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    WSR Detailed DVD Review
    Star!
    Genre: Drama

    Reviewed In Issue 85 (Jun 2004) Of Widescreen Review®

    Stars:
    Julie Andrews, Richard Crenna, Michael Craig & Daniel Massey

    WSR Review Scores
    WSR Picture Rating: 3
    DD Sound Rating: 2.5
    DTS Sound Rating: NA
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score: 3
    Internet Links
    http://www.foxhome.com
    Special Features
    An audio commentary track is included on Side A and features director Robert Wise (who begins by offering some background information on roadshows), producer Saul Chaplin, costume designer Donald Brooks, choreographer Michael Kidd, and several cast members, including Julie Andrews. The most extensive set of production notes and stills are found on the B-side under The Saga Of Star! (which, in the menu, looks like a four-part documentary or featurette), as well as additional images found under the Still Galleries selection (which includes a Star! scrapbook, Gertrude Lawrence, Julie Andrews, and musical numbers). There is also an 11-minute vintage short: Star! The Sound Of A Legend, a nine-minute 20th Anniversary featurette, an 11-minute Julie Andrews and Daniel Masset screen test, a teaser trailer, the theatrical trailer, and TV spots.


     DVD General Information

    (Studio/Distributor): 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number): 2221361
    (MPAA Rating): Not Rated
    (Rating Reason):

    		 NA
    (Retail Price): $14.98
    (DVD Type): Dual Side, Single Layer/Dual Layer (DVD14)
    (Widescreen Edition): Yes
    (Full Screen Edition): No
    (Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
    (Running Time In Minutes): 173
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): Yes
    (Regional Coding): 1
    (Theatrical Year): 1968
    (Theatrical Release): Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release): No
    (DVD Release Date): 04/20/04
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

     Credits Information

    (Director): Robert Wise
    (Screenplay/Written By): Subscribe Now!
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    (Director Of Photography): Subscribe Now!
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    (Supervising Sound Editors): Subscribe Now!
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      DVD Picture Information

    (Principal Photography): Subscribe Now!
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    (Measured DVD Letterbox Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!

      DVD Sound Information

    (DVD Soundtrack): Subscribe Now!
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      WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Director Robert Wise tells the true story of the golden era of musical theatre from 1912 to 1940 in the film "Star!" Julie Andrews stars as British stage legend Gertrude Lawrence, who was the flamboyant and charismatic toast of two continents at the height of her career. Daniel Massey plays Noel Coward, her life-long friend and the composer of many of the songs performed in the film. Great musical numbers and songs from other composers like Cole Porter, Kurt Weill, and George and Ira Gershwin add to the super entertainment and Julie Andrews

    DVD Picture:
    The anamorphically enhanced 2.20:1 DVD picture has a dated quality, with a brownish color palette that effects blacks and fleshtones. Still, the color scheme gives the picture a look that seems appropriate for the age of the film (especially when sepia-toned newsreels are peppered throughout the story). Still, saturation seems to be a bit weak at times. Images are generally sharp, though finer details and textures are limited. The source element is revealing of some minor flecks of dirt and artifacts. Occasionally, edge enhancement can be bothersome, but thankfully the distraction is not always present. (Suzanne Hodges)

    Soundtrack:
    This remastered Dolby

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