Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Great Man's Lady Blu-ray Movie Review

A must-see gem with a first-rate performance by star Barbara Stanwyck

The most sophisticated film included in the fantastic Barbara Stanwyck collection from Kino Lorber, The Great Man's Lady is a must-see gem that explores the journey of a life over a long span of time. Produced by William A. Wellman (The Light That Failed, The Legion of the Condemned), the film features one of the best performances of Stanwyck as she delves into a complex role which feels custom-made for her. Fans of the actress would do well to seek out this fantastic film.

The story begins with the construction of a statue dedicated to Hoyt City town-founder Ethan Hoyt (Joel McCrea). Reporters and journalists looking for a story on the event seek out the wisdom of the elderly 109 year old woman named Hannah Hoyt, who was the inspiration behind the success of the city founder. The elderly woman explores her life story: starting the tale as a young 16 year old girl romancing Ethan so long ago. So it begins. What wisdom can the old lady impart?

Hannah Sempler Hoyt (Barbara Stanwyck) explores her life journey as she reminisces back to her long and winding journey in life: from the wonder she found in the great outdoors to a search for gold and other unexpected quests. As the back-story unfolds, Hannah explains the course of her relationship to Ethan while delving into personal matters - such as Ethan's jealousy of her close friendship to gambler Steely Edwards (Brian Donlevy). Romance, adventure, and good old-fashioned drama unfolds.

Barbara Stanwyck delivers one of her best performances in The Great Man's Lady. The film spans a wide range of time and her character goes through so many different obstacles that the performance required a great deal more in comparison to a typical comedy or romance. The nuances of Stanwyck's performance are impressive and give the film a dramatic heft that feels extremely convincing to watch unfold. There are moments where Stanwyck conveys so much with her subtle charisma. From sad to happy moments in the life-journey of the character, Stanwyck always seems up for the challenge.

Tomorrow comes today.

The production was well constructed and there are many compelling elements at play in the film. Certainly, the costumes by Edith Head (Roman Holiday, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) demonstrate how important these visual aesthetics can be on a film and its success. Stanwyck is downright gorgeous here and the costumes are a perfect match. The style of the costumes is truly outstanding and befitting throughout the time-periods at play.

The art direction by Hans Dreier (The Lost Weekend, Double Indemnity) and A. Earl Hedrick (Sullivan's Travels, Bonanza) is worthwhile and gives the production a respectable foundation. The filmmaking has a true scope by exploring the outdoors (with some scenes showing beautiful rain and shine). The visuals make the storytelling more compelling and it is the combination of the stylistic flourishes in the art direction with the lush black-and-white cinematography by William C. Mellor (The Diary of Anne Frank, A Place in the Sun) that makes the effort all the more engaging to watch unfold. Finding a perfect rhythm with the visuals, the music score composed by Victor Young (The Left Hand of God, Three Coins in the Fountain) blends into the film and gives a nice back-drop to the style at hand.

One of the greatest strengths of the film is the meticulous editing by Thomas Scott (The Twilight Zone, Pacific Blackout). Given that the story explores such a wide range of time, the editor was tasked with assembling the narrative in a convincing way. Scott brings together all the right notes for The Great Man's Lady to make a splash. The ebb and flow of the story works well and moments aren't wasted.

Based on an original story by Adela Rogers St. Johns (The Arizona Wildcat, What Price Hollywood?) and Seena Owen (The House of Toys, The Flame of the Yukon), and a short story written by Vina Delmar (King of Burlesque, Playing Around), the best element of The Great Man's Lady is the unique storytelling: the screenplay written by W.L. River (Navy Blues, The Adventures of Martin Eden) makes the entire film worthwhile. The script explores the odyssey of Hannah Sempler Hoyt through moments of elation and difficulty: its a perfect role for Barbara Stanwyck to delve into.

William A. Wellman (Wings, The High and the Mighty) capably directs and brings forth an exceptional performance from Stanwyck. There were many impressive aspects to the production and Wellman did well to assemble these components together into a cohesive whole. The filmmaking feels organic and that makes the journey all the more memorable and worthwhile. Brimming with a love for storytelling, The Great Man's Lady is an under-rated gem that deserves to be seen. Don't miss out on this fantastic film.

The Great Man's Lady Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, The Great Man's Lady has received a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.37:1 full frame. This is certainly a impressive presentation and the picture-quality is consistently clean and crisp during the entire film while similarly preserving a fine layer of naturalistic film grain. The cinematography shines through: this a pleasant high-definition presentation.

Though the print used does have some occasional thin scratches (and moments of sporadic dirt can be seen) the print is never too distracting and there are no signs of egregious print damage to report (such as bad telecine wobble or burns). The picture-quality might not stand out as the best of the bunch in the Barbara Stanwyck Blu-ray set but nonetheless the image is efficient and commendable. Black levels are also reasonably inky and sublime.

The Great Man's Lady Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented with a DTS HD Master Audio mono audio track. The audio track preserves the original sound design. The lossless audio track is surprisingly vital and effective throughout. Dialogue reproduction is one of the best aspects of the release: the track remains crisp, clear, and easy to understand. Music reproduction is similarly consistent and effective throughout the presentation. While the track lacks the level of clarity of a modern production, the fidelity is exceptional for the time-period given source considerations. The track gets the job done.

Optional English subtitles are provided.

The Great Man's Lady Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by Film Historian Dr. Eloise Ross

The Great Man's Lady Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2:13)

The Great Man's Lady Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Great Man's Lady is one of the most impressive films included in the wonderful Barbara Stanwyck collection from Kino Lorber. The film certainly has the best screenplay out of the three films provided. There is something magical about the way the story unfolds over a wide span of time. The script gives ample opportunity for Barbara Stanwyck to deliver a first-rate performance and she lives up to that high expectation with remarkable gusto. Stanwyck is terrific here and delivers one of her career best performances. Don't overlook this gem: The Great Man's Lady is a breezy experience and one that fans of the actress shouldn't miss. Highly recommended.