Search - The Talk of the Town on DVD

A disappointing transfer makes for a dismal film experience!

Nix Pix | Windsor, Ontario, Canada | 02/28/2003

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Columbia Pictures has regressed in their shoddy film transfers of catalogue titles with this DVD. The film, a great screwball adventure that pits a prison escapee (Cary Grant) against a stuffy law professor (Ronald Colman) is about as witty, charming and utterly engaging as one could hope for. Resident studio do-gooder, Jean Arthur is a treat as the woman whose love for the two men is brought to hilarious fruition. As a film, it's five stars all the way! But the DVD is a thoroughly miserable experience with excessive film grain, fine detail shimmering, aliasing problems and varying degrees of stock footage used in the transfer. The hi-def packaging is also deceptive. * Note: the phrasing "remastered in hi-def" means nothing unless the source elements have first been cleaned up. Let the buyer beware! Over all, a mediocre experience. Wait for Criterion to get their hands on it or Columbia to come to its senses and do a restoration."

Cary Grant AND Ronald Colman

Kurt A. Johnson | North-Central Illinois, USA | 03/06/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Leopold Dilg (played by Cary Grant, but where did they get that name?), a small town malcontent and challenger to the status quo, is framed for arson. Seeking to hide out in the home of Nora Shelley (Jean Arthur), he finds that he must hide from the new renter, Michael Lightcap (Ronald Colman). Luck seems to be on his side when it turns out that Lightcap is a famous legal scholar and Supreme Court nominee. However, Lightcap likes his law cold and academic. What will it take to both melt Lightcap and free Dilg? [Black and white, created in 1942, with a running time of 1 hour, 58 minutes.]What a great movie! The cover for the tape looks like Mount Rushmore, and that is no exaggeration. Cary Grant AND Ronald Colman, who could ask for more? The story is humorous is a subtle way, and just as subtly romantic. This movie doesn't hit you over the head, but strongly looks at the use and abuse of the law in the United States. There is nothing objectionable in this movie, so you can watch it with small children, though it will probably prove too slow moving for them.I recommend this movie absolutely!"

Pretty good mix of a serious topic and comedy...

ehakus | New York, NY United States | 07/19/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sometimes I am tempted to describe this movie as having split personality disorder. On one level, it seems to be a lighthearted comedy with a love triangle between Cary Grant, Ronald Coleman, and Jean Arthur. And on another level, it aims to deal with deeper issues like the role of the law in society, etc, etc. But, actually, I think a more accurate way to describe this movie would be as a late screwball comedy. During the WWII years, screwball comedy, which had been so carefree in the depression, began to take on more serious issues, leading to movies like this one - strange mixes of the screwball spirit and deeper concerns. Regardless of its strange synthesis of screwball and serious issues, however, The Talk of the Town is a classic, and a great movie! Essentially, it is about a small town rebel (Cary Grant, in an uncharacteristic role) who escapes from prision after being wrongly accused of arson and murder. He comes across a former friend (Jean Arthur) and stays with her, posing as the gardener when a law professor (Ronald Coleman) comes to rent her house. There are many hilarious situations in the house, but the movie also discussed the role of the law in society and whether law should be interpreted coldly and to the letter or have a more personal application. The acting is very good. Cary Grant, though in a strange role, proves his talent as a more dramatic actor (and also shows off his incredible comedic skills). Even though he was ignored by the Oscars for years, Grant really was a spectacular actor - he just wasn't given enough credit because he tended to make it all look so easy. Ronald Coleman is also good as his urbane, cold rival, and Jean Arthur is great - her reactions steal scene after scene! Anyhow, this movie is very good. Although it is somewhat of a strange mix, it is quite enjoyable and typical of the semi-screwball comedies from the war years. Get this and enjoy!"

Good movie, bad presentation

M. Zeigler | seattle wa | 02/27/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"You need to know a few things before buying the DVD of this very entertaining George Stevens comedy. One, it's not really a 'screwball' comedy, so if you're expecting outrageous hijinks like Bringing Up Baby, or The Awful Truth you might be a little disappointed. In tone it's very much in line with the films of Frank Capra or George Steven's own The More the Merrier, another great film starring the seriously under appreciated Jean Arthur. The second thing you should know, is that Columbia aka Sony has done very little to warrant the $... list price for the DVD. Picture quality is poor and they have the nerve to charge this much money for a pan and scan version of a 60 yr old film with no extras. It's really disgraceful and disrespectful of Sony to do this to film lovers... (though the list price is five dollars less than Talk of the Town, it's still too much for a great film that's desperately in need of restoration) So in short, a very entertaining film in a very cheesy presentation."