The Night They Raided Minsky's Blu-ray Review

"The Night They Raided Minsky's" arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Olive Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The film, shot entirely in New York City, showcases Andrew Laszlo's gritty and evocative cinematography, providing an immersive period atmosphere. This Blu-ray transfer is faithful to the film's organic sensibilities, maintaining a grainy presentation that may sometimes affect midrange shots, rendering them indistinct. However, under controlled lighting and in close-ups, the detail and fine detail are notably appealing.

The visual presentation of "The Night They Raided Minsky's" breathes new life into the classic film. The transfer impresses with its fine detail, vividly capturing facial features and intricate textures of costumes and settings. Manhattan’s scenes are rendered with excellent depth of field and detail, while the high contrast ensures fine detail is visible even in the theater's darker scenes without amplifying grain. Blacks appear robust while the white balance prevents any washed-out visuals. Although some age-related wear and tear and archival footage in various states of decay are present, the colors, particularly reds, remain bright and vivid, enhancing the overall viewing experience.

Despite its age, this transfer stands out due to its integrity to the source material, only faltering in a few instances where the original elements show limitations. Olive Films' approach preserves the film’s authentic feel by not indulging in excessive restorative measures, making this Blu-ray edition a commendable effort for purists and new viewers alike.

The Blu-ray release of "The Night They Raided Minsky's" offers a DTS-HD Master Audio track that delivers a serviceable, if somewhat unimpressive, audio experience. Presented in both 2.0 mono and 1.0 mono formats, the audio track manages to maintain clean dialogue and resonant music, though it occasionally struggles with balance and clarity. While dialogue is generally crisp, certain noisy scenes can bury important lines, somewhat detracting from the overall delivery.

Musical numbers are a highlight in this mix, providing clear and engaging fidelity. However, the track runs into difficulties during densely packed scenes, sometimes resulting in slightly muddled soundscapes. This issue is most notable during the film's lively finale, where the blending of bawdy orchestral music with audience interaction creates an immersive yet chaotic atmosphere. This effect fits the scene’s intensity but occasionally undercuts the clarity of dialogue.

Overall, "The Night They Raided Minsky's" showcases a competent handling of audio elements like ambient noise, music, and dialogue. While the track doesn't offer an exceptional listening experience that will astound audiophiles, it sufficiently conveys the film's vibrancy and chaotic spirit. There are no significant technical faults that distract from the viewing experience, but potential listeners should temper their expectations regarding audio excellence.

The extras on the Blu-ray release of "The Night They Raided Minsky's" offer an engaging and comprehensive look into the film's production and its historical context. The highlight is a well-crafted audio commentary track featuring film historian Lee Gambin, who provides insightful analysis and anecdotes. The "Behind the Burlesque" featurette offers a fascinating deep-dive into the world of burlesque, adding valuable context to the film’s setting. A particularly enjoyable extra is the interview with cinematographer William Fraker, where he delves into the visual style and cinematography challenges faced during production. Additionally, the included photo gallery showcases rare behind-the-scenes photographs, enriching the viewer’s understanding of the film’s creative process. Some extras, such as the trailers, are presented in varying quality formats but still serve as intriguing promotional glimpses into the film's marketing.

Extras included in this disc:

Audio Commentary: A thorough commentary by film historian Lee Gambin.
Behind the Burlesque: An in-depth exploration of burlesque's history and relevance to the film.
Interview with William Fraker: Insights from the cinematographer on challenges and achievements.
Photo Gallery: A collection of rare behind-the-scenes photos.
Trailer: 1080p format showcasing film promotion.
Trailer: SD format providing another promotional perspective.

William Friedkin’s "The Night They Raided Minsky's" serves as a whimsical love letter to early 20th-century burlesque, laden with frenetic editing and stylistic nods to later efforts by directors like Bob Fosse. The film is rooted in the largely apocryphal legend surrounding the famed Minsky's burlesque venue in New York during the 1920s—a time when such entertainment teetered precariously around the edges of legality. Friedkin, and more significantly editor Ralph Rosenblum, infuse the narrative with an almost documentary-style approach, weaving archival footage with staged performances to capture the energy of the era. This technique, though engaging, can disrupt the story’s pacing, causing the narrative to vacillate between quaint charm and structural chaos.

At the core of the film is Rachel Schpitendavel (Britt Ekland), a naive Amish girl who naively tumbles into the world of burlesque, under the watchful eyes of Professor Spats (Bert Lahr), Raymond Paine (Jason Robards), and Chick Williams (Norman Wisdom). Her puritanical background sets up a humorous contrast against the bustling, risqué theatrical environment. The film oscillates between these character-driven comedic setups and broader subplots involving Billy Minsky (Elliott Gould) struggling to keep the family business afloat amidst mounting pressures from both his father and local morality crusader Vance Fowler (Denholm Elliott).

The ensemble cast and detailed recreation of Minsky's give the film its vitality, while Charles Strouse’s honky-tonk musical score injects an additional layer of period authenticity. Despite its many entertainments—chief among them being Robards and Wisdom’s compelling stage acts—the film suffers from scattered focus and underdeveloped characters. The narrative occasionally feels like a bullet train teetering towards an inevitable yet somewhat unearned resolution. While "The Night They Raided Minsky's" may lack deep character exploration, it excels in evoking a bygone era’s spirit, making it a bittersweet ode to an innocent yet provocatively cheeky period in American entertainment history.

"The Night They Raided Minsky's" on Blu-Ray is a delightfully nostalgic journey into the burlesque scene of the 1920s, colored with a slightly farcical tone. Britt Ekland showcases her comedic talents in a charming yet flawed film, supported by a cast that includes impressive performances from veterans like Jason Robards and Elliott Gould. Although the romance between Ekland and Robards displays some awkwardness, the ensemble cast provides numerous engaging moments. The direction by William Friedkin reflects his earlier, more chaotic style, yet editor Ralph Rosenblum's efforts to craft coherence from this chaos are evident and commendable.

Visually, the Blu-Ray presentation impresses with excellent color fidelity and detailed imagery, capturing the vibrant and whimsical set designs effectively. The audio quality, while decent, compliments the visual presentation adequately, though it may not be groundbreaking. The film's script, unfortunately, does not delve deeply into its characters, rendering them somewhat one-dimensional and appearing as mere scaffolds for progressing towards the climax hinted at in the title.

In conclusion, despite its occasional narrative shortcomings and the slight mismatch of its nostalgic and farcical elements, "The Night They Raided Minsky's" offers engaging performances and high technical quality. Ekland proves to be a standout comedienne, and the editing helps to mask some of the directorial inconsistencies. The film's charm and quality make it a recommended watch for those interested in early 20th-century burlesque or vintage comedic pieces.