To Sir, with Love 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

To Sir, with Love 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman November 1, 2022

Sony has released the classic 1967 film 'To Sir, With Love,' starring Sidney Poitier, directed by James Clavell, to the UHD format. At time of writing, this UHD disc (as well as the companion and included 4K master Blu-ray) is exclusive to the third volume of the prestigious 'Columbia Classics Collection' boxed set, where five other films are included. The film was previously released to Blu-ray by Twilight Time in 2015, a disc which is now out of print. New UHD specifications include 2160p/Dolby Vision video and Dolby Atmos audio. This set includes a blend of extras from the Twilight Time disc and other supplements that are new to Blu-ray. The UHD notably includes the TV pilot based on the film in 1080p. Also included for the Blu-ray is new 1080p video sourced from the 4K master and mono lossless audio.

Official synopsis: A novice teacher faces a class of rowdy, undisciplined working-class punks in this classic film that reflected some of the problems and fears of teens in the 60s. Sidney Poitier gives one of his finest performances as Mark Thackeray, an out-of-work engineer who turns to teaching in London's tough East End. The graduating class, led by Denham (Christian Roberts), Pamela (Judy Geeson) and Barbara (Lulu, who also sings the hit title song), sets out to destroy Thackeray as they did his predecessor by breaking his spirit. But Thackeray, no stranger to hostility, meets the challenge by treating the students as young adults who will soon enter a work force where they must stand or fall on their own.

For a full film review, please see Jeffrey Kauffman's excellent analysis accompanying the 2015 Twilight Time release by clicking here.

To Sir, with Love 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from the 4K mastered Blu-ray disc.

Sony's 2160p/Dolby Vision UHD release of To Sir, With Love looks fantastic. The presentation is first-rate, holding to the film's natural cinematic characteristics, including a very healthy grain structure that is neither overly aggressive nor obviously underplayed. The movie looks fresh out of the camera and editing room. The restoration has left nothing to the imagination, and the picture is not only attractively grainy but also free of any source or encode defects. There is a judder effect during a long pan at the 48-minute mark, which is more obvious on the UHD compared to the Blu-ray. The picture's sharpness and clarity are a step above the Blu-ray, which is mastered from the same source, and shows all of the expected gains to basic improvements across the board. Facial features are more intimately realized and enjoy boosted clarity and lifelike presence on the screen. Clothes are dynamically detailed and capture the finest stitching and fabric elements that the Blu-ray leaves unexplored or underexplored. Even makeup and eyelashes and individual hairs present with incredible razor precision and clarity.

The Dolby Vision color grading offers a more dynamic color presentation compared to the Blu-ray. Primaries are bolder, secondaries are sturdy and lifelike, and even the warm wooden desks and other elements around the classroom find a new elegant appeal and realistic tonal engagement. Whites are dazzling, black levels and shadow details are improved over the Blu-ray, and skin tones look just right. Colors through the whole range here are very expressive, which is vital, particularly considering the wide range of colorful clothes the students wear throughout the film. Red busses seen during a couple of shots and scenes are also dynamically brilliant with more pop and punch than the Blu-ray can offer. This is a stunning presentation from Sony.

To Sir, with Love 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Sony's Dolby Atmos soundtrack is not necessarily a major step forward from the Blu-ray's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack, but there are some improvements that make this the clear superior of the two. The track offers some basic feelings for depth and immersion during exterior scenes (listen around 48:45). This is perhaps where the track differentiates itself the most, with a fuller sense of place and atmosphere. Certainly, there are no major sound elements to push the material harder or much further than what is contained in the original audio mix, but the Atmos track does manage to squeeze just a little more of a natural sense of placement than the 5.1 track can offer. Music is a bit livelier with greater stage impact and separation, though not dramatically so. The overheads and surround backs don't offer anything truly discrete, but they do help with that aforementioned immersion. Bass is not much of a factor, either, though the track never sounds thin. Dialogue drives the film, and as with the 5.1 track, it is here under the Atmos configuration well prioritized, center focused, and clear for the duration.

To Sir, with Love 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This UHD release of To Sir, With Love includes extras on both the UHD and Blu-ray discs. See below for what's included. Material that is newly produced, or new to Blu-ray, is marked as such and briefly reviewed. Reviews for legacy content can be found by clicking here. As it ships in the above-linked "Columbia Classics" boxed set, a slipcover and a digital copy code are included.

• NEW! To Sir, With Love II (1080p, 4x3, Dolby Digital 2.0, 1:32:30): the made-for-TV feature film sequel to To Sir, With Love, also starring Sidney Poitier, in its entirety. Picture and sound qualities are quite good.
• NEW! Look and Learn (1080p, 11:01): Art Director Tony Woolard remembers his work on the film which also tells a much larger story of the film's production history.
• NEW! Those Schoolboy Days (1080p, 23:38): Actor Christian Roberts recounts his experiences in making this film. This piece is structured much like the previous supplement.
• Audio Commentary: Novelist E.R. Braithwaite and Author/Teacher Salome Thomas El.
• Audio Commentary: Judy Geeson and Film Historians Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman.
• E.R. Braithwaite: In His Own Words
• Lulu and the B-Side
• Miniskirts, Blue Jeans and Pop Music!
• To Sidney, With Love
• Principal El: He Chose to Stay
• NEW! To Potter, With Love (1080p 9:38): Actor Christopher Chittell recalls his work and experiences on the shoot.
• NEW! Beginnings of an Acting Career (1080p, 23:03): Actor Stewart Bevan discusses his career and his work on the film.
• Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 3:17).

UHD:

• NEW! A Tribute to Sidney Poitier (1080p, 16:24): Black Film Critics Circle's Mike Sargent remembers the legendary actor from both sides, and away from, the camera.
• NEW! To Sir, With Love TV Pilot (1080p, 4x3, DD 2.0, 25:41): The pilot episode for the spinoff TV show starring Hari Rhodes. The picture quality is great, but the audio falls on the "shrilly" side of the ledger.

To Sir, with Love 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

To Sir, With Love is one of the great classroom films of all time, and it has certainly received a proper treatment on the UHD format. The UHD's 2160p/Dolby Vision presentation looks spectacular, and the Dolby Atmos audio is very good as well. An incredible assortment of bonus features is also included. As it ships in the above-linked third volume of the Columbia Classics Collection, To Sir, With Love comes very highly recommended.