The One and Only Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

The One and Only Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 10, 2016

Carl Reiner's "The One and Only" (1978) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of independent distributors Olive Films. There are no supplemental features on this release. In English, without optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

"There are two kinds of people, kid. The kind that put lamp shades on lamps. And the kind that put lamp shades on their heads."

This is one of the most unpredictable films that I have seen in years. It is funny, sad, a little dirty, and a bit prophetic, the type of film that simply cannot be categorized. Carl Reiner directed it from a script by Steve Gordon, who earned an Oscar nomination for the much more conventional classic comedy Arthur.

Andy Schmidt (Henry Winkler, Night Shift) is an irritatingly ambitious young man who believes that he was born to be a star -- in more than a few ways. Unfortunately, no one around Andy can see or appreciate his potential, which is the main reason why he constantly has to prove his star qualities. This also happens to be the main reason why most people find Andy to be more than a bit strange and frequently unbearably annoying.

Before he graduates from college, Andy somehow manages to convince Mary Crawford (Kim Darby, Better Off Dead) that God always had a plan for them. Then he barely convinces Mary’s parents that he can be a good son-in-law and the two marry.

Soon after the newlyweds move to New York City, Andy bumps into Milton Miller (Herve Villechaize, The Man with the Golden Gun), a sex addict trapped in an unusually small body, who convinces him that he could be a lot more successful as a professional wrestler than as an actor. The two then meet the fast-talking veteran manager Sidney Seltzer (Gene Saks, A Thousand Clowns) and he reluctantly agrees to test Andy’s wrestling skills.

But life in the world of professional wrestling turns out to be a lot more complicated than Andy had imagined and he gradually realizes that his plan for success will need some important corrections. Meanwhile, his relationship with Mary also becomes quite complicated after she accidentally discovers that Andy’s performances have little to do with conventional acting.

The One and Only is the type of film that the Cohen Brothers would have loved to direct. It enters that very entertaining parallel universe where a lot of their characters live and then goes on to explore it with a style that is pretty spectacular.

There is a lot of humor in the film but it is the type that often demands some pretty good brain work. The bulk of it is also the type of adult humor that contemporary comedies essentially no longer promote. So, there are a good number of hits below the belt, some touchy truths that can offend the sensitive, and some dirty material that will resonate only with those who can quickly get what is implied between the lines. (What this means is that if you decide to see the film late at night when you are tired, there is a pretty good chance that you are going to be disappointed with it).

Winkler is unquestionably the big star of the film, but it is the great supporting cast that makes the whole thing work as well as it does. Villechaize is so good as the wacky midget whose pants are on fire that at times it is actually quite difficult to tell if he is in fact acting. Seltzer is a straight shooter whose endless arsenal of witty lines can make a lot of writers today seriously question their work. William Daniels and Polly Holliday also delight as the provincial parents who can't quite get what their daughter sees in the loopy wrestler.

The One and Only Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Carl Reiner's The One and Only arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Olive Films.

I am fairly certain that the release is sourced from the one and only master Paramount Pictures currently has available in its vaults. My guess is that an interpositive was used to create it without any substantial restoration work. Rather predictably, there are a few rough spots here and there, but the basic qualities we scrutinize in our reviews remain solid. For example, virtually all of the close-ups boast good to very good depth and pleasing clarity. Contrast levels can appear slightly elevated at times, but the light halo-like effects that sneak in are actually inherited (they are not introduced by recent digital corrections). Some of the more obvious source limitations are present during the wider shots -- depth is somewhat limited and shadow definition isn't optimal. Colors can also be better balanced, though overall saturation levels are actually quite good. There are no serious stability issues. Finally, some minor dirt spots and flecks remain, but there are no distracting cuts, warps, or torn frames to report. (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 One and Only 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 not provided for the main feature.

While some minor cosmetic rebalancing work can probably be done in a few areas to enhance fidelity, clarity and depth are indeed very good. Dynamic intensity is also good, though there isn't a lot of material where the lossless track can actually shine. There are no distracting pops, cracks, audio dropouts, or digital distortions to report.

The One and Only Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Most unfortunately, there are no supplemental features to be found on this Blu-ray release.

The One and Only Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I would recommend this very, very witty film from Carl Reiner to anyone that appreciates the eccentric style of the Cohen Brothers. It shines in so many different ways that I have to wonder why it is not considered a cult classic. Absolutely wonderful performances from the entire cast. Also, Steve Gordon's top script is yet another example that Hollywood has evolved in the worst possible way. Olive Films' release is sourced from an older master, but the film looks good in high-definition. Unfortunately, there are no supplemental features on the Blu-ray. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.