Operation Petticoat Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		3.5

Operation Petticoat Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov December 11, 2017

Blake Edwards' "Operation Petticoat" (1959) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of independent distributors Olive Films. The supplemental features on the disc include an exclusive new audio commentary by film critic Adrian Martin; new video interviews with Jennifer Edwards and Lesley Ann Warren; new video program with author Marc Eliot; archival footage; and more. The release also arrives with an illustrated booklet featuring an essay by critic Chris Fujiwara. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Olive Films' new Signature Edition of Blake Edwards' Operation Petticoat is sourced from the same master that was used to prepare the first release of the film, but additional digital work has been done to optimize it as best as possible. For a complete analysis of the film, please see my colleague Jeff Kauffman's review of the first release.

Operation Petticoat Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Blake Edwards' Operation Petticoat arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Olive Films.

The source that was used to produce this release is the same master that the folks at Olive Films worked with when they prepared the first release of Operation Petticoat in 2014, but there is additional digital work that was done to optimize it as best as possible. The end result is very clearly superior and you do not have to project to see the difference, but because of source limitations the improvements are not as dramatic as those observed on the new release of Max Ophüls' Letter From an Unknown Woman. (This is hardly surprising, however, as Letter From an Unknown Woman was recently redone in 4K, while Operation Petticoat has only been remastered). So what are the types of improvements that you should expect to see? Basically, various digital enhancements were performed to optimize grain exposure, rebalance the color scheme, and improve shadow balance and nuances without affecting the integrity of the image. I also noticed contrast adjustments in select areas where on the previous release there are some noticeable spikes and/or drops that affect depth. The best results are typically during close-ups with proper lighting (see screencaptures #1 and 4). The limitations of the master, however, certainly show during larger panoramic shots where density is clearly not optimal (see screencaptures #3 and 16). Ideally the image should appear 'tighter' here, and delineation should be better as well. Additionally, while there are no traces of compromising degraining or sharpening adjustments grain exposure should be better, ensuring an overall stronger organic appearance. Again, this is a source limitation, suggesting that the current master likely comes from an interpositive of some sort or another second generation element. Also, I would like to quickly mention another important inherited limitation -- the sporadic density fluctuations that appear before or after select transitions, though these are the type of traditional fluctuations that for the most part would be retained even if a new 4K master was created (see examples in screencaptures #14 and 19). Color balance is good, but there is room for improvements in terms of saturation and stability. Some minor specks and scratches remain, but there are no large distracting cuts, stains, warped or torn frames to report. All in all, despite inherited source limitations the film has a good organic appearance and the current technical presentation is very clearly superior to the previous one from 2014. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content),

Operation Petticoat Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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

I am quite happy with the current audio track. The dialog remains clean and easy to follow throughout the entire film while the music never destabilizes the overall dynamic balance. It is possible that there is some room for meaningful improvements during the mass scenes, but my feeling is that the original sound design has the type of limitations that are present on the current track. A good example is the bombing sequence from around the 00.28.03 mark where the middle/high seem naturally flat. The important thing to point out is that there is no annoying background hiss, pops, audio dropouts, or distortions. My score is 4.75/5.00.

Operation Petticoat Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "That's What Everybody Says About Me" - in this brand new video interview, Jennifer Edwards, daughter of Blake Edwards, explains how the famous dierctor met and fell in love with her mother (actress Patricia Walker), and discusses his career and legacy as well as his ability to listen and 'hear' the people he loved and worked with. Actress Lesley Ann Warren also recalls her first encounter with the director and explains how she was cast to play Norma Cassady in Victor/Victoria and discusses his working methods. The interview was conducted exclusively for Olive Films in 2017. In English, not subtitled. (12 min, 1080p).

• "The Brave Crew of the Petticoat" - in this brand new video interview, actors Gavin MacLeod (Hunkle) and Marion Ross (Lt. Colfax) explain how they started their acting careers. Gavin Macleod also discusses in great detail his 'God-had-something-to-do-with' encounter with the dierctor that landed him his role in Operation Petticoat and how the film's success changed his career. Marion Ross also addresses the director's working methods and recalls her interactions with Tony Curtis, but admits that she does not recall how she was cast to be in Operation Petticoat. The interview was conducted exclusively for Olive Films in 2017. In English, not subtitled. (21 min, 1080p).

• "The Captain and His Double: Cary Grant's Struggle of the Self" - in this brand new video interview, Marc Eliot, author of Cary Grant: A Biography, discusses Cary Grant's rise to stardom in Hollywood and some of the interesting ways in which he managed his image, the deal that earned him his American citizenship, the various women in his life, his relationship with Randolph Scott, and Operation Petticoat. The interview was conducted exclusively for Olive Films in 2017. In English, not subtitled. (29 min, 1080p).

• Universal Newsreel - presented here is archival newsreel footage from Universal's vaults showing the opening of Operation Petticoat at the Radio City Music Hall. The newsreel was released the week of December 13, 1959. In English, not subtitled. (5 min, 1080p).

• Archival Footage of the Submarine U.S.S. Balao - presented here is archival footage of the submarine U.S.S. Balao (SS-285), the lead submarine of its class throughout World War II, which doubled as the U.S.S. Sea Tiger in Operation Petticoat. The footage was soured from a black-and-white fine-grain master, preserved in the National Archives, which was shot around Guam circa April 8, 1945, at the end of Balao's eight patrol. Without sound, with various text descriptions. (18 min, 1080p).

• Essay - presented here is Chris Fujiwara's essay "A Comedy of Demilitarization: Operation Petticoat". In text-format.

• Commentary - in this brand new audio commentary, critic Adrian Martin discusses in great detail the origin of Operation Petticoat and its production history, its image as a 'war comedy', its significance for the evolution of Blake Edward's career, the manner in which the film portrays and also manipulates reality, Cary Grant's career, some cultural cliches from the era that the film comes from and how they are reflected in it, etc. The commentary was recorded exclusively for Olive Films in 2017.

• Booklet - 6-page illustrated booklet featuring Chris Fujiwara's essay.

Operation Petticoat Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you have been anticipating this review there is a pretty good chance that you already own Olive Films' first release of Blake Edwards' Operation Petticoat and are wondering whether you should upgrade it with this new Signature Edition. Here's your answer: The release is sourced from the same master that was used to produce the previous release, but additional digital work has been done to optimize the technical presentation as best as possible. So, there are still inherited source limitations, but I can confirm that there are indeed meaningful improvements, and you don't have to have a large screen or projector to appreciate them. In other words, the technical presentation is certainly superior. Furthermore, the Signature Edition has an excellent selection of bonus features, including a truly illuminating new program with author Marc Eliot, as well as a rather predictably strong audio commentary by critic Adrian Martin. RECOMMENDED.