Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Paper Moon 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 16, 2024

Peter Bogdanovich's "Paper Moon" (1973) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include an archival audio commentary by Peter Bogdanovich' short documentaries; new video essay by critic Peter Tonguette; archival program with production designer Polly Platt; vintage trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Swindlers

The Depression Era. When small-time swindler Moses Pray (Ryan O'Neal, Love Story) attends the funeral of a former mistress in Kansas, he is asked to escort her orphaned nine-year-old daughter, Addie (Tatum O'Neal, Circle of Two), to St. Joseph, Missouri, where her aunt lives. He reluctantly agrees, but before the two head to Missouri, Moses successfully blackmails the brother of the man who killed Addie’s mother.

On the way to St. Joseph, the little girl repeatedly demands that Moses gives her the blackmail money and when it becomes clear that he can’t because he has secretly spent most of it she becomes his partner -- he sells fake “deluxe” bibles to lonely widows while she collects the profits in her precious cigar box.

In a sleepy town in the middle of nowhere, Moses makes a mistake that nearly sends him to jail. He successfully cheats a naive businessman selling bootleg booze, but it turns out that his brother is the local police chief, who has been waiting for someone like Moses to bring some excitement in his life.

Later on, Moses makes a second mistake that seriously irritates his partner. This time he meets the busty exotic dancer Trixie Delight (Madeline Kahn, Blazing Saddles) and after she impairs his ability to think straight he invites her to join him and Addie. However, with the assistance of the dancer’s fifteen-year-old black maid, Imogene (P.J. Johnson), Addie manages to bring Moses back to his senses and they renew their journey.

Based on Joe David Brown’s novel “Addie Pray”, Peter Bogdanovich’s Paper Moon sees rural America very much like the films of two of his favorite directors, John Ford and Howard Hawks, did. The visuals are clinically framed to capture the identity of different locations, where life has a very specific rhythm and people are used to it. There is plenty of the poetic beauty that captures the imagination and inspires the mind as well.

The chemistry between the two leads is excellent. O'Neal and his nine-year-old daughter make it easy to forget that they register and understand the world around them very differently, and even easier to believe that their disagreements throughout the film are not scripted. Kahn is hilarious but does not end up ridiculing her overly naive character.

Bogdanovich and cinematographer László Kovács (Easy Rider) shot the majority of Paper Moon in Kansas and Missouri. The locations are perfectly chosen, as it appears that at the time little had changed there since the Great Depression.

Paper Moon does not have a traditional soundtrack, but Bogdanovich selected and used a number of classic tracks: “It's Only a Paper Moon” (performed by Paul Whiteman and Orchestra), “Until the Real Thing Comes Along” (performed by Leo Reisman and His Orchestra), “Flirtation Walk” (Performed by Dick Powell), “The Object of My Affection” (performed by Pinky Tomlin), and “Just One More Chance” (performed by Bing Crosby), amongst others.

In 1974, Paper Moon won Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. O'Neal, who won the Oscar at age ten, remains the youngest person ever to win a competitive Academy Award.

Paper Moon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Criterion's release of Paper Moon is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray disc is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray disc is Region-A "locked".

The following text appears inside the leaflet provided with this release:

"Paper Moon is presented in director Peter Bogdanovich's preferred aspect ratio of 1.66:1. This new 4K master was created from the 35mm original camera negative. A 35mm print provided by Paramount was used as a reference. The original monaural soundtrack was remastered from the 35mm magnetic track.

Mastering supervisor: Lee Kline, Giles Sherwood.
Colorist: Michel Hassidim/Resillion, New York.
Restoration:Resillion.
Audio restoration: The Criterion Collection."

Please note that some of the screencaptures that appear with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc.

Screencaptures #1-32 are from the Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #35-38 are from the 4K Blu-ray.

The combo pack introduces an exclusive new 4K makeover of Paper Moon. In native 4K, the 4K makeover can be viewed with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. I chose to view it with Dolby Vision. Also, I compared various parts of the 1080p presentation on the Blu-ray.

