How Do I Love Thee? Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "How Do I Love Thee?" uses an AVC encoded 1.78:1 aspect ratio, closely approximating its original theatrical release. Despite this effort, the transfer disappoints. The color palette appears aged, often rendering pale and inconsistent hues. While the bright picture provides some liveliness, the discrepancy in color fidelity, particularly in flesh tones and specific elements like Maureen O’Hara’s red hair, fluctuates noticeably within scenes. The preservation of vibrant costumes and set decorations is somewhat adequate but marred by the weak color presentation.

Detail remains subpar, often overshadowed by a persistent softness and sporadic delineation challenges. The source material from Disney's archives exhibits significant wear, marked by speckling, dust, and mild scratches throughout. A noticeable wobble is present during the main titles, accentuated by brief chemical blotches. These imperfections culminate in an array of scratches and white streaks during pivotal moments such as Gleason’s climactic monologue. While these issues don't completely obscure the action, they distract, falling below the high standards typically expected from Kino.

Overall, though the transfer is watchable, it fails to deliver an optimal viewing experience due to its numerous visual inconsistencies and aged element challenges.

The Blu-ray of "How Do I Love Thee?" features a 2.0 DTS-HD MA audio track that delivers a mix of commendable clarity and noticeable imperfections. The dialogue remains distinct and generally easy to comprehend, effectively capturing the combative exchanges and emotional subtleties typical of the drama genre. However, ADR instances are apparent, particularly in scenes like Lena's kitchen, where sound effects such as a beaded curtain clicking stand out. While the track is mostly clear, a certain harshness pervades, and an occasional hiss can be heard at inopportune moments.

Music elements within the soundtrack are less consistent; mood transitions are perceptible but lack confidence, and the age of the audio is evident with crackling highs occasionally interrupting the listening experience. Despite these issues, the audio quality is superior when compared to the video but does not come without its own set of problems. Notably, the absence of English subtitles may pose accessibility challenges for some viewers.

Overall, the DTS HD-MA 2.0 mono track provides an authentic yet slightly flawed presentation befitting this classic piece, balancing dialogue clarity with ambient sounds despite occasional lapses in audio fidelity.

The Blu Ray release of "How Do I Love Thee?" presents a minimal offering in terms of extra content, which remains a missed opportunity for fans seeking deeper insights into the film. Unfortunately, the disc includes neither commentary tracks nor behind-the-scenes footage. The only supplementary materials available are a series of trailers for unrelated films, each exhibiting varying degrees of technical quality. This lack of dedicated bonus material is a notable shortcoming for collectors and film enthusiasts who often seek more enriching content in Blu Ray releases.

Extras included in this disc:

Trailers: Promotional trailers for five unrelated films of varying technical quality.

"How Do I Love Thee?" exhibits notable missteps, predominantly stemming from its inability to find a coherent tone or direction. Jackie Gleason's performance in this dramedy—where he portrays the irritable Stanley—is symptomatic of the entire film's uncertainties. The movie aims to merge counterculture themes with senior sensibilities but fails to resonate with either audience. Gleason looks visibly uncomfortable, and often inebriated, struggling to convey a midlife crisis alongside Shelley Winters, whose role as a sex object seems grossly miscast. This misalignment cripples their chemistry, rendering scenes between them lackluster and unengaging.

Attempting to navigate different plotlines through flashbacks, the script further complicates what could have been a simple narrative. The ideological conflict between Stanley, an avowed atheist, and his devout Christian wife Elsie (Maureen O'Hara) offers rich terrain for exploration but is left thinly developed. Instead, the film stumbles into a series of underwhelming comedic setups and melodramatic turns that fail to land convincingly. Rick Lenz as their son, Tom, remains a passive player, despite the potential profundity of reconciling his upbringing's opposing influences. Moreover, the production fails to visually distinguish past and present timelines—a critical oversight that disrupts viewer immersion.

Ultimately, "How Do I Love Thee?" struggles under the weight of its ambitions, unable to suitably balance humor and drama. Scenes designed for comedic relief suffer from poor execution, and earnest moments lack the depth required for emotional impact. Director Michael Gordon’s struggle to effectively convey larger themes like trust and honor adds another layer of disarray. Despite scattered glimpses of the cast’s inherent talent, the film's disjointed narrative and tonal inconsistencies prevent it from reaching its potential. The resulting product is a perplexing blend of missed opportunities, leaving both audience and cast unfulfilled.

How Do I Love Thee? adapts a novel by Peter De Vries, transforming basic domestic disturbance issues into a predictably banal narrative. While the story attempts to explore tantalizing themes such as religion and adultery, it fails to delve deeply, seemingly restrained by a fear of alienating its audience. This is reflected in scenes that aim for interest but largely fall flat, such as one featuring Stanley engaging with kids during a college sit-in. Jackie Gleason, the film's leading man, appears visibly uncomfortable throughout the film, his physical and mental disengagement emblematic of the movie’s larger shortcomings.

The film boasts an intriguing premise and an impressive cast but fails to capitalize on these strengths, often squandering comic potential and leaving dramatic scenes inert. Jackie Gleason’s presence may serve as a redeeming quality for his fans, yet this will not be enough to overcome the film’s wider appeal challenges. The disc mirrors the film’s mediocrity, providing a transfer that is serviceable at best with no compelling additional features to enhance its value.

In conclusion, "How Do I Love Thee?" struggles to make a lasting impact, hindered by unengaged performances and underwhelming storytelling. While fans of Jackie Gleason might find fleeting enjoyment in his portrayal, the movie and its Blu-ray presentation are unlikely to satisfy a broader audience. Its lack of dynamic content both narratively and technically further cements its position as a less notable offering.