The Cat and the Canary Blu-ray Review
Score: 79
from 3 reviewers
Review Date:
The Cat and the Canary’s Blu-ray by Kino Lorber offers an impressive video-audio presentation with expert direction, making it a must-have for Bob Hope fans.
Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 81
The Cat and the Canary on Blu-ray by Kino Lorber delivers an impressive 1080p MPEG-4 AVC presentation in a 1.37:1 aspect ratio, exhibiting superb black and white photography, organic film grain, and robust detail despite some minor frame judder and age-related flaws, marking a significant upgrade over previous releases.
Audio: 83
The Blu-ray release boasts a DTS-HD Master Audio mono mix, delivering impressive fidelity and clear dialogue with minimal hiss or distortion, truly enhancing the film’s atmospheric elements and representing Ernst Toch’s score faithfully.
Extra: 69
Lee Gambin's new audio commentary provides insightful, albeit slightly disjointed, production history and anecdotes, making it the standout feature amidst a modest array of theatrical trailers and KLSC promotional content.
Movie: 84
A must-see gem showcasing Bob Hope's comedic mastery paired with Paulette Goddard, 'The Cat and the Canary' thrives on its perfect blend of horror and humor. The film captivates with stunning cinematography by Charles Lang, an evocative score by Ernst Toch, and impeccable art direction by Hans Dreier. An essential classic.
Video: 81
Kino Lorber’s presentation of "The Cat and the Canary" comes in a high-definition 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded format, maintaining a full frame 1.36:1 aspect ratio. The transfer is sharp, robust, and impressively clear, considering the age of the film and its source materials. Black and white photography is rendered with remarkable clarity, revealing excellent detail across facial features, costuming, and set design. Remarkably minimal instances of scratches, burns, and other print damage elevate this presentation to a standout.
Although not sourced from a recent restoration, this 1.37:1 transfer retains an organic appearance with appreciable grain structure. While some frame judder is present during the opening credits and darker sequences occasionally reach a lighter gray tone, these are minor and infrequent issues. Grayscale remains well-balanced, with deep blacks and clean shadows enhancing the viewing experience.
Ultimately, this Blu-ray edition represents a noticeable improvement over prior DVD releases, delivering an almost definitive visual presentation. Despite a few minor imperfections, Kino Lorber’s version does "The Cat and the Canary" justice and serves as a worthy addition to any classic film collection.
Audio: 83
The Blu-ray release of "The Cat and the Canary" features a DTS HD Master Audio mono track that is impressively clear and effective. Throughout the film, the dialogue remains crisp, well-articulated, and easy to comprehend. The sound mix offers commendable fidelity, thoughtfully balancing dialogue with important sound effects and Ernst Toch’s evocative score. It’s particularly noteworthy that this lossless audio track is free from significant issues such as pops, clicks, hiss, or warps, enhancing the overall auditory experience given the age of the source material.
While the DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono mix leads with strong dialogue delivery, it occasionally necessitates a slight volume adjustment to fully appreciate the audio nuances without introducing noticeable hiss. However, once set, the volume remains stable without needing further adjustment. The soundtrack includes some enjoyable atmospheric moments, including Bob Hope’s exchanges in unusual environments that provide a palpable sense of location. This edition arguably offers the best audio rendition of the film to date, outperforming previous DVD releases and securing its place as an exemplary model of faithful audio preservation for classic cinema. Complementing the audio presentation are optional English subtitles, further enhancing accessibility and enjoyment.
Extra: 69
The Blu Ray extras for "The Cat and the Canary" provide a mixed yet commendable collection that complements the film. The highlight is the newly recorded audio commentary by renowned author and film historian Lee Gambin, who delves into the film's production history, cast, crew, and the source material, albeit with some disjointed moments. This insightful commentary adds significant value to the viewing experience. Additionally, the disc includes a theatrical trailer for the film and several KLSC trailers, offering fans a taste of related classics from the distributor's catalog.
Extras included in this disc:
- Audio Commentary by Lee Gambin: Engaging insights into production history, cast, crew, and source material.
- Theatrical Trailer: Original trailer for "The Cat and the Canary".
- KLSC Trailers:
- The Ghost Breakers
- Road to Singapore
- Road to Zanzibar
- Road to Morocco
- Road to Utopia
Movie: 84
"The Cat and the Canary" (1939) stands as an exemplary blend of horror and comedy, demonstrating the timeless appeal of combining chills with laughs. Directed by Elliott Nugent and adapted from John Willard's play, this classic showcases Bob Hope as Wally Campbell and Paulette Goddard as Joyce Norman. Their spirited performances are the backbone of the film; Hope’s impeccable comedic timing offers a lively contrast to the suspenseful narrative. The story revolves around Norman’s inheritance of a mansion, provided she remains sane and alive for 30 days, leading to a night filled with cryptic threats and an escaped murderer. The screenplay by Walter De Leon and Lynn Starling is sharp and engaging, emphasizing humor without sidelining the eerie intrigue that propels the plot.
The film's technical merits significantly enhance its enduring charm. Renowned art director Hans Dreier and Robert Usher's meticulous set designs immerse viewers in a convincingly eerie atmosphere, perfectly suited to both the horror and comedic elements. Edith Head’s costume designs further enrich the period authenticity. The score composed by Ernst Toch adeptly punctuates comedic moments while sustaining tension, attesting to Toch’s versatile talent. Cinematographer Charles Lang expertly captures the gothic ambiance through striking black-and-white visuals that shift seamlessly between moments requiring mystery and humor, deftly supporting the narrative's dual genres.
