The Roaring Twenties - The Criterion Collection 4K UHD Feb 27, 2024
Studio: Warner Brothers 1939 106 minutes
Release Date: Film - 1939
Rating: Not Rated.
Film: 4.5/5
Plot: Three soldiers have a chance meeting in a foxhole during WWI. After they return to the US, Eddie ( James Cagney ) has difficulty finding a job and re-adjusting to civilian life. The three men reunite years later during Prohibition, all part of a bootlegging / speak easy / gangster operation. Tension and ultimately betrayal bring the whole enterprise crashing down.
My Thoughts : Great gangster film noir directed by Raoul Walsh. Written by writer / former journalist Mark Hellinger, who states in the beginning of the film that the story is based on real people, although the characters in the movie are composites of several people. Almost plays out like a documentary at times – which is interesting. The film spans 1919 – 1933 and is an interesting look at events during that time including the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression.
The cast is outstanding - James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, Gladys George and the gorgeous Priscilla Lane are perfect, with a fantastic supporting cast. This was the last film that James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart made together.
Video : 5/5 – This is a new 4K restoration in native 4K and 1080p ( the included Blu-ray - I didn't watch it ) with Dolby Vision and HDR10. I thought it looked outstanding on my 122” screen. 1.37:1 aspect ratio. One of the best classic black and white movies I’ve seen in my theater.
Audio : 5/5 - English LPCM 1.0. Considering the age of the sound track, they really restored this beautifully. Crisp, clear, and no distortion even during gun battles with the sound turned up. And Priscilla Lane’s singing numbers sounded fantastic.
Conclusion – A classic gangster film directed by the great Raoul Walsh, with an outstanding cast, and excellent technical merits. Highly recommended!
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS4100 4K Ultra High Definition Front Projector
( Calibrated by Kris Deering )
Stewart Filmscreen – 128” diagonal StudioTek 130 G3 2.35:1 screen
Stewart Filmscreen – 122” diagonal Cima Neve 16:9 screen
Panamorph Paladin DCR lens
Lumagen Radiance Pro Video Processor
Denon A1H receiver
Parasound Halo A 52+ amp – powering the left / center / right / wide speakers
Reavon 4K Blu Ray player
Zappiti NAS and NEO media player
9.6.4 Speaker System - Martin Logan Motion 40’s ( 2 ), Focus ESL C18 center speaker, Motion EM FX2 surrounds ( 4 ), Motion LX16 wide channel speakers ( 2 ) , Motion 4 heights ( 6 )
Two SVS SB4000 subs
Four SVS SB2000 subs
AC Infinity AIRCOM T8 component cooling fans ( 3 )
GIK Acoustic Panels
PFP M1500 – UPS
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