To be or not to be? To act or not to act? They are the same question to Joe, a struggling (read: jobless) actor whose every sinew and synapse cries out to perform — and to soften the blow of not landing a part in a mega budget sci-fi movie. So in the stalwart (read: desperate) tradition of actors everywhere, Joe vows to put on a show, a special (read: even more desperate) version of the greatest play in the English tongue. Writer/director Kenneth Branagh serves up a Hamlet on wry with this salute to dyed-in-the-wool and often wooly-brained thespians. Michael Maloney plays Joe, maxing out his credit cards and wits to realize a dream. Does he succeed? With Richard Briers, Joan Collins, Nicholas Farrell, Absolutely Fabulous alumna Jennifer Saunders and Julia Sawalha and more joining Maloney, one thing is certain: the show must go on.

For thoughts on A Midwinter’s Tale, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/SKHjJikD7zQ?si=WoovjVha4GxhBl3z&t=38]

Video Quality

A Midwinter’s Tale gets a beguiling upgrade on Blu-Ray courtesy of Warner Archive with a new 1080p transfer derived from a brand-new remaster. This black-and-white feature wields a firm hand over the contrast as the balance of shadow and light is expertly handled. Highlights never come close to blooming and black levels are free from crush. This disc captures the intimate setting with impeccable clarity that reveals new facets of the frame. The presence of the natural film grain is invaluable in bringing out subtle nuances free of any egregious compression artifacts or other such digital anomalies. There are details in the production design that have never been seen on home entertainment. Warner Archive has put forth some terrific work.

Audio Quality

Warner Archive gives this Blu-Ray a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that conjures the perfect atmosphere for this reserved story. Dialogue is the primary element as it stays planted in the center channel for most of the film with some idle chatter emanating from the side on occasion. Some environmental effects make a mark such as some unexpected gunfire in the final performance. The score is effective as it delivers every note with premium fidelity. You could not ask for better from the audio presentation. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided on this disc.

Special Features

Original Theatrical Trailer: The minute-and-a-half-long trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

A Midwinter’s Tale is a clever charmer from Kenneth Branagh that functions as a love letter to live theater. The comedy is often very dry, but more often than not it sneaks up a delivers a hearty laugh. The cast work together perfectly to confidently encapsulate their idiosyncratic characters. This is a special little film just waiting to be rediscovered. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a terrific A/V presentation but next to nothing in the way of special features. Recommended

A Midwinter’s Tale can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.