Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews

This month, Kino Lorber Studio Classics has dropped a pair of classic crime flicks, a dark comedy and one of the all-time great whodunnits. I first discovered The Ladykillers back in film school, and its endearing British charm remains central to its enduring appeal. When a would-be mastermind (Alec Guinness) and his gang plan a foolproof armored car robbery, they involve the sweetest of little old ladies (Katie Johnson) as an unwitting accomplice. When the scheme unravels however, she must be dealt with--permanent-like--and that’s where the real fun begins.

For Murder of a very different sort, we hitch a ride on the Orient Express. It’s 1935, five years since a horrific crime made headlines, and on a luxurious rail journey from Istanbul, one of the passengers is stabbed to death in the night. Is there a connection? Fortunately, the famous sleuth Hercule Poirot (Albert Finney, who looks to be having a ball, like everyone in the star-studded cast) is on board and on the case. The narrative builds at its own pace, employing its share of long takes and subtle tricks, all masterfully orchestrated by Sidney Lumet, a giant of ‘70s cinema.

Kino Lorber’s release of The Ladykillers uses StudioCanal’s 2020 remaster and it is absolutely stunning. The detail is exquisite, right down to Mrs. Wilberforce’s intricate wallpaper, and the Technicolor hues are rich and wonderfully saturated. The 4K disc is presented in the intended 1.37:1 “open matte” theatrical format, while the bundled HD Blu-ray offers this plus an alternative 1.66:1 matted aspect ratio for European venues. The only soundtrack option is a perfectly serviceable DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 configuration of the original mono. The story is almost entirely dialogue-driven and everyone is happily legible, always. Two new expert audio commentaries are provided on the 2160p platter, while the HD Blu-ray adds a must-see restoration comparison, some lengthy on-camera interviews and a 2002 documentary about the fabled Ealing Studios narrated by Daniel Day-Lewis.

Geoffrey Unsworth’s often soft, dreamlike cinematography for Murder on the Orient Express imparts an appropriate level of romance to the proceedings, touched by some modest black crush here but there are also many shots with impressive resolution, and all under a generous helping of delicious grain. The disc defaults to DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono but a 5.1 remix is also available, which offers an immediately appreciable separation and spread if you’re seeking a more modern sonic accompaniment. The music does a lot of the work here and fidelity is excellent, especially in the airy strings of Richard Rodney Bennett’s Oscar-nominated score. The sole extra for the 4K is a new commentary track by a trio of film historians and on the HD Blu-ray, KLSC has ported a 2004 “making of” and a profile of author Agatha Christie, in addition to a more recent interview with the producer.

In case you didn’t know, both of these beloved films were remade. I’m not here to play curmudgeon and insist “Only stick with the OGs!” but I will point out that The Coen Brothers’ take on The Ladykillers 20 years ago nabbed the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score of their careers, despite the assistance of Tom Hanks and J.K. Simmons.

Chris Chiarella