Daddy Long Legs Blu-ray Review

The AVC encoded image (2.37:1 aspect ratio) presentation of "Daddy Long Legs" brings the exceptionally wide CinemaScope look to home theaters, with the transfer demonstrating meticulous preservation. The 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer often looks vivid, with colors that maintain their period vibrancy, showcasing lush blues and striking reds. The level of detail is commendable, allowing viewers to notice fabrics and facial features with clarity, although some scenes exhibit minor softness. Black levels are rich and consistent, while whites are bright and don't suffer from any digital noise or crush.

The overall clarity and contrast give the film a vigorous presence. Grain is present but well-managed, ensuring the film's texture doesn't overwhelm the visual experience. Close-ups, while limited due to the wide aspect ratio, boast significant detail, effectively highlighting Fred Astaire's angular features and Leslie Caron's youthful freshness. Skintones remain true to the era and appear natural, enhancing the immersive quality of the visual presentation. The source material displays only minimal signs of aging, with just a few minor nicks observed. Importantly, no overzealous digital enhancements were used, maintaining the integrity of this Golden Age musical gem.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track for "Daddy Long Legs" commendably handles the audio presentation with a polished and vibrant soundscape. Dialogue remains clear and intelligible amid comedic exchanges and accents, maintaining its integrity even at brisk paces. The orchestral scoring is prominent and beautifully rendered, delivering a satisfying depth of tone that fills the room effortlessly. Noteworthy stereo separation across the front channels provides a natural directional quality to dialogues, enhancing the overall immersive experience. Astaire’s vocal performances are conveyed with clarity and warmth, ensuring his singing voice resonates beautifully.

Additionally, the track maintains a commendable dynamic scale, deftly handling the highs and lows of instrumental passages without any distortion. Party sequences and other atmospheric elements are well-captured, adding a layer of life to the scenes. The audio presentation is free from age-related artifacts such as hiss, pops, or crackles, preserving the original charm of this classic musical without compromising sound quality. Overall, the DTS-HD MA 2.0 track achieves an excellent balance of clarity, atmosphere, and musical depth, effectively breathing new life into "Daddy Long Legs."

The Blu-ray release of "Daddy Long Legs" encompasses a solid array of extras that offer both historical context and firsthand insight into the film. The audio commentary, featuring film historian Ken Barnes and Ava Astaire McKenzie, provides an in-depth discussion on various facets such as the original novel, production challenges, and aspects of the 1950s movie musical evolution. Despite its comprehensive nature, the commentary's scripted segments can feel rigid. The vintage newsreel footage captures the glitz of the Hollywood and New York premieres, with optional commentary highlighting celebrities like Ed Sullivan and Elizabeth Taylor. The London premiere footage shows Leslie Caron and Princess Margaret, adding a touch of royalty to the festivities. Additionally, two theatrical trailers offer different perspectives on promoting the film.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: In-depth discussion by Ken Barnes and Ava Astaire McKenzie.
• Hollywood and New York Premiere: Newsreel of the star-studded debut.
• London Premiere: Coverage featuring Leslie Caron and Princess Margaret.
• Theatrical Trailer #1: Focuses on the film's story.
• Theatrical Trailer #2: Showcases the songs and dances.

Daddy Long Legs (1955) tackles the often glossed-over theme of May-December romances with remarkable introspection. This widescreen musical embraces its controversial core by directly addressing the problematic age gap between its leads, Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron, whose respective ages were 56 and 24 during filming. The screenplay, by Henry and Phoebe Ephron, sharpens the film’s edge with self-aware humor that questions the inherent impropriety of the relationship it showcases. This candid approach not only tempers any discomfort but also allows audiences to appreciate its more dazzling aspects, such as Johnny Mercer’s lilting score and the captivating dance sequences that blend ballet with more traditional trends.

Director Jean Negulesco masterfully uses comedy and song to smooth over its thornier elements, creating a buoyant musical landscape that softens its central oddity. The chemistry between Astaire and Caron is evident, particularly in their dramatic exchanges, although their divergent dance styles sometimes create visible tension in their performances. Despite unresolved stylistic clashes, standout numbers such as the intricate “Sluefoot” and the iconic “Something’s Gotta Give” encapsulate the film's charm and elegance within its CinemaScope framing, which marks Astaire's first foray into this format. Nonetheless, the narrative momentum is undermined by two extended ballet sequences that pad the film’s runtime to an excessive 126 minutes, distracting from an otherwise briskly paced story.

Astaire‘s portrayal benefits from his propensity to defy age with agile movements and charismatic ease—an impressive feat considering his personal loss during production. Caron’s youth and vigor set a compelling juxtaposition, though her nervousness occasionally surfaces in dance duets. Among the musical's high points are Astaire’s solo dance to “History of the Beat” and the elegant duo performance alongside Caron in “Something’s Gotta Give.” Despite certain plot inertia caused by the verbose ballet scenes, Daddy Long Legs sustains its status through a mix of wit and heartfelt performance, ensuring it remains a notable yet imperfect chapter in Fred Astaire’s illustrious career.

Daddy Long Legs' Blu-Ray release, presented by Kino Lorber, offers a visually and aurally stunning experience that will captivate fans of classic musicals. The film's vibrant sets and costumes, accentuated by the high-definition transfer, are a testament to the technical craftsmanship behind this production. The CinemaScope framing truly shines, highlighting the grandeur and detail in each scene. Astaire's performance, though lacking his usual plethora of dance sequences, still exudes charm and grace, particularly in his interactions with Leslie Caron.

While not considered one of Fred Astaire's quintessential musicals, 'Daddy Long Legs' brings ample charm, humor, and style to the screen. The narrative of a young woman's romantic fascination with her older benefactor may feel drawn out at times, and some might find the ballet sequences slightly excessive. Nonetheless, these moments are balanced by Astaire's elegant dances paired with Caron and his rendition of Johnny Mercer's evocative tunes, making the film enjoyable.

The restoration efforts on this Blu-Ray are commendable, featuring crisp video and audio transfers that elevate Astaire's sterling vocal and dance performances. Supplemental content provides insightful extras for enthusiasts, enriching the viewing experience. Despite not being the most thrilling among Astaire's repertoire, 'Daddy Long Legs' remains a well-crafted and delightful piece of cinematic history that will appeal to musical aficionados and classic film lovers alike.

While dramatics aren't riveting, the rest of Daddy Long Legs is, boasting incredible technical credits that generate eye-popping sets and costumes, keeping the feature an ongoing special effect, benefiting wildly from CinemaScope framing. It's a beautiful picture, and while sections of the story are a little cold to the touch, Daddy Long Legs comes together with cinematic bigness and physical accomplishment, doing enough to entertain and amaze to help forget the age difference.