Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Strawberry Blonde Blu-ray Movie Review

Old Hollywood shines like new.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III May 18, 2023

As if it weren't obvious already, Raoul Walsh's Strawberry Blonde confirms what most men have known for decades: Betty's always a better choice than Veronica. This charming comedy starring James Cagney, Olivia de Havilland, and Rita Hayworth may be over 80 years old -- and it mostly takes place in the 1890s -- but it's still as accessible as ever, providing you don't mind overused music cues and/or extended flashbacks. It's the kind of crowd-pleasing fare that's solid enough for "movie night" yet equally easy to enjoy as a light and breezy afternoon matinee.

Much of the film's appeal is due to its three leads: first and foremost is Cagney as T. L. 'Biff' Grimes, an ex-convict-turned-dentist who's not exactly enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon in the early 1900s. Dreading another walk in the park with his wife Amy (Olivia de Havilland) -- first world problems, amirite? -- he reminisces about the good old 1890s after a nearby band plays a sentimental favorite, "The Band Played On", that reminds him of an old flame, the titular strawberry-blonde Virginia Brush (Rita Hayworth). Flashing back to the past, we see the path Biff took to the present: that first glimpse of Virginia gliding down the street, a fierce rivalry with arch rival Hugo Barnstead (Jack Carson) to win her affections, a chance pairing with lovely Amy, the fateful event that lands Biff in jail, and other pop hits.

Though it contains a few surprisingly dark narrative twists -- at least one unexpected death, and even a potential pre-flashback murder attempt when Hugo stops by Biff's office with a toothache -- Strawberry Blonde's otherwise light tone and winning performances keep things breezy and enjoyable during this tale of a short, cocky, and kinda funny-looking man learning to live with Olivia de Havilland. It's further buoyed and only slightly dragged down by its constant use of period-specific musical standards -- most notably "The Band Played On", which seems to playing in part or in whole at least once every 15 minutes. Those watching it for the first time may also be slightly put off by its extended flashback format, a narrative tool that's not exactly handled with utmost care and, as a result, requires new viewers to "settle in" rather than enjoy it as a purely linear story. Yet for its already-noted strengths and several others, Strawberry Blonde is inarguably worth watching for fans of lightweight romantic comedies laced with a hint of melodrama.

A welcome change of pace for both prolific director Raoul Walsh and certified star James Cagney (who had long been typecast in serious tough-guy roles, aside from occasional diversions like the outstanding Footlight Parade), Strawberry Blonde is, for the most part, what could best be called "a breath of fresh air" and a medium-sized career highlight for all involved. True to form, Warner Archive resurrects this enjoyable show for new life on Blu-ray, pairing a predictably great new A/V restoration with a small but appreciated assortment of period-specific bonus features.

Strawberry Blonde Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

I've probably done at least a couple hundred Warner Archive Blu-ray reviews at this point, so you'll pardon me if I'm running out of ways to praise their consistently solid restoration work. Long story short, what we have here is a sterling 1080p transfer sourced from a recent scan of the original nitrate camera negative which, if you're at all familiar with the boutique label's track record, means that it's about as good as it gets for the format. Fine detail and textures are predictably strong -- especially in the areas of costume and production design -- and close-ups are almost startlingly clear and crisp. Even wide shots, many packed with background characters and small details, run smoothly and without any hitches. This perfectly-encoded dual-layer disc shows no flagrant signs of posterization, banding, excessive noise reduction, or sharpening, which gives it a very authentic appearance overall that likely exceeds most original theatrical showings. It's absolutely a five-star effort and, without question, will please fans of this era of filmmaking.

Strawberry Blonde Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

This DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix, likewise restored from that original nitrate track, follows suit with a clean and largely damage-free sonic experience that feels very true to its source. The dynamic range is overall very good with only trace amounts of thinness or stress at the high end, which is good news due to the abundance of (admittedly kind of repetitive) song cues, from the opening orchestral performance of that 1895 banger "The Band Played On" allllll the way to the post-show sing-along of... "The Band Played On". (Damn guys, it's a great song, but this is pushing it.) Conversations and background elements are likewise crisp with very little hiss and only trace amounts of crackle, again reminding us of Warner Archive's light but tasteful restoration technique: remove most signs of damage, but not at the expense of original textures. It's an appreciated effort and likewise shows almost no tangible room for improvement, meaning that Strawberry Blonde sounds as good now as it likely did back then. Maybe even better.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during the main feature only, not the extras.

Strawberry Blonde Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a standard keepcase with poster-themed cover artwork and no inserts. Bonus features include several era-specific shorts, advancing upon Warner Archive's mostly barebones 2009 DVD edition.

• Theatrical Trailer (3:07) - This fun vintage promotional piece can also be seen here.

• Screen Guild Radio Broadcast (29:10) - Originally broadcast on October 5, 1941, this short adaptation features James Cagney, Olivia de Havilland, and Jack Carson reprising their roles. It's in very rough-sounding shape, though, with lots of crackle, hiss, and other source-related defects.

• Lux Radio Theater Broadcast (58:59) - A longer adaptation from March 24, 1942, this program features Don Ameche, Rita Hayworth, and Gail Patrick. It's likewise a bit rough around the edges but in much better condition overall, and also worth a listen just for the difference cast choices here.

• Polo With the Stars (9:14) - A decently-restored short from Warner Bros.' Hollywood Novelty series, this piece features appearances by Buddy Rogers, Jack Holt, Joe E. Brown, Edward G. Robinson, and Jack Oakie.

• Tortoise Beats Hare (7:56) - What's better than a beautifully restored Merrie Melodies short? An absolutely classic one directed by Fred "Tex" Avery, that's what. This one's also available on the out-of-print Looney Tunes Platinum Collection, Volume 2, which can be yours for the low, low price of a kidney.

Strawberry Blonde Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Raoul Walsh's Strawberry Blonde is an infectiously charming and almost unavoidably sentimental romantic comedy whose trio of lead performances still make it fun to watch more than 80 years later, as its celebration of a long-gone era -- the "gay 1890s", or at least the middle and upper-class end of it -- make the experience basically timeless by contemporary standards. Although its use of period-specific musical standards borders on maddeningly repetitive and the "extended flashback" format seems a little hokey, it's almost impossible to watch this without cracking a near-continuous smile. Warner Archive's Blu-ray keeps the party going with another outstanding A/V restoration and a handful of appropriately vintage extras. Firmly Recommended for die-hard fans and newcomers too.