Suddenly, Last Summer Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Suddenly, Last Summer Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov April 18, 2018

Nominated for three Oscar Awards, including Best Actress in a Leading Role and Best Actress in a Leading Role, Joseph Mankiewicz's "Suddenly, Last Summer" (1959) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; new video interview with second assistant director John Crome; new video interview with continuity supervisor Elaine Schreyeck; new documentary with critic and film historian Michel Ciment; and more. The release also arrives with an illustrated booklet with a new essay by Samm Deighan, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and historic articles on the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

The beautiful girl

The stars shine bright in this beautiful but once quite controversial film directed by Joseph Mankieeicz. It is based on the popular one-act play by Tennessee Williams, which was adapted by Gore Vidal. (Some years later, Vidal also teamed up with Italian director Tinto Brass and wrote the script for the far more polarizing Caligula).

The film is set in New Orleans during the early 1930s. The wealthy Mrs. Violet Venable (Katharine Hepburn) contacts a local hospital with a request for help. She wants the hospital’s primary neurologist, Dr. John Cukrowicz (Montgomery Clift), to perform lobotomy on her niece, Catherine Holly (Elizabeth Taylor). She claims that since the tragic death of her son, Sebastian, Catherine has been severely traumatized and frequently has trouble separating fiction from reality. At first the overworked Dr. Cukrowicz refuses to examine Catherine, but when the director of the hospital (Albert Dekker) urges him to reconsider because Mrs. Venable is likely to make a big donation that will solve its financial problems he reluctantly changes his mind.

Dr. Cukrowicz visits Mrs. Venable and after a long discussion with her concludes that her descriptions of the symptoms of Catherine’s condition are rather problematic. Then he meets Catherine and discovers that she has in fact gone through intense cycles of depression that occurred after a long summer trip to Europe where Sebastian tragically died. Dr. Cukrowicz then attempts to find out precisely how Sebastian died so that he can understand what triggered Catherine’s suffering and properly diagnose her, but the more he learns about her relationship with him, the more he begins to realize that the severity of her medical condition might be grossly overstated.

The film does remind of an elaborate stage play. Large segments of it are essentially carefully scripted conversations in which the main characters discuss different events that have affected their lives in very specific ways. Dr. Cukrowicz’s job is to separate the real from the imaginary ones and then place them in the proper order.

There is plenty of material that is left to the viewer to deconstruct, but this isn’t a challenging task. The story that emerges at the end is so dark and disturbing that it does feel like it was better not to spell out certain details. (Most archival reviews basically spoil the finale by addressing in detail these ‘unidentified’ disturbing elements of the story, so it is best to avoid them and see the film unprepared).

The leads and the supporting cast are quite spectacular. Hepburn looks like a genuine Southern dowager who is used to having the last word even when she is aware that her opinions are flawed. Taylor is stunning in her Parisian dress and her frequent outbursts look absolutely genuine. Clift is a bit stiff, nervous and even uncomfortable around the two women but it works for his character and does make him look like the outsider that he is. Gary Raymond and Mercedes Cambridge are Catherine’s greedy brother and mother who have little interest in seeing her cured.

The film was lensed by cinematographer Jack Hildyard, whose credits also include such classics as Hobson's Choice, The Deep Blue Sea, The Bridge on the River Kwai, and Battle of the Bulge.

Suddenly, Last Summer Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Joseph Mankiewicz's Suddenly, Last Summer arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

The release is sourced from the same strong 4K master that Australian label Via Vision Entertainment used to produce its local release in 2016, which was prepared by Sony Pictures in the United States.

The film looks very fresh and clean, boasting the type of nicely balanced visuals that newer proper masters ensure. The daylight and well-lit footage can look especially good, but even the darker indoor footage reveals some very beautiful nuances (see screencapture #8). Depth is very good as well, and on a larger screen it holds up quite nicely. There are a few areas where occasionally black crush tries to sneak in while being accompanied by some very light softness, but overall image balance remains good (you can see an example in screencapture #16). There are no traces of problematic sharpening adjustments. Debris, cuts, damage marks, stains, flecks and all other age-related imperfections have been removed. My score is 4.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Suddenly, Last Summer Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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

The lossless track is excellent, and as I suspected there isn't a meaningful difference in quality between it and the lossy track from the Australian release of Suddenly, Last Summer that we reviewed a while ago. The reason for this is simple -- the the quality of the remastered audio is very good. The dialog is clean, stable, and always very easy to follow. (I am grading this release slightly higher because it has optional English SDH subtitles).

Suddenly, Last Summer Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

NOTE: All of the supplemental features on this Blu-ray release are perfectly playable on North American Blu-ray players, including the PS3.

• Joseph Mankiewicz Interview - in this archival interview, director Joseph Mankiewicz discusses his working methods, as well as his desire to make films about ordinary people and their controversies and dilemmas rather than about big social issues. The interview was conducted for the French TV program Cinema cinemas. In French and English, with optional English subtitles where necessary, and printed French subtitles for the English exchanges. (10 min).

• Elizabeth Taylor on Montgomery Clift - this archival eulogy was broadcast on French television on July 29, 1966, five days after the death of Montgomery Clift at the age of 45. In English, with a French voiceover, with with optional English subtitles. (2 min).

• Gary Raymond Interview - in this new video interview, actor Gary Raymond recalls how he was cast to play the character of George Holly and discusses his work with the rest of the cast members and director Joseph Mankiewicz during the shooting of Suddenly, Last Summer. The interview was conducted in 2018. In English, not subtitled. (7 min).

• About Last Summer - in this new video interview, second assistant director John Crome discusses the state of the film editing business in the post-war era and the rushing sessions during the shooting of Suddenly, Last Summer. There are also some very interesting comments about Montgomery Clift's notorious drinking problem and the big egos that apparently clashed during the production process. The interview was conducted in 2018. In English, not subtitled. (16 min).

• Remembering Last Summer - in this new video interview, continuity supervisor Elaine Schreyeck quickly addresses Joseph Mankiewicz's working methods and remembers some of her interactions with Katharine Hepburn and Montgomery Clift. The interview was conducted in 2018. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• The Predator and the Prey - in this documentary, French critic and film historian Michel Ciment (Positif magazine) discusses the career of director Joseph Mankiewicz and the unique qualities of his cinematic adaptation of Tennessee Williams' famous play. The documentary was produced by Allerton Film. In French, with optional English subtitles. (26 min).

• Trailer - original theatrical trailer for Suddenly, Last Summer. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Trailer Commentary by Dan Ireland - presented here is an archival episode of Trailers From Hell in which director Dan Ireland (The Velocity of Gary) quickly addresses Suddenly, Last Summer. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Image Gallery - a large collection of original promotional materials for the film.

• Isolated Music and Effects Track - presented as LPCM 2.0.

• Booklet - an illustrated booklet with a new essay by Samm Deighan, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and historic articles on the film.

Suddenly, Last Summer Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This upcoming Blu-ray release of Joseph Mankiewicz's Suddenly, Last Summer is sourced from a strong organic 4K remaster that was prepared by Sony Pictures in the United States. This master was initially used by Australian label Via Vision Entertainment in 2016 for this release, but Indicator/Powerhouse Films have provided a very good selection of bonus features that make their release a lot more attractive. There is a particularly good new video interview with second assistant director John Crome, who recalls his work during the production of the film and has some very interesting comments about the evolution of the film editing business in the post-war era. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.