Seven Sinners Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Seven Sinners Blu-ray Movie Review

A must-see classic featuring a stunning performance by Marlene Dietrich

Seven Sinners is an entertaining romantic-comedy drama featuring performances by the great Marlene Dietrich and John Wayne. Produced by Joe Pasternak (It Started with Eve, Three Smart Girls), fans of classic Hollywood productions will find plenty to love in this under-rated classic. Featuring an original story by Ladislas Fodor (Tom Thumb, Jewel Robbery) and László Vadnay (Tales of Manhattan, Easy to Love), Seven Sinners is exceptionally entertaining old-fashioned fun that is a perfect choice to watch on a Sunday afternoon.

A glamorous and beautiful performer, Bijou (Marlene Dietrich) keeps finding new trouble as she struggles to prevent deportation from every island she visits. Her saving grace is her talent: she manages to light up audiences with her show-stopping performances. While in Boni Komba, performing for the Seven Sinners, she meets a head-strong Navy-officer, Dan (John Wayne). An instant attraction begins between the two and romance is stirs in the air. Can Bijou and Dan find true happiness together (or will their love be thwarted by a nefarious governor who aims to split- them-up)?

The performances are at the forefront of the production. Seven Sinners would not be as effective were it not for the first-rate performances from the leads: Marlene Dietrich and John Wayne. Dietrich is an undeniable charm and she brings her star-power and natural charisma to the production in each and every scene. Wayne is not as suave as Dietrich, but does his best with his one-line deliveries. The pairing somehow works and the film is more entertaining because of it.

The art direction by Jack Otterson (First Love, The Flame of New Orleans) is a sight to behold: the production aesthetics are convincing and enthralling. The Seven Sinners cafe is well designed and manages to make the film a more curious experience visually. There is a sense of great effort being placed within each element of the sets (and so forth).

"Seven sinners? I count two."

Another component of the filmmaking which pulled me in to the story was the lush black and white cinematography by Rudolph Maté (To Be or Not to Be, Gilda). Maté is a top cinematographer (as anyone who has seen Gilda can attest to) and the visuals here are similarly compelling. Each frame seems imbued with a classicism that is compelling and enthralling. One can't help but become fully absorbed in to the frame and to bask in the great imagery.

The original music score composed by Hans J. Salter (My Friend the Millionaire, An Orphan Boy of Vienna) and Frank Skinner (Arabian Nights, The House of the Seven Gables) adds some charm and character to the production. It fits the storyline and the tone of the filmmaking and never feels out of place. The efforts here and commendable and worthwhile.

The screenplay by John Meehan (The Miracle Woman, Boys Town) and Harry Tugend (Take Me Out to the Ball Game, The Lady Has Plans) adds a sense of fun and charm to Seven Sinners. The characters manage to imbue the film with their personalities. There are many charming dialogue exchanges that add extra layers of depth to the story. While this is a basic script story-wise, the well-written characters showcase the notable strengths of these writers and their contributions to the production.

Tay Garnett (China Seas, Bataan) made a fun, exciting, and comedy-imbued film with Seven Sinners. Though the action-quotient might not be as noteworthy as the poster-art suggests, Seven Sinners is a entertaining and charming confection. The entire production comes together beautifully. There are no wrong notes and the editing by Ted J. Kent (The Bride of Frankenstein, Creature from the Black Lagoon) ensured a solid motion-picture. Seven Sinners is worth checking out.

Seven Sinners Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, Seven Sinners is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.37:1 full frame. The release features good picture-quality overall. The gorgeous black and white cinematography has a wonderful aesthetic behind it that is quite hypnotic. The print is in good shape overall, though there are some slight scratches from time to time. For the most part, the film looks amazing, and fans will be pleased with the level of detail in this high-definition master. There are no egregious issues to report with regards to print damage (such as burn marks and the like). A solid effort from Kino Lorber.

Seven Sinners Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release features a lossless DTS HD Master Audio mono soundtrack. The audio quality sounds quite acceptable from beginning to end. Dialogue is clear and easy to understand. The track has no egregious issues to report regarding crackle, hiss, clicks, and other audio-related detriments. A well- suited match to the video presentation. Though the track is simplistic in certain regards, the clarity is perfectly fine when one considers the age of the original elements. Seven Sinners is a dialogue-heavy film that never sounds overly harsh from scene-to-scene.

Please Note: Optional English subtitles are provided.

Seven Sinners Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by Film Historian David Del Valle and Author/Screenwriter C. Courtney Joyner

Seven Sinners Theatrical Trailer (SD, 1:45)

The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: The Spoilers (SD, 1:48), Pittsburgh (SD, 2:05), The Flame of New Orleans (HD, 2:08), and The Shepherd of the Hills (SD, 2:19).

Seven Sinners Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Seven Sinners is an exceptionally fun and charming Hollywood classic. The performances by the great Marlene Dietrich and John Wayne make the film all the more essential. This is a compelling romantic drama that has plenty of comedy to keep audiences entertained. The production merits are effective throughout. The Blu-ray release features a strong video-audio presentation and comes recommended.