Since You Went Away Blu-ray Review

Kino Lorber's 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 Blu-ray transfer of "Since You Went Away" provides a mesmerizing visual experience that far exceeds expectations. The AVC encoded image, maintaining the original 1.33:1 aspect ratio, handles the film's original cinematography with care, delivering satisfactory detail and a strongly filmic viewing experience. Softness attributable to the film's age and glamour lighting—particularly in the scenes featuring Jennifer Jones—persists, but there is no detrimental impact on the textures and detailing of facial particulars, set decoration, and costuming, which display some fibrous qualities. While minor wear and tear are present, significant damage is notably absent, leaving the viewing experience largely uninterrupted.

This stellar restoration particularly shines in its treatment of texture, grain structure, contrast, and black levels. The natural and consistent grain structure preserves the film-like quality and enhances the textures of clothing and furniture. Excellent clarity and contrast yield a heightened sense of depth, with black levels appearing lush and whites remaining crisp. The varied grayscale significantly augments the fine details. Exquisitely deep shadows are complemented by sharp, elegant lines and superb delineation, allowing close-ups to reveal intricate details such as Colbert’s alabaster skin, Jones’s fresh-faced complexion, the grizzled beard of Monty Woolley, and Hattie McDaniel’s expressive eyes.

Overall, Kino Lorber’s meticulous work on this Blu-ray version results in a spectacular visual upgrade. Despite its age, "Since You Went Away" looks remarkably clean and vibrant. A few minor marks and occasional soft or rough shots derived from secondary sources are minimal and do not detract from the presentation’s brilliance. This immersive transfer invites viewers into the heart of the story like never before, making it a must-have for fans who will find their old DVDs utterly outclassed by this extraordinary edition.

The 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio sound mix for "Since You Went Away" offers a well-presented auditory experience, particularly centered around dialogue exchanges. While a slight volume boost is necessary for clarity, dialogue remains distinctly comprehensible, allowing for a smooth viewing experience. This balance ensures that orchestral scores add depth to the scenes without overwhelming them. Ambient sounds in crowd scenes are effectively rendered, maintaining a natural atmosphere without overshadowing crucial speech.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono track further emphasizes dialogue prioritization, providing clear and consistent delivery throughout the film. The mix effectively balances ambient sounds in various environments, such as the bustling ambiance of a bowling alley and the relentless noise of a munitions factory. The Max Steiner music score, which subtly underscores much of the action, is well-integrated, never intruding upon the primary audio elements. The dynamic range is sufficient to avoid distortion, and the age-related imperfections like hiss, pops, or crackles have been meticulously minimized. The overall fidelity and tonal depth also effectively enhance the overture and entr’acte music, providing an immersive auditory experience.

In summary, while the audio presentation of "Since You Went Away" might not be groundbreaking, it is a well-balanced effort that complements the film's age and classic status. The sound mix adeptly supports both spoken and ambient elements, ensuring an enriching viewing experience.

The Blu-ray release of "Since You Went Away" includes only a limited selection of extras, omitting more comprehensive supplements that fans might anticipate. The disc features a modest collection of trailers that, while providing some historical context, fall short of the richer, retrospective commentary or featurettes that an influential film of this stature deserves. While it is understandable that the studio may have avoided cluttering the disc to preserve video quality, the absence of a more in-depth bonus content feels like a missed opportunity for a deeper dive into its production and legacy. Nevertheless, the existing extras do offer a brief but valuable glimpse into other Selznick productions and their associated talent.

Extras included in this disc:

• Theatrical Trailer: Original preview of "Since You Went Away."
• Trailer Gallery: Trailers for "Portrait of Jennie," "Duel in the Sun," "I’ll Be Seeing You," and "A Farewell to Arms."

Since You Went Away, a 1944 wartime production by David O. Selznick, navigates the emotional landscape of a family left behind on the home front. Claudette Colbert, Jennifer Jones, and Shirley Temple deliver compelling performances as they portray the Hilton family enduring the absence of their patriarch who has gone to serve in WWII. The film's nearly three-hour runtime may feel ample, but it serves to delve into the emotional gravity and societal shifts of the era, encompassing themes like lost loves, changed lives, and the dread of war.

Crafted under Selznick's meticulous oversight, the film offers a tapestry of the human condition during wartime. While John Cromwell's direction is lauded, Selznick’s fingerprints are omnipresent, from the adaptation of Margaret Buell Wilder's novel to the career-star turn for Jones. The narrative essentially unfolds as a concatenation of vignettes portraying various facets of the Hilton family's life. Colbert's nuanced portrayal of Anne Hilton earned her an Oscar nomination, while Jones captures a poignant coming-of-age journey amid adversities, also nabbing a Best Supporting Actress nod.

Technically, the film is superbly realized with pristine black-and-white cinematography and an evocative score by Max Steiner. Its craftsmanship shines in memorable sequences like the iconic train station farewell between Jones and Walker, which underscores this deeply humanistic story. Though the episodic nature might sometimes give way to melodrama, Since You Went Away's disarming relatability, combined with its historical context and timeless themes, lends it an enduring appeal even decades later. Despite inflation with patriotic sentiment typical of wartime films, its portrayal of personal and societal transformation remains resonant.

"Since You Went Away" directed by John Cromwell, with contributions from multiple creatives including David O. Selznick, offers a novelistic portrayal of the World War II homefront that seeks to provide a grand sweep of life changes and challenges faced by its characters. The film's strengths lie in its small charms and in-the-moment war reminders, rather than an overarching epic narrative of suffering. Joseph Cotten delivers an enjoyable performance in a supporting role, adding to the film’s appeal. While the runtime feels excessive at times, the performances are engaging enough to navigate through any narrative dead spots, maintaining the audience's interest with occasional sudsy melodrama.

This Blu-ray release from Kino Lorber thoroughly shines with excellent video and audio transfers that heighten the viewing experience. The meticulous restoration work ensures that viewers can appreciate the film in impeccable quality, making it a definitive way to enjoy this classic. However, it's worth noting that the disc lacks supplementary features beyond a few trailers, which is a slight disappointment for those seeking additional context or insights into the production.

Despite its length and occasional pacing issues, "Since You Went Away" remains a deeply affecting portrait of courage, love, devotion, and endurance on the American homefront during World War II. It stands as an exceptional example of period filmmaking with an all-star cast and literate script. This restored Blu-ray presentation comes highly recommended for its technical quality and faithful representation of a classic film.