Henry Graham (Walter Matthau, The Bad News Bears), a descendant of a wealthy New York family, has exhausted his inheritance, leaving him near penniless, much to the dismay of his uncle Harry (James Coco, Murder By Death), who refuses his request for a loan. Upon suggestion of his valet driver Harold (George Rose, The Flesh and the Fiends), Henry devises a plot to marry wealthy professor Henrietta Lowell (played by writer/director Elaine May) and murder her, becoming the beneficiary of her fortune. Along the way, Henry faces various obstacles, including unexpectedly falling in love.

The first feature film to be written and directed by noted playwright and comedian Elaine May (Mikey and Nicky, Ishtar), A NEW LEAF is a calling card of the highest order. Showcasing May as a triple threat, behind and in front of the camera, and offering a canvas for her rapid fire, often acerbic, humor that would define her work. Nominated for two Golden Globe Awards in 1972 – Best Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical) and Best Actress for Elaine May – and adopted into the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2019, A NEW LEAF is one of the great American comedy films of the 1970s and is often cited as the crowning achievement of May’s illustrious, albeit often controversial, career. Cinématographe is proud to present the world 4K UHD debut of Elaine May’s romantic comedy masterpiece, in a new restoration from the original 35mm camera negative.

For thoughts on A New Leaf, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Cinématographe presents A New Leaf with a lush 2160p/HDR transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 4K restoration of the Original 35mm Camera Negative. This film was last released on Blu-Ray courtesy of Olive Films in 2017, but we do not have that release to compare. By all accounts, it was a much better release than the 2012 Blu-Ray from the label, but this jump to 4K UHD Blu-Ray will assuredly be the premier way to view the film moving forward. The utilization of Dolby Vision for more precise color output greatly benefits the backdrop of the film. The vibrant landscapes are represented with a level of accuracy that is a blessing. Director of Photography Gayne Rescher achieves some playful compositions within his framing which get a chance to flourish with this disc.

For those hoping for an authentic representation of the film, you are in for a treat. The natural film grain is intact and as consistent as desired without any notes of unwanted manipulation. Even the bright skies avoid spiking, swarming, or other egregious encoding issues. This leads to a smorgasbord of sumptuous details to take in. The texture present in the costumes and within the various landscapes allows this film to feel more alive than ever. We did not spot even a passing moment with print damage or stray specks thanks to the impeccable restoration. The encoding appears to be free of any digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or other such nuisances. Black levels are solid with nothing in the way of crush present, and highlights are firm with no blooming on display. Cinématographe has given this gem the A+ treatment.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of the film comes with the original DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mono track which brings the ideal care to this classic. This presentation is clear of any hiss or other age-related wear and tear. The heart of this narrative is the script from Elaine May, and each delicious exchange of dialogue comes through with the utmost clarity. All of the parallel elements play nicely with it. In fact, every sound along the journey is ideally executed so that nothing ever feels out of place. The score from Neal Hefti sets the perfect tone that emanates from the speakers with favorable fidelity. Some bustling moments liven up the speakers, but it is not a particularly kinetic story. Cinématographe has done fantastic work with this one to make it sound as strong as possible. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

The Limited Edition version of A New Leaf comes beautifully packaged in a hard outer slipcase that opens up to a MediaBook that includes a bound booklet featuring new essays by writer Sarah Fensom; film critic Elena Lazic; queer historian and film critic Willow Catelyn Maclay; and film critic and editor Hannah Strong as well as a previously published piece by film critic Richard Brody, along with select archival photo reproductions. These essays delve into the film from multiple angles and provide a great analysis in a thoughtfully written style. The release also includes a foldout poster that replicates the cover art. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Disc One (4K UHD)

Audio Commentary: Film programmer, writer and educator K.J. Relth-Miller and Maya Montañez Smukler, author of Liberating Hollywood: Women Directors and the Feminist Reform of 1970s American Cinema, provide a great commentary track in which they discuss the production of the film, where this fits into the career of Elaine May, how May deploys humor, the thematic underpinnings, details about the shooting locations, the background of the performers, and much more that puts things into context.

Disc Two (Blu-Ray)

Audio Commentary: Film programmer, writer and educator K.J. Relth-Miller and Maya Montañez Smukler, author of Liberating Hollywood: Women Directors and the Feminist Reform of 1970s American Cinema

Director Jail – An Interview with Author Carrie Courogen: A new 23-minute conversation with the author in which she discusses her relationship to Elaine May, the obstacles faced by May, the shifting attitudes of Hollywood, her collaborations with Mike Nichols, and more.

Looking For Elaine May – A Video Essay by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas: A new 15-minute video essay in which the co-editor of ReFocus: The Films of Elaine May dives into the career of Elaine May, her exile from the industry, her fights with the studio over her preferred cut of A New Leaf, her work as a performer, and more.

Elaine May and Mike Nichols In Conversation: A 69-minute conversation from 2006 between May and Nichols following a screening of Ishtar in which they discuss working in the studio system, changing attitudes over the years, and so much more.

AFI Silver Streams Podcast – A New Leaf 50th Anniversary: A 48-minute podcast episode from 2021 that explores A New Leaf during its 50th anniversary.

Interview with Assistant Editor Angelo Corrao: A 13-minute interview with the assistant editor in which he discusses getting involved with A New Leaf, working with Elaine May, a three-hour cut of the film, and more.

Women In Hollywood – An Appreciation of Elaine May with Filmmaker Amy Heckerling: A seven-minute interview with Amy Heckerling (Clueless) who discusses the impact of Elaine May on her career.

Theatrical Trailer (1:52)

Final Thoughts

A New Leaf is a darkly hilarious and endearing film that reveals some of the brilliance of Elaine May. As a filmmaker and screenwriter, she handles the precarious balance of tones with an assured hand. As a performer, she executes her vision with a lovable mixture of naivety and openhearted helplessness. She is the perfect foil for the selfish Walter Matthau character, who often leaves you in a state of incredulity between each major laugh. This is a fantastic gem that deserves more appreciation from film fans the world over. Cinématographe has delivered a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a sensational A/V presentation and a magnificent assortment of special features. Highly Recommended

A New Leaf is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD + Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

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