Complementing Hope and Goddard's stellar performances is a robust supporting cast featuring Gale Sondergaard, George Zucco, and John Beal. Each contributes to the narrative’s depth—Sondergaard as the mysterious housekeeper, Zucco as the ill-fated attorney, and Beal as a rival love interest. Together, they amplify the film's appeal by adding layers of intrigue and humor. Ultimately, "The Cat and the Canary" deftly balances horror and comedy, making it a quintessential classic that continues to entertain audiences with its smart direction, technical prowess, and outstanding performances.
Total: 79
"The Cat and the Canary" on Blu-ray stands out as a laudable release from Kino Lorber, offering an impeccable blend of video and audio quality. Directed by Elliott Nugent, this film amalgamates mystery, suspense, and comedy, making it a must-see for fans of Bob Hope and classic cinema. The film’s 75-minute runtime ensures a brisk pace without sacrificing narrative depth, elegantly leaning into murder mystery tropes to support its humor. The audio commentary, a key supplementary feature, adds further value, providing insightful context to the film.
Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard deliver standout performances, showcasing their undeniable chemistry. While comparisons with "The Ghost Breakers" are inevitable, "The Cat and the Canary" arguably offers a more cohesive plot, effectively balancing comedy with elements of horror. The transfer quality on this Blu-ray release is highly respectable, presenting the film in its best possible light for home viewing.
In conclusion, "The Cat and the Canary" combines robust production values with an expertly handled Blu-ray transfer by Kino Lorber. Every fan of Bob Hope or aficionados of classic horror-comedy should consider this release indispensable. Highly recommended.
Blu-ray.com review by Neil LumbardRead review here
Video: 80
The print quality is simply fantastic and the scan looks rather robust given the age of the film and its source materials....
Audio: 80
...
Extras: 60
The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: The Ghost Breakers (SD, 2:15), Road to Singapore (SD, 2:38), Road to Zanzibar (SD, 2:16),...
Movie: 80
Then there's the stellar costumes by Edith Head (The Sting, Roman Holiday) to provide the characters with the right aesthetic for their respective parts....
Total: 80
Featuring a strong video-audio presentation, the Kino Lorber Blu-ray edition of The Cat and the Canary is well worth owning....
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 60
Black levels are pretty good, most of the time reaching that deep inky tone we like to see, but there are a few sequences where contrast is a little hot, and blacks take on a lighter gray tone....
Audio: 60
Similar to The Ghost Breakers, this mix is perfectly good at what it does and that's largely focusing on dialog and important key sound effects with a few breaks for scoring to punctuate the mood....
Extras: 40
As with the case for most Kino Lorber Studio Classics releases, bonus features aren't a robust package, however the new audio commentary with Lee Gambin is well worth it....
Movie: 80
Hope obviously can hold the audience interest and Paulette Goddard is an effective leading lady, but it's the colorful cast of side characters who can steal the show in their own way....
Total: 60
The Ghost Breakers may have a steadier stream of comedy but The Cat and the Canary is probably the better plot leaning into the murder mystery tropes to prop up the humor....
Home Theater Forum review by t1g3r5fanRead review here
Video: 90
There’s minimal instances of problems like scratches, tears, or dirt present here, which means that this Blu-ray release is likely the best the movie will ever look on home video and is a noticeable improvement...
Audio: 100
Overall, this is likely the best the movie will ever sound on home video and an improvement over previous DVD releases....
Extras: 60
Commentary by film historian Lee Gambin – Newly recorded for this release, Gambin goes over the film’s production history, the cast and crew, as well as some background on the source material; it’s a bit...
Movie: 90
Rounding out the cast here are John Wray (Himmelstoss in Lewis Milestone’s All Quiet on the Western Front) as the insane asylum guard, George Regas and an uncredited Chief Thundercloud as Indian guides...
Total: 80
An outstanding mix of comedy and horror, The Cat and the Canary is one of the best movies of Bob Hope’s career outside of the Road to… franchise and possibly one of the best horror comedies of all time....
Director: Elliott Nugent
Actors: Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard, John Beal
PlotA decade after the death of millionaire Cyrus Norman, his will is finally set to be read at his eerie, isolated mansion located in the Louisiana bayou. The potential heirs gather, including Joyce Norman, a distant relative, who brings along her friend Wally. Adding to the tension, they are informed by the caretaker, Miss Lu, that the estate is believed to be haunted by Cyrus's dissatisfied spirit. As the night progresses, the assembled guests are startled by a mysterious figure known as "The Cat," who has been terrorizing the area with a series of murders. The group learns that whoever inherits the fortune must be deemed sane by midnight or the next heir will inherit everything.
During the unfolding events, eerie occurrences and sudden disappearances heighten the sense of paranoia among the guests. Joyce is declared the main heir but becomes increasingly anxious as unsettling incidents occur around her. Meanwhile, Wally attempts to use his wit and humor to navigate through the escalating danger, providing both comic relief and unexpected bravery. With the house shrouded in darkness and suspicions running high, each person must confront their deepest fears. Amidst a growing sense of dread and the elusive threat of 'The Cat,' secrets are unveiled and alliances are tested, leading to a tense and gripping scenario that promises grave consequences for all involved.
Writers: Walter DeLeon, Lynn Starling, John Willard
Release Date: 10 Nov 1939
Runtime: 72 min
Rating: Approved
Country: United States
Language: English