Queen of the Stardust Ballroom Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

Queen of the Stardust Ballroom Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 16, 2019

Originally broadcast on CBS in 1975, “Queen of the Stardust Ballroom” is unlike many television movies. It certainly has the outside appearance of familiarity, with a plot that concerns a widow trying to figure out the next chapter of her life. However, writer Jerome Kass takes the material down some unusual avenues of self-expression, joining director Sam O’Steen as they mount what becomes a musical in the most casual manner, with characters not breaking out in song, but slipping into it, finding matters of the heart best expressed through lyrics and, as the title suggests, plenty of dancing.

Maureen Stapleton portrays Bea, a woman who’s recently lost her husband and doesn’t know what to do with herself. She’s surrounded by controlling family members, but finds an unexpected outlet at the Stardust Ballroom. It’s there where she meets Al (Charles During), a married mailman who’s looking for a dance partner and some companionship, forcing Bea to step outside her comfort zone and embrace new horizons in her once routine life.

“Queen of the Stardust Ballroom” has very small dramatic goals, preferring to be more of a character piece, spotlighting Bea’s return to her world after suffering a profound loss. Such emotion is gracefully handled by O’Steen, who smartly trains his camera on Stapleton and lets her do the heavy lifting, contributing a heartbreaking performance that examines the trials of mourning and the pains of rebirth, with Bea looking to reclaim some independence through the opening of a thrift store in her beloved Bronx. There are adult children to manage and a sister (Charlotte Rae) who’s almost rooting against her, but the teleplay remains with Bea as she experiences the highs and lows of solitude, finding necessary oxygen at a nightclub where people of a certain age are permitted a chance to strut their stuff and enjoy personal interactions.

Once Al enters “Queen of the Stardust Ballroom,” the picture strives to be more romantic but honest about the pairing, finding Bea choosing to ignore her friend’s marital status, enjoying the chemistry they share. Again, “Queen of the Stardust Ballroom” doesn’t reach too far with conflict, spending a great deal of screentime on the dance sequences, watching two characters embrace their natural synch and feel the tingles of attraction for the first time in a long time.

Queen of the Stardust Ballroom Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers a gorgeous return to screens for "Queen of the Stardust Ballroom." Listed as a "Brand new HD master," colors are immediately striking, delivering fresh, rich primaries to best communicate city living and ballroom life, which comes alive with theater lighting and costuming. Clothing delivers a rainbow of hues, along with hair and make-up, finding Bea's makeover showcasing lively orange hair. A last act visit to California brings deep blue skies and fresh greenery. Skintones are natural. Detail is strong, best with club outfits, picking up on ornamentation and silky fabrics. Street life is deep and lively. Interiors secure decoration. Facial surfaces are ideal, showcasing aging and lines of concern. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and filmic. Source is in great condition, with only a few light scratches and scattered speckling detected.

Queen of the Stardust Ballroom Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix finds the proper mood of "Queen of the Stardust Ballroom," leading with scoring selections, which deliver a reasonably strong orchestral flow, captured with accurate instrumentation. Singing is also defined, clarifying voices and emotional range, matching dialogue exchanges, which also provide a distinct read of performances. Atmospherics can be very pronounced at times, especially with Bronx business, and community interactions inside the club are lively. Hiss is present throughout the mix, and one brief audio dropout is found at the 14:32 mark.

Queen of the Stardust Ballroom Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on this disc.

Queen of the Stardust Ballroom Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Queen of the Stardust Ballroom" is beautifully acted and patiently made, and transitions into musical numbers aren't jarring, remaining grounded as the characters communicate their concerns. There's sweetness and sadness to the movie, with the balance capably handled by the production, which has a refreshing interest in the humanity on display, letting the power of connection lead the way.