- Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
- Video Codec:
- Resolution: 1080p/24
- Audio Codec: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
- Subtitles: English SDH
- Region: B (Region-Locked)
- Classification: U
- Discs: 1
- Studio: Eureka Entertainment
- Blu-ray Release Date: October 25, 2010
- RRP: £22.99
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Overall
[Rating:4/5]
The Film
[Rating:4.5/5]
Video Quality
[Rating:4/5]
Audio Quality
[Rating:3.5/5]
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:3/5]
Click thumbnails for high-resolution 1920X1080p screen captures
(Screen captures are lightly compressed with lossy JPEG thus are meant as a general representation of the content and do not fully reveal the capabilities of the Blu-ray format)
The Film
[Rating:4.5/5]
Frank Tashlin’s (Son of Paleface; Rock-a-Bye Baby) 1957 film Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? is a comedy of errors starring the perennial straight man Tony Randall as overlooked adman Rockwell P. Hunter who strikes upon the brilliant idea to get the world’s favorite starlet with the “kissable lips,” Rita Marlowe (played by 50’s sexpot Jayne Mansfield), to be the spokeswoman for his firm’s new client, Stay-Put lipstick. But Rita has other plans, she wants to use “Rock” to make her current boyfriend Bobo (Mickey Hargitay) jealous, thus, Rock Hunter becomes Rita’s “Lover Doll” and in exchange, she agrees to endorse his lipstick. Oh, but Rock has a problem, his girlfriend Jenny becomes quite jealous and the publicity surrounding him gets way out of hand.
Mansfield has no stretch in this role as the ever-desirable sex symbol and Tony Randall is perfect, as ever, as the straight man in the impossibly ridiculous scenarios. Here’s classic comedy that makes you laugh without resorting to crudeness. It’s something the whole family can enjoy and probably one of Tashlin’s best films.
Video Quality
[Rating:4/5]
The film has been cleaned up nicely, although there is still some slight source damage visible here and there. The original 2.35:1 aspect ratio has been encoded at 1080p/24 and it has good, natural flesh tones, and extended shadow detail. Some areas of black look a bit greyish and sometimes background detail and distance shots are a little soft, but overall the transfer looks film-like with a consistent layer of grain.
Audio Quality
[Rating:3.5/5]
The DTS-HD Master audio 2.0 Mono mix is relatively clean, has intelligible dialogue and a balanced mix with little crackle. There’s not much else to say about a monaural soundtrack. It gets the job done.
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:3/5]
The actual on-disc supplements aren’t very hefty, but there is a superb 44-page booklet included with the release that should be read.
The supplements provided with this release are:
- Joe Dante on the Film (1.78:1; 1080p/24) — This Exclusive video piece was shot on 10 August 2010 in Los Angeles, and features filmmaker Joe Dante (Gremlins; Gremlins 2: The New Batch; InnerSpace; Looney Tunes: Back in Action; The Hole) discussing Tashlin and his film(s).
- Original Theatrical Trailer (1.78:1; 1080p/24)
- Movietone Piece (1.33:1; black and white; 1080p/24) — This short one-minute piece captures Jayne Mansfield on a promotional bus tour tied to the release of Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? that was sponsored by Fox.
- Alternate Music and Effects Track
- Booklet: 44-page booklet featuring two new essays by film writer David Cairns, and an exclusive 2003 interview about the film with Tony Randall, conducted by Ethan DeSeife.
The Definitive Word
Overall:
[Rating:4/5]
This comedy classic from Frank Tashlin has been served well by this Masters of Cinema Blu-ray release from Eureka Video. Recommended.
Additional Screen Captures:
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