WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Vanya On 42nd Street
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 15 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Julianne Moore, Brooke Smith, George Gaynes, Wallace Shaun, André Gregory.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4.5
Sound Rating: 2.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Columbia/TriStar Home Video
(Catalog Number): 74986
(MPAA Rating): PG
(Retail Price): $$39.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 119
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1994
(LD Release Date): 7/95
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Louis Malle
(Screenplay/Written By): David Mamet
(Story): NA
(Music): Joshua Redman
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Eugene Lee
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Nancy Baker
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Fred Berner

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.87:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Stereo A
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Vanya On 42nd Street was filmed on location at The New Amsterdam Theater in New York. This adaption of Anton Chekhov’s play Uncle Vanya was from a literal translation by Vlada Chernomordik which was originally presented by the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1989 André Gregory began collecting a group of actors whom he proposed to direct in Uncle Vanya. The company rehearsed off and on over a period of years, mostly at the abandoned Victory Theater on 43nd Street without ever planning to perform the play. Gregory and Malle came together to make this film adaption in 1994.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture is matted at 1.87:1. Shot en-tirely in the interior of a theater the scenes have a remarkable natural presence with accurate fleshtones, good detail and sharpness, and excellent shadow detail and contrast. The picture is virtually without distracting grain, noise or artifacts.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack is credited as stereo but is monaural except for the occasional background interlude of jazz music performed by Joshua Redman Quartet.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: