Three Sisters Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.0
Audio		1.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		2.5

Three Sisters Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 8, 2017

Put celebrated actor Laurence Olivier in charge of directing an adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s “Three Sisters,” and there’s a guarantee of quality seldom seen in the stage-to-screen tradition. Preserving his work on the material for the Royal National Theater, Olivier shows immense respect for Chekhov’s writing and the needs of cinema with this endeavor, part of the American Film Theater’s efforts during the 1970s to bring theater to the masses.

Olivier delivers a lengthy but alert interpretation of “Three Sisters” that benefits tremendously from a game cast, which includes Joan Plowright, Alan Bates, and Derek Jacobi. The ensemble is committed to the powerful emotionality of the play, but they join Olivier’s interest in screen construction, mindful of the bigness of the frame and the power of the close-up, adjusting performances to preserves intimacies otherwise impossible to achieve in a theatrical setting.

Three Sisters Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation looks to be an older scan of "Three Sisters." Clarity isn't strong, working through inherent cinematographic softness to highlight costuming textures and set design achievements. Detail is also lacking on facial responses, diluting subtlety of performance. Colors are passable, with bolder reds and blues, and skintones are a bit bloodless. Delineation is adequate. Grain is on the chunky side. Source has some wear and tear, displayed through scratches and speckling, and mild flicker is present.

Three Sisters Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 Dolby Digital mix doesn't provide a proper representation of the original mix. The track is muffled and flat, threatening the purity of performances as dialogue exchanges are often difficult to understand unless the volume is cranked all the way up. Clarity struggles, and hiss and pops remain. Scoring is shapeless and quiet, barely making an impression. Perhaps age is a factor here, but the essential experience of the theater, the power of vocal reach, is missing from the listening experience.

Three Sisters Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (39:32, SD) with Alan Bates is a 2003 (the year of his passing) discussion of a few career highlights, including his work on "Three Sisters." Bates shares interesting information about the peculiarity of his prominent billing, interpretation of the original play, and offers a few anecdotes about his time working for Olivier, celebrating his special way with actors. The talk soon switches over to additional American Film Theater efforts such as "Butley" and "In Celebration," and Bates shares his feelings on a need to record theatrical presentations for posterity.

• Interview (26:16, SD) with Edie Landau (also recorded in 2002) covers the history of the American Film Theater, from its concept to its release strategy. Producing challenges are also detailed, with AFT's creative ambition coming up against limited budgets and interest from a wider audience.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:43, SD) is included.

Three Sisters Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Three Sisters" isn't a technical marvel, but Olivier maintains imagination throughout, using rear-projection work, models, and stock footage to open up the story, but he's wise enough to settle down when necessary, treating his cast with the respect they deserve as they articulate all the longing, pain, and futile excitement Chekhov originally conceived in his 1900 play.