Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

The Ladykillers 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 19, 2020

Alexander Mackendrick's"The Ladykillers" (1955) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of StudioCanal. The supplemental features on the release include archival audio interviews with assistant director Tom Pevsner and production manager David Peers; audio commentary by author and critic Philip Kemp; new documentary; vintage promotional materials for the film; and a lot more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

In the United States, The Ladykillers was initially released on Blu-ray by Lionsgate Home Entertainment. For an in-depth analysis of the film, please see Dustin Somner's review of this release here.

The Ladykillers 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The release is sourced from a brand new 4K restoration of the film and offers two versions of the film: one framed in 1.67:1 and another framed in 1.37:1. Each version can be accessed through the main menu.

The screencaptures that are included with our review appear in following order:

1. Screencaptures #1-19: taken from the Blu-ray in native 1080p.
2. Screencaptures #23-30: taken from the 4K Blu-ray but downconverted to 1080p.
3. Screencaptures #31-34: taken from the 4K Blu-ray but downconverted to 1080p.

4K BLU-RAY DISC

The new 4K restoration offers such a dramatic upgrade in quality that in a way it makes the previous presentation of this classic film look like a poor upscaled experiment. (In case you are wondering, the Lionsgate release is sourced from the same master that StudioCanal used to produce this Region-B release as well). Also, in native 4K the restoration looks quite a bit better than it does in 1080p, but I have to make it perfectly clear that even in 1080p the visual upgrade is rather striking. Clarity, delineation, depth, and fluidity are so good that there is actually an abundance of visuals information that is entirely unrecognizable on the previous release. Furthermore, the density levels are superb. Again, in native 4K the improvement is most striking, but in 1080p the upgrade is just as easy to appreciate. Colors are lush, nicely balanced, and as you can see from our screencaptures there are actually brand new ranges of nuances. Image stability is excellent. Finally, the entire film looks spotless as well.

BLU-RAY DISC

If you do not yet have 4K equipment and cannot play 4K Blu-ray discs, you should still consider upgrading your previous release of this classic film. In 1080p everything still looks much, much better. Delineation, clarity, depth, and fluidity are outstanding, so you are looking at an all-around superior presentation of the film. The color scheme is far more convincing as well, though I have to point out that in native 4K the restoration simply looks a tad more impressive. This is basically it. The 1080p presentation is as solid of an effort as I have seen done for a Technicolor film, and given the nature of the previous presentation there is really no need to scrutinize the different characteristics of the restoration. Simply put, the new restoration is the type of solid organic presentation that the film should have received when it initially transitioned to Blu-ray. Very nicely done. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

The Ladykillers 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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

I did not detect signs of age-related anomalies. The audio is crystal-clear, sharp, and actually very nicely balanced. I also thought that the dynamic intensity is really good, though in the footage with the passing trains it is very easy to tell that the recording equipment has limitations. There are no encoding anomalies to report in our review.

The Ladykillers 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Note: All bonus features can be viewed with optional English SDH subtitles, which can be turned on/off via the main menu.

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Investigating The Ladykillers - this new program focuses on the lasting appeal and cinematic brilliance of The Ladykillers. Included in it are clips from interviews with broadcaster and author Stuart Maconie, film editor Catherine Shoard, actor and writer Reece Shearsmith, and author Ronald Harwood, amongst others. In English. (41 min).

• Color in The Ladykillers - in this new video interview, Keith Johnston, reader in film and television studies at University of East Anglia, discusses the visual style and color scheme of The Ladykillers. In English. (16 min).

• Lobby Cards Gallery - a collection of original lobby cards for The Ladykillers.

• Behind the Scenes Gallery - a collection of behind these scenes stills from the production The Ladykillers.

• Audio Commentary - in this audio commentary, author and critic Philip Kemp discusses the conception of The Ladykillers, its production history, the Ealing Studios and the evolution of the British comedy, Alexander Mackendrick's directing style and specifically his interpretation of the original story by William Rose, etc.

BLU-RAY DISC ONE

• Investigating The Ladykillers - this new program focuses on the lasting appeal and cinematic brilliance of The Ladykillers. Included in it are clips from interviews with broadcaster and author Stuart Maconie, film editor Catherine Shoard, actor and writer Reece Shearsmith, and author Ronald Harwood, amongst others. In English. (41 min).

• Color in The Ladykillers - in this new video interview, Keith Johnston, reader in film and television studies at University of East Anglia, discusses the visual style and color scheme of The Ladykillers. In English. (16 min).

• Lobby Cards Gallery - a collection of original lobby cards for The Ladykillers.

• Behind the Scenes Gallery - a collection of behind these scenes stills from the production The Ladykillers.

• Audio Commentary - in this audio commentary, author and critic Philip Kemp discusses the conception of The Ladykillers, its production history, the Ealing Studios and the evolution of the British comedy, Alexander Mackendrick's directing style and specifically his interpretation of the original story by William Rose, etc.

BLU-RAY DISC TWO

• Trailer - vintage trailer for The Ladykillers. In English. (3 min).

• Forever Ealing - this vintage documentary examines the history and incredible cinematic legacy of the Ealing Studios. Included in it are clips from many of its biggest hits as well as clips from interviews with Richard Attenborough, Stephen Frears, John Mills, John Landis, and Terry Gilliam, amongst others. The documentary was directed by Andrew Snell in 2002. In English. (50 min).

• Spoof Trailer - presented here is a rare spoof trailer for The Ladykillers that was put together by Peter Sellers. In English. (7 min).

• Locations Featurette - in this archival featurette, broadcaster and oral historian Allan Dein visits some of the original locations that are seen in The Ladykillers. In English. (10 min).

• Audio Interview with Tom Pevsner - in this archival audio interview, assistant director Tom Pevsner discusses his background and career evolution as well as his contribution to The Ladykillers. In English. (92 min).

• Audio Interview with David Peers - in this archival interview, production manager David Peers discusses his background, time in the film industry, and involvement with The Ladykillers. In English. (93 min).

• BBC Omnibus: Made in Ealing Clip - presented here is an excerpt from the BBC's Omnibus: Made in Ealing, which was first broadcast in 1986. In English. (7 min).

CD DISC

• Soundtrack - the original soundtrack for The Ladykillers. A total of 18 tracks. Play time: 61 minutes.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

• Cards - seven collectible art cards.

• Booklet - 64-page illustrated booklet with new essays on the film, notes on the 4K restoration, and additional technical credits.

The Ladykillers 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

StudioCanal's new 4K restoration of Alexander Mackendrick's The Ladykillers is a Technicolor stunner. This is exactly the type of brilliant makeover this classic film needed and to have it on 4K Blu-ray is truly special. The new Blu-ray release also offers a solid upgrade in quality, but the 4K Blu-ray release has the definitive presentation of the film. Hopefully, the folks at StudioCanal will continue to thrill us with many more such releases in 2021. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.