080 rendering, with blues and greens especially gorgeous. The 4K version struck me as just a tad cooler than the 1080 version, though in that regard, this 1080 version struck me as a bit warmer looking than the older 1080 version, so it may all "even out" in the long run. Detail levels in the 4K version are at least somewhat improved, but the glut of optical compositing may slightly diminish fine detail levels at times. There are some very minor blemishes that have made it through the restoration gauntlet and which can be observed in both resolutions. The crosshatching anomaly can almost be spotted at the very edges of the frame during the scene with Garr and Julia at the piano that is resplendently yellow, but it's an ephemeral perception at worst and certainly nothing like was seen on the first 1080 release.

One from the Heart 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

One From the Heart offers either DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 or LPCM 2.0 tracks, though unless they hid it extremely well, no isolated score track as was offered on the original 1080 disc. The surround track sounds beautifully full bodied and fluid, albeit with a somewhat narrower sound field than might be expected from a supposedly "flashy" musical. Tom Waits' (somewhat hilariously for you orthographers, some of the supplements of have the possessive form of his name listed as Wait's) score fills up the surrounds quite nicely, and his duets with Crystal Gayle are decently separated. Some of the crowd scenes, as in the big Las Vegas strip sequence, also feature good immersion, but the bulk of this film is really quieter dialogue segments and therefore doesn't provide a lot of "wow" factor, sonically speaking. Dynamic range is appealingly wide. Optional English subtitles are available.

One from the Heart 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K UHD Disc) (Reprise Cut) (1:33:39)

• Francis Ford Coppola Feature Commentary


• The Look of One From the Heart (HD; 17:22) centers on cinematography and production design.


• The Cast of One From the Heart (HD; 21:46) looks at the eclectic group of performers in the film.


• The Choreography of One From the Heart (HD; 24:51) focuses on Kenny Ortega's contributions, but starts with Gene Kelly!


• Reinventing the Musical: Baz Luhrman on One From the Heart (HD; 25:04) is an interesting assessment from a man who should know about reinventing the musical.


• One From the Heart: Reprise Restoration Comparison (HD; 3:54) offers split screen looks at the 2003 and 2023 restorations. If you look at the "black dot" section with Garr and Kazan, you will clearly be able to see the almost scrim like overlay that afflicted the first 1080 release, now offered in exciting 2160!


• 2024 Trailer (HD; 1:01)

1080 Disc (1982 Cut) (1:43:07) features the supplements from the first 1080 disc, with some different timings and a few additions:

• The Making of One From the Heart (HD; 23:21)


• The Dream Studio (HD; 28:24)


• The Electronic Cinema (HD; 9:34)


• Tom Waits and the Music of One From the Heart (HD; 13:28)


• Deleted Scenes (HD; 34:11) features some scenes not offered on the older Blu-ray release (along with previously released deleted material).


• Videotaped Rehearsals (HD; 8:57)


• Francis Ford Coppola Speaks to Exhibitors (HD; 1:30)


• Press Conference at the Studio (HD; 7:31)


• This One's From the Heart Music Video (HD; 4:09)


• Stop Motion Demo (HD; 3:26)


• The Tom Waits Score - Alternate Tracks (HD; 24:23) are audio supplements.


• 2003 Theatrical Trailer (HD; 2:09)


• 1982 Theatrical Trailer (HD; 3:03)

One from the Heart 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you've ever contributed feedback on an item you may have purchased from an online retailer, you may have gotten one of those "have you ever wondered if your reviews are getting noticed?" emails. My first One From the Heart review got an avalanche of responses at the time, and as I joked above, dangled a mystery that was never solved to my personal knowledge, other than to say whatever went wrong the first time has thankfully been remedied here. The running times of the releases still is a bit of a head scratcher, but otherwise, both the 4K and 1080 versions offered here sport solid technical merits, and the supplementary package on both discs in outstanding. With caveats for a somewhat uneven film noted (per my original review), Recommended.