I have only one other release of Paper Moon in my library, which is this Region-B release that British label Eureka Entertainment produced in 2015. It is sourced from an older master supplied by Paramount Pictures. I did only a couple of quick comparisons with it because it was very easy to tell that the new 4K makeover was vastly superior. For example, in many areas there is simply more visual information, plus the entire film looks notably healthier now. Also, the density levels are superior and the grayscale better balanced. On the previous presentation, often times it is easy to see halo-like effects around edges, which is a common limitation on older masters. Many darker areas struggle to expose finer darker nuances, too. On the 4K makeover, all of these issues are eliminated and the same visuals look vastly superior. You can get an idea what type of improvements to expect if you compare this screencapture from the new 4K makeover and this screencapture from the previous presentation. How does the 4K makeover look with Dolby Vision? And how does it look in 1080p? I think that the Dolby Vision grades handles darker areas with diverse darker nuances and shadows very well. It does not flatten these areas. I did not see any areas with problematic crushing either. The outdoor footage that has plenty of natural light looks great, too. The 1080p presentation is equally impressive. However, I think that several sequences look slightly sharper and more attractive on the 4K presentation. Still, I think that both presentations are equally satisfying.

Paper Moon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The audio has been redone. On the previous presentation of Paper Moon, I could occasionally notice extremely light background hiss. On this release, I did not notice any, and I had the volume of my system turned up quite a bit. However, the dynamic intensity remains the same, which is hardly surprising considering that Paper Moon has a very modest soundtrack with prominent organic qualities.

Paper Moon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - in this archival audio commentary, Peter Bogdanovich discusses in great detail how various sequences in Paper Moon were shot, the specific locations that were chosen for them, how they were lensed and the help he received from Howard Hawks, what editing choices were made, etc. It is a very informative commentary that essentially deconstructs the entire film. The commentary was recorded in 2003.

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - in this archival audio commentary, Peter Bogdanovich discusses in great detail how various sequences in Paper Moon were shot, the specific locations that were chosen for them, how they were lensed and the help he received from Howard Hawks, what editing choices were made, etc. It is a very informative commentary that essentially deconstructs the entire film. The commentary was recorded in 2003.

• Introduction - this archival introduction was filmed by Peter Bogdanovich in 1989. It was initially included on Paramount's LD release of Paper Moon. In English, not subtitled. (9 min).

• "Keep Your Sunny Side Up": The Ballad of Addie and Moze - this new video essay by Peter Bogdanovich biographer Peter Tonguette explores the father-daughter-like relationship between the two stars of Paper Moon. The essay was produced in 2024. In English, not subtitled. (26 min).

• The Making of "Paper Moon" - presented here are three short documentaries that take a closer look at the production and publicity of Paper Moon. Included in them are clips from interviews with Peter Bogdanovich, cinematographer Laszlo Kovacs, associate producer Frank Marshall, and designer Polly Platt. One of the documentaries includes several outtakes as well. In English, not subtitled.
  
  1. The Next Picture Show. (15 min).
  2. Asking for the Moon. (17 min).
  3. Getting the Moon. (5 min).

• Polly Platt - this program features an excerpted interview with production designer Polly Platt and archival scouting footage and stills. The interview, conducted by production desginger Linda Berger, was recorded in 2002 by the Art Directors Guild in Los Angeles after a screening of Paper Moon. In English, not subtitled. (19 min).

• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson - presented here is an excerpt from an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson featuring Peter Bogdanovich, Ryan O'Neal, and Tatum O'Neal. The episode was taped around the time when Paper Moon premiered. In English, not subtitled. (12 min).

• Location Scouting - presented here are excerpts from the original location-scouting footage, shot by production designer Polly Platt with associated producer Frank Marshall. It is narrated by Marshall. In English, not subtitled. (17 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a remastered vintage trailer for Paper Moon. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by critic Mark Harris and technical credits.

Paper Moon 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Peter Bogdanovich's Paper Moon is a fabulous period piece that sees rural America very much like the films of John Ford and Howard Hawks did. Its script is excellent, and the entire cast that was gathered for it is fantastic, but the film belongs to the charming Tatum O'Neal, who remains the youngest person ever to win a competitive Academy Award. Criterion's upcoming combo pack release introduces a gorgeous exclusive new 4K restoration of Paper Moon, which is exactly the home run its fans have been patiently waiting for. For this reason, I think that the combo pack will earn a spot on many prestigious top ten lists at the end of the year. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.