Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

The Ladykillers 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 26, 2024

Alexander Mackendrick's "The Ladykillers" (1955) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include archival audio commentary with author and critic Philip Kemp; new audio commentary by critics David Del Valle and Dan Marino; archival program with screenwriter Ronald Harwood; vintage documentary about Ealing Studios; restoration comparison; trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

We have a couple of different reviews of previous releases of The Ladykillers. Click here to read Dustin Somner's review of Lionsgate's first Blu-ray release. Click here to read my review of StudioCanal's 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack release.

The Ladykillers 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Kino Lorber's release of The Ladykillers is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray is Region-A "locked".

Please note that some of the screencaptures that appear with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc, including the actual color values of this content.

Screencaptures #1-20 are from the Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #23-31 are from the 4K Blu-ray.

The combo pack release introduces StudioCanal's recent 4K restoration of The Ladykillers. In native 4K, the 4K restoration can be viewed with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. However, in native 4K, the film can be viewed only in the 1.37:1 aspect ratio. On the Blu-ray, the film can be viewed in the 1.37:1 and 1.66:1 aspect ratios. I chose to view the film in native 4K with Dolby Vision. Later, I spent time with the 1080p presentations of the two versions of it on the Blu-ray.

If you have seen our review of StudioCanal's combo pack, you already know that I like the 4K restoration a lot. I think that it is wonderful and just beautiful to look at. However, I have to immediately point out that the decision to present it in native 4K only in the 1.37:1 ratio is disappointing. It is puzzling too because if only one native presentation were to be included on the 4K Blu-ray, then it should have been the one in the 1.66:1 ratio. Yes, you can still view the 1.66:1 version on the Blu-ray, which looks fantastic, but film collectors would have preferred to have the widescreen version on 4K Blu-ray.

Delineation, clarity, and depth range from excellent to outstanding. If you have seen the previous presentation of the film on Blu-ray, you will very quickly discover that the density levels of the visuals are vastly improved as well. Needless to say, even on a very large screen, the visuals look terrific. There are no traces of any problematic digital corrections. Grain is very evenly exposed and nicely resolved. Color reproduction and balance are outstanding. In many areas, but especially during the daylight footage, there are entire ranges of new, healthy, and very nicely balanced primaries and supporting nuances that easily give the entire film a tremendously lush, very attractive appearance. In comparison, the previous presentation of the film on Blu-ray looks quite soft and anemic, boasting a borderline video-esque appearance. The entire film looks spotless as well.

I spent quite a bit of time with the 1.66:1 version on the Blu-ray. I think that if you upscale it to 4K, you would get an excellent presentation of the film. Its quality will be very similar to that of the native 4K presentation of the 1.37:1 version. However, I feel that in several darker areas the Dolby Vision grade produces marginally richer and therefore superior visuals. Most of the brighter footage conveys outstanding colors too, though the difference between the native 4K and 1080p presentations is indeed rather small. When upscaled to 4K, the 1.66:1 version boasts great density levels as well.

The Ladykillers 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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

The dual Mono track is a replica of the restored Mono track that is included on the StudioCanal release, so all of its native characteristics are the same. The dialog is exceptionally clean, sharp, and very easy to follow. There are no balance issues to report. However, in a few areas, you may notice some minor unevenness, which is inherited. I did not encounter any encoding issues to report in our release.

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

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - 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.

• Commentary Two - in this new audio commentary, critics David Del Valle and Dan Marino discuss in great detail the tone and style of The Ladykillers (plus some ways in which it may be similar to Kind Hearts and Coronets), how it constantly defies expectations, and the realism of its locations and how crucial they are for its identity. Also, there are plenty of observations about Alexander Mackendrick and the film's great cast.

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - 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.

• Commentary Two - in this new audio commentary, critics David Del Valle and Dan Marino discuss in great detail the tone and style of The Ladykillers (plus some ways in which it may be similar to Kind Hearts and Coronets), how it constantly defies expectations, and the realism of its locations and how crucial they are for its identity. Also, there are plenty of observations about Alexander Mackendrick and the film's great cast.

• 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).

• Cleaning Up The Ladykillers - this short program provides before-and-after comparisons from different parts of The Ladykillers. Silent. (7 min).

• Interview with Allan Scott - in this archival program, screenwriter Allan Scott (Don't Look Now) discusses the unique style of humor and identity of The Ladykillers. In English. (21 min).

• Interview with Ronald Harwood - in this archival program, screenwriter Ronald Harwood, who collaborated with Alexander Mackendrick on A High Wind in Jamaica, discusses the director's working methods and communication skills. In English. (23 min).

• Interview with Terence Davies - in this archival program, director Terence Davies recalls his interactions with Alexander Mackendrick and explains why he was a "natural teacher". The Ladykillers is addressed as well. In English. (14 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a promotional trailer for the recent 4K restoration of The Ladykillers. In English. (2 min).

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

This combo pack release presents StudioCanal's recent 4K restoration of The Ladykillers, which is gorgeous. However, in native 4K, the 4K restoration can be viewed only in the 1.37:1 aspect ratio, not in the more appropriate 1.67:1 aspect ratio, and this will likely frustrate some viewers. The Blu-ray disc has both versions of the film, and they look outstanding, especially when they are upscaled, but I think that it would have been more much better to have the 1.66:1 version on the 4K Blu-ray and the 1.37:1 version added as a bonus on the Blu-ray. Regardless, the 4K restoration is a stunner, so the combo pack should be on your radar. RECOMMENDED.