WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 25 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Peter Gallagher, Claire Danes, Kathy Baker, Wendy Crewson, Bruce Altman & Michelle Pfeiffer

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4
Sound Rating: 3
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Columbia/TriStar Home Video
(Catalog Number): 82596
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $34.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 92
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1996
(LD Release Date): 5/9/97
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Michael Pressman
(Screenplay/Written By): David E. Kelley
(Story): NA
(Music): James Horner
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Linda Pearl
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): William Scharf
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): Terry Morse
(Producers): Marykay Powell & David E. Kelley

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

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

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Based on Michael Brady’s play, To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday is the heartwarming story of a grieving widower who is trying to cope with his wife’s death. David Lewis (Peter Gallagher), his teen-aged daughter Rachel (Claire Danes) and in-laws Esther (Kathy Baker) and Paul (Bruce Altman) reunite for Labor Day weekend on the 2nd anniversary of the death of David’s wife, Gillian (Michelle Pfeiffer). There, as they celebrate the weekend with karaoke and sand castle competitions, David discovers that his obsession with Gillian, whom he talks to on the beach, is threatening his precious relationship with Rachel.

LaserDisc Picture:
The 1.85:1 picture exhibits natural fleshtones, good color fidelity and deep blacks. Images are generally sharp and detailed with excellent shadow detail. Noise and artifacts are apparent in some scenes.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack features natural sounding dialogue with generally excellent spatial integration. The music score is nicely recorded, but sounds slightly pulled toward the center channel. Surround envelopment is subtle throughout and ambiant and Foley effects sound realistic.
(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: