Garv’s Pick of the Week: Smile (Fun City Editions)
For the release week of April 27th:
Garv’s Pick of the Week: Smile [Blu-ray / Fun City Editions]: Michael Ritchie’s 1975 satire of beauty pageants is one of my favorite comedies of the 1970s, and it has long been on my list of “most wanted” titles in high definition. Happily, a new boutique label, Fun City Editions, will release this “slice of life” comedy gem on Blu-ray this week. Bruce Dern, Barbara Feldon, and Michael Kidd co-star with young actresses on the edge of stardom, including Melanie Griffith, Annette O’Toole, Colleen Camp, and Joan Prather.
Additional Titles of Interest —
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly [4K UHD / Kino Lorber]: When most people think of Euro-Westerns, the theme song from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1967) pops in their heads, because both the Sergio Leone film and the Ennio Morricone score are utterly iconic. Kino Lorber has upgraded this epic Western to 4K UHD and corrected most of the color-grading issues exhibited in earlier releases. Even if you own a previous Blu-ray, the 4K UHD disc is worth the double-dip. The only downside of the release is this package only includes the 162-minute U.S. theatrical release version (on both 4K UHD and Blu-ray). You can find my full review HERE.
Quick Change [Blu-ray / Warner Archive]: The only film Bill Murray either produced or directed is one of his best. Murray also stars as the head of a group of bank robbers that have a difficult time getting out of town after pulling a job. Gena Davis and Randy Quaid are his accomplices, and Jason Robards is the police detective on their trail. Little known fact — the story, based on a novel by Jay Cronley, was used previously for the 1985 French film, Hold Up, starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and Kim Cattrall.
Another Thin Man [Blu-ray / Warner Archive]: All of the Thin Man films are fun, but the movies were a bit less intoxicating from Another Thin Man on. With the appearance of a baby in the Charles’ household, it would have looked irresponsible for Nick and Nora to be swozzled all of the time. Nora doesn’t drink at all in this one, and Nick is forced to sneak sips. In the next one, Shadow of the Thin Man, Nick is forced to drink a glass of milk! Horrors!
Wanted for Murder / Cast a Dark Shadow [Blu-ray / Cohen Film Collection]: Two classic period British noirs are paired on this Cohen release.
Battle Hymn [Blu-ray / Kino Lorber]: The Korean War meets soapy Douglas Sirk melodrama in Battle Hymn, starring Sirk-regular, Rock Hudson.
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