7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.2 |
Kelly is a feminist who takes on the causes of abused women and disabled children. Originally a prostitute, she flees from the city to a small town where she reforms and becomes a pediatric nurse after she looks in the mirror and sees "nothing but the buck, the bed, and the bottle for the rest of my life." She falls in love with Grant, the town's philanthropist and most eligible bachelor, but a sinister secret he's hiding mars their chance for a happy ending, as she learns the true price of going straight.
Starring: Constance Towers, Anthony Eisley, Michael Dante, Virginia Grey, Patsy KellyDrama | 100% |
Crime | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: LPCM Mono
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Samuel Fuller's "The Naked Kiss" (1964) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc contain an interview with actress Constance Towers; collection of excerpts from an episode of The South Bank Show; collection of excerpts from an episode of the French television program Cineastes de notre temps; short segment from the French television program Cinema cinemas; and the film's original theatrical trailer. The disc also arrives with a 24-page illustrated booklet. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".
I can show you my place
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Samuel Fuller's The Naked Kiss arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.
The following text appears inside the booklet provided with this Blu-ray disc:
"This new high-definition digital transfer was created on a Spirit Datacine from a 35mm fine-grain master positive. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, scratches, splices, warps, jitter, and flicker were manually removed using MTI's DRS system and Pixel Farm's PFClean system, while Digital Vision's DVNR system was used for small dirt, drain, and noise reduction.
Telecine supervisor: Maria Palazzola.
Telecine colorist: Gregg Garvin/Modern Videofilm, Los Angeles."
This is a good high-definition transfer, though slightly softer looking than I expected it to be. Generally speaking, fine object detail is good and clarity pleasing. The close-ups convey good depth, while the few panoramic scenes are well detailed. Contrast levels also appear relatively stable. Edge-enhancement is not a serious issue of concern, but some small traces occasionally are easy to spot. Various noise corrections appear to have been applied, and a few of the outdoor scenes look rather soft. Variations of light grain, however, are present throughout the entire film. There are also a couple of frame overlappings (28:42/28:49) but no serious stability issues to report in this review. Lastly, some inherited small scratches and flecks are also easy to spot. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).
There is only one audio track on this Blu-ray disc: English LPCM 1.0. For the record, Criterion have provided optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature.
The following text appears inside the booklet provided with this Blu-ray disc:
"The monaural soundtrack was remastered at 24-bit from the optical track. Clicks, thumps, hiss, and hum were manually removed using Pro Tools HD. Crackle was atenuated using Audio Cube's integrated audio workstation."
I don't have any reservations about the English LPCM 1.0 track - the dialog is clean, stable, and exceptionally easy to follow. Its dynamic amplitude is quite limited but the audio has pleasing organic qualities. There are no balance issues with Paul Dunlap's music score. Lastly, I did not detect any annoying pops, cracks, or audio dropouts to report in this review.
Samuel Fuller's The Naked Kiss is a raw yet at the same time notably elegant film. It is also a shockingly honest film, which is why it will likely rub a lot of people the wrong way. As expected, Criterion have put a good package for it. Let's hope that eventually Pickup on South Street will also make it to Blu-ray. RECOMMENDED.
1963
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1962
2010
1956
1989
1947
1984
1957
1968
1972
Les quatre cents coups
1959
1971
2008
Il deserto rosso
1964
1970
Special Edition
2000
1988
2009
1992
2014