BLU-RAY REVIEW

It's A Wonderful Life

Featured In Issue 145, December 2009

Picture5
SoundNR
WSR Score5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Paramount Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
07209
(MPAA Rating):
Not Rated
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$39.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
No
(Full Screen Edition):
Yes
(Running Time In Minutes):
131
(Color Type):
Color/Black & White
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
Not Indicated
(Theatrical Year):
1947
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
11/03/09
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Frank Capra
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Chinese Language):
(Subtitles):
(Cantonese Language):
(Mandarin Language):
(Japanese Language):
(Italian Language):
(German Language):
(Portuguese Language):

Voted the Number One most inspiring film of all time by AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers, It's A Wonderful Life has had just that. With the endearing message that "no one is a failure who has friends," Frank Capra's heartwarming masterpiece continues to endure, and after over 60 years this beloved classic still remains as powerful and moving as the day it was made. Based on a story by Philip Van Doren Stern. (Tricia Spears)

The Blu-ray™ Two-Disc Collector's Edition includes a colorized version of the film and the original, fully restored black-and-white version. There are no special features on the colorized version. The black-and-white version includes The Making Of It's A Wonderful Life (SD 22:45) and the original theatrical trailer.

The 1.33:1 1080p AVC picture is nearly framed in the original 1.37:1 theatrical aspect ratio. The fully restored black-and-white film is wonderfully sharp, clear, and detailed. The resolution is impressive throughout, with fine facial features, clothing, and object textures perfectly resolved. The gray scale is nicely balanced with excellent contrast. Blacks are solid and highlights are nicely enhanced. The colorized version of the film is beautiful and enhances the viewing experience, to create a fresh look that should please both purists and new viewers. You won't be disappointed with either version, and the film is sure to touch the emotions of everyone in the family. (Gary Reber)

The original monaural soundtrack is delivered in the Dolby® Digital 2.0 format. For the sake of a perfect restoration, a lossless or uncompressed version should have been provided as well. Nevertheless, the Dolby Digital soundtrack delivers intelligent dialogue and sound effects. Of course, the sound is limited to the original source elements, and the sound is dated and compressed. As well, distortions are present throughout, and while undistinguished monaural, the sound is what it is and sets the mood for this wonderful classic film. (Gary Reber)