If there is one thing Hollywood loves to do, it is drawing from works of literature to craft new stories for the silver screen. When reflecting on these adaptations, one could do worse than to wade through the works of the great John Steinbeck. The prolific author had cinematic classics created from works such as East of Eden, Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath. With heavy hitters such as these, it makes perfect sense that MGM wanted to take their chance on spinning some of his keen social perception into narrative gold. They set their sights on the 1945 novel Cannery Row and its 1954 sequel Sweet Thursday to adapt into a comedic drama that stitched together a collection of linked vignettes to tell the story of the residents of an impoverished area of Monterey, California, during World War II. David S. Ward took a stab at the material in his directorial debut, and the resulting film is an admirable oddity that cannot quite live up to its ambition. The film was a box office bomb, but it is not without its redeeming qualities.
As mentioned, the film provides a charming glimpse into the oddball little community of Cannery Row during the unstable time of World War II. The area is a bit worse for wear at the present, but once upon a time it was a thriving town that survived on a rich fishery and corresponding canning industry. That was then, and now the fish stocks have precipitously sunk and left the citizens all but destitute. In Steinbeck’s world, groups of bums come together to make their way in this world through inventive entrepreneurial means that often hide their general lack of education. If you are not scraping by on the streets, you might be a worker in the local bordello where women do what they have to in order to get by – with a good sense of humor about it, of course. It is at this bordello where a new-to-town Suzy DeSoto (Debra Winger, Urban Cowboy) takes a job out of necessity when waitressing turns out not to be an option for her. Winger uses her immense charm to keep you invested in Suzy’s journey in her new surroundings.
One of the high points of living on Cannery Row for Suzy is the proximity to self-employed marine biologist Doc (Nick Nolte, 48 Hrs.), a former baseball player who is hiding from past regrets in the close-knit community. The two are clearly smitten with one another, but the typical obstacles arise that put them firmly in the “will they or won’t they” territory. There are multiple threads to follow in Cannery Row, but this is the main one and is definitely the most engrossing. Nolte and Winger have palpable chemistry with one another, so much so that you want to yell at the screen when they are separated by fate. It is when we start visiting with the other townspeople that the film begins to buckle under its own weight. Mack (M. Emmet Walsh, Blood Simple) and his ragtag group are but a few of the citizens that get into odd adventures such as frog gathering for extra cash. These detours can be amusing on their own, but feel scattershot when weaving it into the overall narrative. The movie tries to service the exploits of numerous characters when their core romance could have anchored things a bit more.
The journey of exploring Cannery Row is an intriguing one thanks to the atypical tone. There is inherent drama in the situations presented, but there is an earnest charm that keeps even the most frustrating situations, such as out of control brawls, on the lighter side. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the film is the overall aesthetic. The cinematography from Sven Nykvist is striking, and the sets created by Richard MacDonald evokes the same larger-than-life feel that the sets in Popeye provided. Individual pieces of Cannery Row work extremely well, especially when it comes to creating endearing personalities, but the vignette approach works better in novel form. Even with its flaws, Cannery Row is a difficult film to hate. The actors are all agreeable in their performances and the narrative has a lazy comfort about it that feels like a warm hug. Steinbeck has been interpreted with greater precision in the past, but those open to something a bit more loose may find themselves won over by the oddity of these citizens.
Video Quality
Cannery Row gets a stellar upgrade on Blu-Ray courtesy of Warner Archive with a new 1080p master derived from a 4K restoration of the original camera negative. It has been said that the source elements were in incredibly rough shape which makes what the restoration team was able to accomplish all the more impressive. The transfer provides natural film grain absent of any compression artifacts or other such digital anomalies. This disc also wonderfully represents the picturesque soundstage setting that wows throughout the film. There are some nice, vibrant colors that make the film pop visually in an exciting way such as with the neon signs. Skin tones look natural, and the presentation offers up deep black levels. The disc also handles fine detail in an expert manner. Subtle details in the production design are clearly defined, and textures on outfits are easily discernible. Warner Archive has provided a lovely transfer for a film that has long gone unappreciated since its initial release.
Audio Quality
Warner Archive brings us this new Blu-Ray with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that beautifully reproduces the film sonically. The movie is given much of its personality via a bouncy ragtime score from Jack Nitzsche that sounds great here. The dialogue holds up quite nicely, coming though clearly without being stepped on by the score or sound effects. The environmental effects are delineated nicely from the waves of the sea to the din of local gatherings. Scenes of raucous celebration stand out within the track while maintaining clarity. This is a track that represents the film in a very satisfying way. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided on this disc.
Special Features
- Trailer: A three-minute trailer for the film is provided that goes on a bit long and gives away a bit too much.
Final Thoughts
Cannery Row has a lot of ideas it wants to explore, but it lacks the cohesion to create something truly remarkable. Despite this, the film goes down easy with endearing performances and a creative aesthetic that supplements the emotional impact. The townspeople of Cannery Row are interesting, but a keener focus on Nolte and Winger would have made for a more impactful narrative. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray that features a terrific A/V presentation that should please fans of the property. If you enjoy stories set in a colorful community, this one might treat you well. Recommended
Cannery Row can be purchased directly through the Warner Archive Amazon Store 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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
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