What a Way to Go! Blu-ray Review

The AVC encoded image of "What a Way to Go!" (2.35:1 aspect ratio) vibrantly represents the film’s dominant color palette, particularly with an emphasis on pink hues that permeate from the opening 20th Century Fox logo. The colors are handled meticulously, amplifying the visual impact of fantasy sequences and costuming. Primary colors showcase significant punch, with reds, oranges, yellows, and especially pinks appearing lush and beautifully saturated. Flesh tones are natural and stable, despite a sharp contrast between the tanned men and MacLaine’s alabaster complexion.

Sharpness is commendable for the film’s period, offering reasonable close-ups and detailed textural presentation of outfits and set decorations. The clarity and contrast are excellent, helping specific details like jewelry to pop with noticeable sparkle. While the source remains healthy without major damage, minor appearances of nicks, blotches, and faint print damage do occur intermittently but seldom detract from the viewing experience. Overall, this transfer delivers a colorful and occasionally eye-popping visual experience that maintains its cinematic integrity from the period.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono track on the Blu-ray for "What a Way to Go!" delivers both clarity and balance with impressive finesse. The sound mix adeptly manages the varied range of music and comedy intrinsic to the film. Dialogue exchanges are captured immaculately, from the purrs of Shirley MacLaine to the bellowing of other cast members, ensuring that comedic pacing remains intact without any distortive extremes. The soundtrack's scoring is robust, adequately supporting the diverse moods with rich instrumentation, while musical numbers benefit from crisp vocals and precise dance sound effects. Notably, atmospheric sounds, though basic, are efficiently rendered.

The track benefits from a wide dynamic scale, effectively managing the brassiness of Nelson Riddle's jazzy music score, delivering it with richness and depth. Sonic accents such as gunshots, pratfalls, horns, alarms, jackhammers, screechy wheels, and jet engines punctuate the audio with clarity, avoiding any distortion even at high points. Even subtler elements like Gene Kelly's gentle tapping during his soft-shoe routine are rendered with precision. The dialogue remains consistently comprehensible throughout, supported by an absence of age-related pops or crackles and minimal hiss detected only during quieter moments.

Overall, this is a particularly active track for a comedy film, skillfully sustaining a balance that enhances both auditory enjoyment and narrational depth. The technical prowess in sound engineering ensures that each element, from musical highs to dialogue lows, is delivered with professional competence and engaging fidelity.

The Blu-ray release of "What a Way to Go!" offers a minimal yet valuable selection of extras that cater to enthusiasts of classic cinema. Despite the limited number of features, the included content provides a fascinating glimpse into the film's promotional history and its era. The quality is standard definition but preserved adequately to maintain its nostalgic charm. These supplemental materials will be particularly intriguing for those invested in cinematic history and the movie's original marketing efforts.

Extras included in this disc:

• Theatrical Trailer: The original trailer for "What a Way to Go!" providing viewers with a nostalgic look back at its initial promotion.
• Previews for 'Paris Blues': Promotional preview for the film "Paris Blues."
• Previews for 'Foreign Intrigue': A glimpse into the marketing of "Foreign Intrigue."
• Previews for 'The Honey Pot': Teaser trailer for "The Honey Pot."

"What a Way to Go!" (1964), directed by J. Lee Thompson, serves as a prime example of star power attempting to buoy an otherwise uneven cinematic effort. Originally envisioned for Marilyn Monroe, the film eventually spotlighted Shirley MacLaine, who takes on the role of Louisa May Foster, a woman whose suitors—all charmingly portrayed by an A-list cast including Paul Newman, Robert Mitchum, Dean Martin, Gene Kelly, and Dick Van Dyke—find fortune only to meet untimely demises. MacLaine's performance as Louisa is undeniably engaging, blending comedic flair and daffy vulnerability, yet she wrestles with the film's sprawling narrative and overt theatricality.

The film's episodic structure is anchored by Louisa's retellings of her lovers' fantastical rise and tragic fall to a befuddled analyst played by Robert Cummings. Each segment parodies distinct cinematic genres—ranging from silent films to French New Wave—while indulging in elaborate fantasy sequences. These set-pieces, choreographed by Gene Kelly and featuring Edith Head’s extravagant costume designs, are visually arresting but often overindulgent, stretching the story thin. Despite stellar performances, particularly Kelly’s musical sequences and MacLaine’s impeccable comedic timing, Thompson's direction often opts for broad strokes rather than nuanced satire.

Overall, "What a Way to Go!" oscillates between moments of brilliance and tediousness, with humor that lacks consistency and subtlety. The film’s critique of materialism and the corrupting power of wealth is overshadowed by its excessive ambition and heavy-handed execution. The high-wattage ensemble cast delivers charisma and energy, yet the disjointed plot and uneven pacing render the movie more exhausting than entertaining. The lavish visual and costume design keep the audience engaged, but the film ultimately struggles to find its comic center amidst the spectacle.

Review of "What a Way to Go!" Blu-ray Release

"What a Way to Go!" is a lavish production, vividly showcasing the grandeur of Hollywood's mid-century transition. The film, imbued with visually stunning set pieces and vibrant color palettes, stands as an evocative snapshot of its era's glossy cinematic endeavors. While its lavishness and Edith Head’s extravagant costume designs undoubtedly captivate the eyes, the film's comedic elements often fall flat, resulting in an uneven and at times frustrating viewing experience. Despite the star-studded cast led by Shirley MacLaine, whose dedication and talent shine through, the narrative’s control issues and inconsistent humor hinder the film’s overall charm.

Shirley MacLaine leads a cadre of renowned actors, including Mitchum, Martin, Newman, Kelly, Cummings, and Van Dyke – each bringing their own unique flair to this farcical narrative. However, the film’s potential is undercut by its excess, leading to a series of mild and infrequent laughs instead of sustained comedic brilliance. What stands out more prominently are MacLaine’s outlandish costumes and the over-the-top scenarios that pepper this tale of love, loss, and unintended fortune. Kino Lorber's Blu-ray release does justice to the film’s visual and auditory elements with its solid transfers, although it is devoid of any supplementary content that might have provided additional insights or value.

In conclusion, "What a Way to Go!" is an impressively crafted piece with notable stylistic flourishes that make it a worthwhile artifact from an evolving Hollywood era. While it may not consistently deliver on its comedic promises, it remains an interesting watch for fans of its illustrious cast and period-specific extravagance. This Blu-ray release will most appeal to dedicated followers of MacLaine and her co-stars, offering a nostalgic glimpse into a bygone cinematic style replete with high energy and visual splendor.