DESIGNING
WOMAN ($20) is a delightful romantic confection from director Vincente
Minnelli, that includes a bit of music and drama thrown in for good measure.
While the plot DESIGNING WOMAN does seem to toss together elements
from few genres, the script gels quite nicely, which is probably why the
film earned an Academy Award for its screenplay. Gregory Peck and Lauren
Bacall star in DESIGNING WOMAN as a somewhat mismatched couple
that meet, fall in love and marry while vacationing in California. Upon
their return to New York, they face the reality that Mike (Peck) is a
slovenly newspaper sports writer and Marilla (Bacall) is a meticulous
high fashion clothing designer with nothing in common- other than their
love for one another. Complications arise when Marilla agrees to design
costumes for a Broadway show starring Lori Shannon (Dolores Gray)- a woman
Mike denies knowing, even though he was having a relationship with her
prior to his trip to California. Things become even more complicated when
Mike runs afoul a crooked boxing promoter and finds himself saddled with
a bodyguard named Maxie Stultz (Mickey Shaughnessy), a punch drunk former
boxer who makes Marilla very uneasy. The cast of DESIGNING WOMAN
also features Sam Levene, Tom Helmore, Jesse White, Chuck Connors, Edward
Platt, Alvy Moore, Carol Veazie, Richard Deacon, Dean Jones and Jack Cole.
Warner
Home Video has made DESIGNING WOMAN available on DVD in a 2.35:1
wide screen presentation that features the anamorphic enhancement for
16:9 displays. Warner has produced a truly beautiful transfer of this
1957 release, one that makes the film seem newer than it actually is.
The image is generally crisp and very well defined; only the actresses’
close-ups are slightly diffuse looking, which was a general practice in
the days of Hollywood glamour cinematography. Colors are quite vibrant
and stable looking, with the reds and other intense hues holding up very
well. Flesh tones are appealing, although they do have the healthy glow
of the studio makeup department. Blacks are accurately rendered, plus
shadow detail and contrast are just what one would expect from late 50’s
MetroColor. The dual layer DVD doesn’t display any noticeable signs of
digital compression artifacts.
DESIGNING
WOMAN is presented with a good sounding Dolby Digital monaural soundtrack.
Dialogue is always completely understandable; even down to Mickey Shaughnessy
purposely muddled speech. Neither background hiss or audible distortion
are apparent at normal amplified listening levels. While there are the
expected frequency limitations in the recordings, André Previn’s music
does come across in a pleasant fashion. A French monaural soundtrack is
also encoded onto the DVD, as are English, Spanish, French, Portuguese,
Chinese, Korean, and Thai subtitles.
Music
underscores the basic interactive menus, which provide access to the standard
scene selection and set up features as well as a few of supplemental features.
Included on the DVD are biographies for Gregory Peck, Lauren Bacall and
Vincente Minnelli. Additionally, one will find interview footage with
costume designer Helen Rose, a theatrical trailer and a listing for the
film’s Academy Award.
DESIGNING
WOMAN is a delightful romantic gem that will appeal to film buffs
and anyone delving into old style Hollywood on DVD. Warner’s DVD looks
and sounds great, making this a worthwhile addition to the collections
of Gregory Peck, Lauren Bacall and Vincente Minnelli fans. Hopefully Warner
will follow this release with more Vincente Minnelli titles like THE
BAND WAGON, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, SOME CAME RUNNING,
HOME FROM THE HILL, LUST FOR LIFE, THE COBWEB and
TWO WEEKS IN ANOTHER, as well as a remastered, 16:9 enhanced collector's
edition of BRIGADOON.
DESIGNING
WOMAN ($20) is a delightful romantic confection from director Vincente
Minnelli, that includes a bit of music and drama thrown in for good measure.
While the plot DESIGNING WOMAN does seem to toss together elements
from few genres, the script gels quite nicely, which is probably why the
film earned an Academy Award for its screenplay. Gregory Peck and Lauren
Bacall star in DESIGNING WOMAN as a somewhat mismatched couple
that meet, fall in love and marry while vacationing in California. Upon
their return to New York, they face the reality that Mike (Peck) is a
slovenly newspaper sports writer and Marilla (Bacall) is a meticulous
high fashion clothing designer with nothing in common- other than their
love for one another. Complications arise when Marilla agrees to design
costumes for a Broadway show starring Lori Shannon (Dolores Gray)- a woman
Mike denies knowing, even though he was having a relationship with her
prior to his trip to California. Things become even more complicated when
Mike runs afoul a crooked boxing promoter and finds himself saddled with
a bodyguard named Maxie Stultz (Mickey Shaughnessy), a punch drunk former
boxer who makes Marilla very uneasy. The cast of DESIGNING WOMAN
also features Sam Levene, Tom Helmore, Jesse White, Chuck Connors, Edward
Platt, Alvy Moore, Carol Veazie, Richard Deacon, Dean Jones and Jack Cole.
Warner
Home Video has made DESIGNING WOMAN available on DVD in a 2.35:1
wide screen presentation that features the anamorphic enhancement for
16:9 displays. Warner has produced a truly beautiful transfer of this
1957 release, one that makes the film seem newer than it actually is.
The image is generally crisp and very well defined; only the actresses’
close-ups are slightly diffuse looking, which was a general practice in
the days of Hollywood glamour cinematography. Colors are quite vibrant
and stable looking, with the reds and other intense hues holding up very
well. Flesh tones are appealing, although they do have the healthy glow
of the studio makeup department. Blacks are accurately rendered, plus
shadow detail and contrast are just what one would expect from late 50’s
MetroColor. The dual layer DVD doesn’t display any noticeable signs of
digital compression artifacts.
DESIGNING
WOMAN is presented with a good sounding Dolby Digital monaural soundtrack.
Dialogue is always completely understandable; even down to Mickey Shaughnessy
purposely muddled speech. Neither background hiss or audible distortion
are apparent at normal amplified listening levels. While there are the
expected frequency limitations in the recordings, André Previn’s music
does come across in a pleasant fashion. A French monaural soundtrack is
also encoded onto the DVD, as are English, Spanish, French, Portuguese,
Chinese, Korean, and Thai subtitles.
Music
underscores the basic interactive menus, which provide access to the standard
scene selection and set up features as well as a few of supplemental features.
Included on the DVD are biographies for Gregory Peck, Lauren Bacall and
Vincente Minnelli. Additionally, one will find interview footage with
costume designer Helen Rose, a theatrical trailer and a listing for the
film’s Academy Award.
DESIGNING
WOMAN is a delightful romantic gem that will appeal to film buffs
and anyone delving into old style Hollywood on DVD. Warner’s DVD looks
and sounds great, making this a worthwhile addition to the collections
of Gregory Peck, Lauren Bacall and Vincente Minnelli fans. Hopefully Warner
will follow this release with more Vincente Minnelli titles like THE
BAND WAGON, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, SOME CAME RUNNING,
HOME FROM THE HILL, LUST FOR LIFE, THE COBWEB and
TWO WEEKS IN ANOTHER, as well as a remastered, 16:9 enhanced collector's
edition of BRIGADOON.
