Based on the 1947 classic of the same name, this “entertaining” (New York Times) rags-to-riches tale about a vivacious young fighter from Chicago pulls no punches in its portrayal of boxing’s dark side. Featuring the always-animated Muhammad Ali as himself, Body and Soul is “a rousing good time” (LA Herald-Examiner)! Golden Gloves champ Leon, played by Leon Isaac Kennedy (Lone Wolf McQuade, Too Scared to Scream) has no interest in becoming a pro boxer; instead, he wants to be a doctor. But when his little sister requires immediate and expensive medical treatments, he decides to go for the title and all the money it will bring. On his way to the top, however, Leon succumbs to the temptations that come with success: money, flesh, ego. As a result, he begins to lose everyone and everything he used to care about. Can Leon pull his life back together, or is he too far gone to be redeemed? Also starring Jayne Kennedy, Peter Lawford (Salt and Pepper, One More Time), Perry Lang (The Hearse, Spring Break) and Academy Award® nominee* Michael V. Gazzo (The Godfather: Part II, Alligator), now watch this uplifting film in HD!

For thoughts on Body and Soul (1981), please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/iJ1PfYp6g8U?t=4429]

Video Quality

Body and Soul (1981) comes to Blu-Ray with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer derived from what appears to be an older master from MGM. While there is definite room for improvement, this is mostly a winning presentation with a handful of deficits against it. Clarity and detail is fairly solid with natural skin tones and facial features that are easily noticeable in closeup. The natural state of the transfer runs a bit soft so that detail does not remain as crisp in medium or long shots.

Black levels are acceptable in their depth with only some of the more shadowy scenes lacking precise detail. This transfer maintains the natural film grain of the presentation yet it can sometimes have a bit of blockiness. Colors occasionally lack depth, but they get the job done with vividness in some hues. Instances of print damage are still visible with sporadic specks and marks that do not detract too much. This new presentation from Scorpion Releasing could benefit from another pass, but the title looks good in high definition.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that shows its limitations and age. Dialogue is the strongest element as it remains well defined and is not overwhelmed by competing sounds. Environmental elements such as the roar of the crowd are a bit messy and less precise than everything else. You feel the drawback of age-related anomalies such as moments of distortion and strain in the higher registers. The score provides a rousing atmosphere for this story that can sound a bit brash in the peaks. The audio portion of the disc feels in line with the video portion in that it gets the job done but could be greatly improved. This release includes English SDH subtitles.

Special Features

Interview with Leon Isaac Kennedy: A 13-minute interview with Kennedy in which he discusses his variety of roles on this film, working with a non-actor for the role of Mad Man Santiago, his friendship with Ali, his partnership with Jayne Kennedy, the casting of numerous ensemble roles, the legacy of the film and more.

Trailers: The two-minute trailer for Body and Soul is provided here. There are also trailers provided for P.O.W: The Escape, The Delta Force, Death Wish III and Lone Wolf McQuade.

Final Thoughts

Body and Soul (1981) is fine entertainment, but it does not rise above its rather standard narrative ambitions. We have seen the rapid rise to fame and its fallout in the sports genre before, so the only thing this version of the story has going for it is the performances. Leon Isaac Kennedy is a charismatic lead who makes the less savory aspects of the character go down a bit easier, and Jayne Kennedy is a really great grounding presence. The film needed something else going for it to feel of much consequence in the long run. Scorpion Releasing and Ronin Flix have released a new Blu-Ray with a slightly lacking A/V presentation and a fun interview. .

Body and Soul (1981) is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

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

Disclaimer: Scorpion Releasing and Ronin Flix have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.