Something to Live For Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Something to Live For Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov April 22, 2023

George Stevens' "Something to Live For" (1952) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment. The supplemental features on the release include new program with critic Neil Sinyard as well as new audio commentary recorded by critics Daniel Kremer and David Del Valle. In Enlgish, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Had Billy Wilder directed Something to Live For it would have been almost impossible not to speculate that Ray Milland’s character from The Lost Weekend might have reappeared in it. In Something to Live For, Milland plays a former alcoholic who has managed to reset his life but is frequently tested by what appears to be a dormant addiction. He is employed by a famous advertising agency whose owner thinks very highly of him and created a family with a wonderful woman who loves him and never misses an opportunity to remind him how much she appreciates his transformation. This reformed man is exactly the type of man Milland’s character from The Lost Weekend attempts to become and fails.

But it was George Stevens that directed Something to Live For and he pairs the former alcoholic with another alcoholic (Joan Fontaine) that is a few weeks, possibly even a few days away from drinking herself to death, so the nature of the drama in this film is quite different. Instead of focusing solely on the destructive power of alcoholism, Something to Live For examines the positive influence of romance and how love could very well be the perfect antidote for it. In other words, the darkness and pessimism that flourish in The Lost Weekend are effectively replaced with warmth and positivity in Something to Live For.

Alan Miller meets Jenny Carey in her hotel room after the friendly doorman notices that she has been drinking alone for days, panics, and reaches out to the former, an AA member, with an urgent request for help. A few hours later, at a nearby restaurant, where Alan successfully convinces Jenny to have something to eat, the two discover that they have dealt with similar personal demons and, in the process, become attracted to each other. In a matter of days, the attraction then evolves into a passionate romance that threatens to destroy Alan’s relationship with his wife, Edna (Teresa Wright), who has become aware that her husband is drifting away from her.

The drama in Something to Live For is multi-layered but notably subdued, allowing the two leads to appear very ordinary. This is why their past and present dependence on alcohol appears very authentic too -- alcoholism does not discriminate when it strikes its targets.

An interesting theme that emerges in Something to Live For is that alcoholism must be managed with proper understanding because it is a chameleon whose existence is reflective of unique conditions. For example, it is Jenny’s ongoing frustration with her inability to advance an acting career that has initiated her alcohol dependence but later she almost succeeds in finding a new pretext to remain addicted. Alan almost resumes his addiction while struggling with feelings that have unexpectedly forced him out of his comfort zone as well.

But the middle section of Something to Live For where alcoholism is placed under the spotlight is quite short, which is arguably the biggest reason it is difficult to compare to The Lost Weekend. To be clear, it is not that these films have drastically different takes on alcoholism, their leads simply get different opportunities to terminate their relationships with it.

The finale of Something to Live For is somewhat surprising because it feels very contemporary. Instead of fully embracing the choices made by the two leads, and therefore sending a clear message about what is right and wrong, Something to Live For ends by suggesting that real life is an ongoing cycle of consequential compromises and sacrifices.

Oscar-winning cinematographer George Barnes gives Something to Live For a notably elegant yet unmistakably casual appearance that many Hollywood directors mastered to perfection during the 1960s.

Something to Live For Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.37:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Something to Live For arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment.

Apparently, this release is sourced from a 2K master that was prepared at Paramount Pictures in 2022. I like this master a lot, though I must say that if one day the film is properly restored it will look a bit better. Why? There are a couple of big marks that pop up throughout the film, usually on the right side of the frame, and a few blemishes, so some cosmetic work will make the visuals look healthier. I think that the dynamic range of the visuals could be slightly better as well. However, the rest I like a lot. Delineation, clarity, and depth are consistently very good. The grayscale is very convincing, too. On a large screen, all visuals hold up very well, including the ones from areas where minor density fluctuations are present. Even though grain exposure could be slightly better, there are no traces of problematic digital tinkering and the current grain field is perfectly fine. All in all, I think that this release offers a very solid organic presentation of Something to Live For that makes it very easy to enjoy the film. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Something to Live For Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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

The dialog is always clear, sharp, and easy to follow. I did notice a few areas -- like the family gatherings -- where extremely light background hiss attempts to make its presence felt, but it never becomes distracting. Balance is good. Dynamic intensity is very modest, but this is hardly surprising given the age of the film.

Something to Live For Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Neil Sinyard on "Something to Live For" - in this new program, critic Neil Sinyard discusses Something to Live For. In English, not subtitled. (20 min).

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Daniel Kremer and David Del Valle.

Something to Live For Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

People do not become addicted to alcohol without a good reason. They make very specific decisions that welcome alcohol into their lives and determine its role there. In George Stevens' Something to Live For, Ray Milland and Joan Fontaine play two alcoholics who unexpectedly fall in love and then help each other permanently overcome their addiction. While I would not place Something to Live For next to Billy Wilder's masterpiece The Lost Weekend, I think that it is a marvelous film with wonderful performances by its two leads. Via Vision Entertainment's release is sourced from a very strong recent 2K master that was prepared at Paramount Pictures. It is Region-Free. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.