Please, Not Now! Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Please, Not Now!", encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and restored to a 1080p transfer, showcases impressive video quality that highlights the film's original charm. The aspect ratio of 2.35:1 retains director of photography Robert Lefebvre's cinematic vision, captured on black & white 35 mm film with spherical lenses. The restoration adeptly maintains the film's organic texture while ensuring high levels of clarity, delineation, and depth across various scenes. Viewers can appreciate the finely detailed textural elements like Brigitte Bardot’s hair and the intricate patterns on set design. Shadows are managed exceptionally well, contributing to the visual appeal without the distraction of digital artifacts or inconsistencies in image stability.

The grayscale is meticulously rendered, offering deep, velvety blacks and well-balanced whites that enhance the film’s dramatic atmosphere. Noteworthy scenes, including those set in the Alps, benefit from remarkable visual beauty, invoking the picturesque allure of a Christmas card with snowy landscapes accentuating pine trees. This Blu-ray transfer excels in rendering these scenes with clarity and density, maintaining stability to offer what can be considered the definitive home video release of "Please, Not Now!" for Region A audiences. As a technical achievement, this release successfully merges nostalgic cinematography with modern restoration techniques, achieving a video experience that feels fresh yet authentically retro.

The Blu-ray release of "Please, Not Now!" features a French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 soundtrack, which delivers a clear and stable dialogue presentation throughout the film. Optional English subtitles are provided, visible within the image frame, though occasionally the white text may blend with the film's black-and-white scenes, posing readability challenges. The dialogue maintains its clarity and sharpness across most sequences, ensuring that the spoken word is consistently intelligible.

Despite the film's era, being from the early 1960s, the audio dynamic intensity remains modest. This is somewhat inherent due to its vintage production, with the music in particular being light and harmonious, complementing the film’s ambiance without overwhelming the dialogue. The soundtrack does not have any noticeable audio dropouts or encoding issues, offering a seamless auditory experience. Background sounds, including voices and ambient noise, are well-integrated, enriching the film's atmospheric context.

Overall, while the audio presentation reflects the technical limitations of its time, it provides a faithful auditory representation suitable for film enthusiasts and collectors alike. The French 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio track retains the period charm while ensuring clarity and fidelity in dialogue delivery.

The Blu-ray extras of "Please, Not Now!" offer an insightful and comprehensive dive into both the film and its cultural context. The collection features a vintage U.S. trailer and two significant audio commentaries. The first commentary, recorded by critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, provides a fresh perspective on the film’s narrative and thematic elements. The second audio commentary delves into Brigitte Bardot's collaboration with director Roger Vadim, exploring their professional relationship beyond their personal lives and highlighting key moments from Bardot’s illustrious career. It addresses her pivotal role in reshaping post-World War II cinematic norms, the cultural impact of her on-screen persona as a sexually liberated woman, and the societal shifts these films signaled. This robust examination not only enriches the viewing experience but also situates the film within a broader historical and cultural framework.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailer: A vintage U.S. trailer for "Please, Not Now!", in English.
• Commentary: Exclusive new audio commentary by critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas.
• Audio Commentary: Discussion on Brigitte Bardot's career and collaboration with Roger Vadim.

Roger Vadim's "Please, Not Now!" emerges on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber, showcasing Brigitte Bardot at the zenith of her career. The film, also referred to as "La bride sur le cou," offers a narrative imbued with comedic elements and romantic entanglement. Bardot, embodying the not-so-bright blonde Sophie, delivers a notable performance that oscillates between modeling for her photographer boyfriend Phillippe (Jacques Riberolles) and devising schemes to win him back from his affluent American interest, Barbara (Josephine James). The comedic timing is inconsistent, largely due to Vadim's directorial choices that prioritize Bardot's captivating on-screen presence over narrative coherence.

The film is structured in three disparate acts, merging silly antics with scenes that emphasize Bardot's allure. While this aesthetic focus occasionally detracts from the comedy, Vadim's direction allows Bardot to convincingly navigate her role, lending an undeniable charm despite the flawed comic transitions. As the plot progresses to the French Alps, Bardot shares a genuine chemistry with Michel Subor (Alain), which injects energy into the third act. This segment is particularly noted for its delightfully suggestive material and the dynamic interplay that compels Phillippe to reevaluate his romantic decisions.

Cinematographer Robert Lefebvre captures the visual splendor of the film, aligning with the playful tone Vadim strove for. Despite missed opportunities to integrate other potent characters like a young Mireille Darc, who could have bolstered the plot's progression, the film remains a testament to Bardot’s star quality. Though structurally imperfect, "Please, Not Now!" presents an intriguing study of its era's cinematic landscape and Bardot’s pivotal role within it.

"Please, Not Now!" stands as a notable piece within Brigitte Bardot's filmography, largely due to her captivating presence which significantly elevates the otherwise middling romantic comedy. Directed by Roger Vadim, the film leverages Bardot's star power to transform its narrative, predominantly focused on the romantic entanglements and comedic blunders of its characters. The film does incorporate the quintessential elements of a romantic comedy, delivering a mix of visual and verbal gags with varying success. Its charm lies in its flirtation with themes of sex and relationships, which introduce an appealing layer of spice to the story, despite the relative simplicity of its comedic premise.

The recent Blu-ray release by Kino Lorber provides a meticulously crafted restoration that enhances the visual experience, bringing vibrancy and clarity that complement Bardot's luminous on-screen presence. This restoration succeeds in preserving and highlighting the film's visual appeal, making it the definitive edition for home video enthusiasts. While technical enhancements in sound design and picture quality make for a more immersive experience, the film’s central draw remains its leading lady, whose performance is a primary reason for the film's enduring appeal.

In conclusion, while "Please, Not Now!" may not be lauded for its potency as a romantic comedy, it remains culturally significant for its iconic alignment between Bardot's enduring star appeal and Vadim's directorial vision. The film's restoration offers both fans and newcomers a chance to appreciate it in its best possible form. For those invested in cinematic history and Bardot's legacy, this edition is RECOMMENDED as a worthy addition to their collection.