Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Princess Comes Across Blu-ray Movie Review

An excellent comedy-mystery from William K. Howard (Sin Town, Good Intentions).

The Princess Comes Across is a worthwhile murder-mystery romantic comedy. The film is produced by Arthur Hornblow Jr. (The Asphalt Jungle, Oklahoma!) and features a strong lead performance by the great Carole Lombard. Based on the novel by Louis Lucien Rogger, The Princess Comes Across is a under-the-radar gem for fans of classic comedies.

A down-on-her-luck actress hoping to break in to the film industry sets sail on a cruise as Princess Olga (Carole Lombard). Yet Princess Olga is a fictitious persona – one created by the actress in the hopes of getting a free trip to Hollywood (so she can pursue her dreams). Matters become complicated when a passenger, Joe King Mantell (Fred MacMurray) becomes smitten with the princess and love is in the air. Yet that's not all – a murder-mystery unfolds and “Princess Olga” becomes tossed in to the scene. Whatever can the princess do?

Carole Lombard is exceptional in the leading role. The part was a perfect match for her talent and charm. The role explores her dramatic acting chops as well as her screwball comedy mastery. A enjoyable performance filled-to-the-brim with excellent moments for the actress to shine.

The costumes by Travis Banton (So Goes My Love, This Love of Ours) is another compelling aspect of the film. The gowns for Carole Lombard are impressive and showcase her radiant beauty throughout the production. Fans of Banton will be pleased with another excellent effort.

An excellent showcase for the talents of Carole Lombard.

The art direction by Hans Dreier (Double Indemnity, The Lost Weekend) and Ernst Fegte (The Princess and the Pirate, Frenchman's Creek) shines and showcases the production merits nicely. These design elements are well-matched by the striking visuals in the cinematography by Ted Tetzlaff (Rhythm on the River, Artists and Models Abroad). The black-and-white cinematographic style fits the tone of the murder-mystery well.

Another excellent element of the production is the music score by John Leipold (Stick to Your Guns, Pirates on Horseback). The music adds to the experience and never seems out-of-place. The score certainly contributes to the production and showcases the energy of Leipold.

The screenplay by Walter DeLeon (The Time of Their Lives, The Cat and the Canary), Francis Martin (College Rhythm, Tillie and Gus), Don Hartman (It Had to Be You, Mr. Imperium) and Frank Butler (Road to Morocco, Wake Island) offers classic comedy fans plenty of impressive scenes. The script basks in the concept and enjoys the pitfalls of the storyline. There are a lot of funny scenes with the “Princess” and Carole Lombard brings these scenes to life with tremendous energy.

Directed by William K. Howard (Sin Town, Good Intentions), The Princess Comes Across is a classic comedy which is well-paced and entertaining. The editing by Paul Weatherwax (The Sea Wolf, The Naked City) is also solid. The Princess Comes Across is full of entertaining comedic sequences to showcase the comedic genius of Carole Lombard and that is the greatest strength of the film. Well worth checking out.

The Princess Comes Across Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, The Princess Comes Across is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.37:1 full frame. The presentation is of a brand new 2K remaster of the feature-film. The presentation quality is truly exceptional. The video-quality looks superb throughout.

Aside from some thin scratches, the print is nearly immaculate. The level of clarity and detail apparent throughout the scan is enormously satisfying. There is an enormous amount of depth and detail in the image. Black levels look amazing for the age of the production. There were no egregious compression issues to report.

The Princess Comes Across Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio mono. The lossless audio track is not as impressive as expected. The track sometimes sounds harsh and coarse. Dialogue is easy to understand but the track seems to have a somewhat limited high-fidelity range. There is a thin layer of hiss in the background of the presentation. An average-sounding audio track that falls a bit short in comparison to the restoration provided for the video-transfer – and that is certainly disappointing (even if the audio track remains a serviceable one).

Optional English subtitles are provided.

The Princess Comes Across Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by Filmmaker Allan Arkush and Filmmaker/Historian Daniel Kremer

Made for Each Other Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2:06)

There's Always Tomorrow Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2:39)

The Eagle and the Hawk Theatrical Trailer (SD, 1:40)

The Princess Comes Across Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Princess Comes Across is an entertaining comedy classic with a strong performance by Carole Lombard. The multi-talented actress showcases her comedic range and showcases her undeniably radiant beauty. The Blu-ray release from Kino Lorber features an impressive new 2K restoration. Highly recommended.