That Certain Age Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		4.0

That Certain Age Blu-ray Movie Review

A classic with heart and humor: That Certain Age is well worth discovery.

That Certain Age is an entertaining and heartfelt cinema classic. Based on an original story by F. Hugh Herbert, the film stars Deanna Durbin. Produced by Joe Pasternak (In the Good Old Summertime, It Started with Eve), cineastes will want to check out the film for its exceptional storytelling and great performances.

Mr. Fullerton (John Halliday) is a successful newspaper editor who offers up his quiet guest home to reporter Vincent Bullitt (Melvyn Douglas). Determined to complete his article before a looming deadline, Vincent tosses himself in to work at the home. Yet Mr. Fullerton's teenage daughter, Alice Fullerton (Deanna Durbin), takes issue with his presence at the estate as Alice is managing a fundraiser with her boyfriend Ken (Jackie Cooper). Yet sparks unexpectedly fly as Alice begins to fall madly in love with Mr. Fullerton (who is three times her age). Will romance ensue?

Deanna Durbin is a delight from beginning to end. Durbin graces the production with her undeniable charm and style. The actress is a wonderful performer with a great sense of star power which clearly radiates throughout the film. Fans of the beloved actress will cherish this wonderful performance.

The art direction by Jack Otterson (Mad About Music, The Boys from Syracuse) is another stand-out element of the production. The sets and layouts are convincing and help the filmmaking to shine. A wonderful effort by Otterson and all involved. The costumes by Vera West (The Witness Vanishes, Shadow of a Doubt) are beautiful and serene as well. The gowns suit these characters well.

A must-see performance by Deanna Durbin.

The music score composed by Frank Skinner (The House of the Seven Gables, Arabian Nights) is engaging and is a huge part of the fun. The musical backdrop helps the storytelling unfold with a vitality and originality that keeps the production entertaining. Skinner imbues a lot of style in to the film.

One of the greatest elements of the production is the cinematography by Joseph A. Valentine (Shadow of a Doubt, Mad About Music). The visual component of That Certain Age is outstanding. The black and white cinematography is often hypnotic and ethereal. There are a number of scenes which are enhanced greatly by the artistic vision of the cinematographer: pulling viewers in to the story.

The screenplay by Bruce Manning (So Goes My Love, Roaming Lady) is great fun. The storytelling managed to craft a tale full of excitement and surprise. The dialogue was charming throughout. A wonderful effort by Manning that makes That Certain Age an even more engaging experience.

Directed by Edward Ludwig (The Blazing Forest, Steady Company), That Certain Age is a classic which is well worth exploring. The filmmaking is engaging and the production merits are strong throughout. Casting Deanna Durbin in the lead role was a wise decision: the actress makes the filmmaking soar.

That Certain Age Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Universal, That Certain Age is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.33:1 full frame. The presentation is strong throughout and there were no significant issues to report. The print had no egregious wear such as scratches, dirt, debris, and the like. The black-and-white cinematography shined during the scan. A wonderful presentation by Universal.

That Certain Age Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio mono. The lossless audio track sounds crisp throughout and capably preserves the mono soundtrack. Dialogue was clear and easy to understand. The audio track never suffered from egregious issues such as excessive pops, clicks, warps, and other audio-related detriments.

Optional English subtitles are provided.

That Certain Age Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release is surprisingly feature-less and there are no making-of extras (or even trailers promoting other releases).

That Certain Age Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

That Certain Age is a beautiful gem of a film. The storytelling is rife with creativity and the script by Bruce Manning (So Goes My Love) finds a perfect balance between drama and romance. Deanna Durbin is a bonafide star and she steals the show. Fans of the actress won't want to miss this outstanding classic. The Blu-ray release features a strong video and audio presentation. Highly recommended.