Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

The Ladykillers Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 26, 2024

Alexander Mackendrick's "The Ladykillers" (1955) arrives on 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-A "locked".

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 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in aspect ratios of 1.66:1 and 1.37:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Ladykillers arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release introduces StudioCanal's recent 4K restoration of the film, which is also available on 4K Blu-ray. However, on the 4K Blu-ray, only the 1.37:1 version is offered in native 4K.

I like the 4K restoration a lot. It gives the entire film a wonderful, very attractive organic appearance that makes revisiting it quite a treat. If you have the original Blu-ray release that Lionsgate produced in 2010 and wonder whether you should consider an upgrade, the answer is a definite yes, and not only because now you can view the film in the 1.66:1 ratio. There are tremendous improvements in terms of delineation, clarity, depth, and color reproduction. Simply put, in many areas, there is a lot more to see, and the dramatically better color reproduction gives the film a proper period appearance. On the previous Blu-ray release, a lot of material has a video-esque quality that makes it look disappointingly dated. After the makeover, density levels are superior, too. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

The Ladykillers 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 following comments are from our review of the 4K Blu-ray release of The Ladykillers.

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 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• 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 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This Blu-ray release presents StudioCanal's recent 4K restoration of The Ladykillers, which is gorgeous. Unlike the previous Blu-ray release, this release has two versions of the film too, one of which is in the more appropriate 1.66:1 ratio. Naturally, I think that anyone that enjoys the film should consider an upgrade. (A 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack is available as well. However, on it only the 1.37:1 version is presented in native 4K). VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.