‘Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection: Volume 5’ Review – An Unimpeachable Release For Cinephiles

Celebrate 100 years of Columbia Pictures and complete your Columbia Classics collection as Sony Pictures Home Entertainment proudly debuts six more iconic films from its library on 4K Ultra HD disc for the first time ever, exclusively within the COLUMBIA CLASSICS 4K ULTRA HD COLLECTION VOLUME 5. This must-own set includes a variety of powerful and moving award-winning favorites: ALL THE KING’S MEN, ON THE WATERFRONT, A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, TOOTSIE, THE AGE OF INNOCENCE and LITTLE WOMEN (2019). Each film is presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision High Dynamic Range, and five of the films include immersive Dolby Atmos mixes.

The six films in the COLUMBIA CLASSICS 4K ULTRA HD COLLECTION VOLUME 5 are only available on 4K Ultra HD disc within this special limited edition collector’s set. Included with the collection is a gorgeous hardbound 80-page book, featuring in-depth sections about the making of each film within the set via six all-new incisive essays from renowned writers and journalists, plus rare photos from deep within the Columbia Pictures archives. The set also includes hours of special features across the films, including memorable glimpses behind the scenes, in-depth feature commentaries, an all-new discussion featuring filmmaker Greta Gerwig and star Saoirse Ronan reflecting on LITTLE WOMEN, and much more! Plus, as part of the Columbia 100th celebration, the set includes an exclusive bonus disc highlighting five rare Columbia films from the 1920s, with several presented in full 4K resolution!

For a full overview of the Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection: Volume 5, please check out our GVN unboxing and review on No Streaming Required: 

Video Quality

All six films in the Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection: Volume 5 are given a 2160p 4K UHD/Dolby Vision upgrade that serves as a terrific step up from their Blu-Ray counterparts. The set also includes Blu-Ray versions of each film all derived from the same 4K masters. The previous releases were presented with a high rate of success on Blu-Ray with some films released by Sony themselves while others were put out by boutique labels such as The Criterion Collection or Twilight Time. Sony takes their normal approach with their 4K UHD Blu-Ray releases and delivers some of the best transfers on the format. To not duplicate descriptions, I will group certain films together while pointing out significant differences. The main takeaway for this latest collection is that Sony has knocked it out of the park once again with 5-star quality across the board.

For the black-and-white All The King’s Men and On The Waterfront, the results of the 4K upgrade are undeniable and showcase how the format elevates older movies. All The King’s Men is the only film in this set outside of Little Women not struck from a 4K restoration of the Original Camera Negative. All The King’s Men was derived from primarily a Fine Grain Master Positive with a Duplicate Negative utilized to aid one of the reels. The On The Waterfront restoration takes the files used to create the Criterion Collection Blu-Ray release from 2013 and cleans it up to accommodate the transition to HDR. Sony goes the extra mile with On The Waterfront by presenting the film with three different aspect ratios (1.66, 1.37, and 1.85) on three separate 4K UHD discs, all with the same level of quality. The improvements are easy to spot across both titles. 

The HDR/Dolby Vision grading executes a more accurate sense of grayscale than ever before. Black levels are deep without any anomalies such as digital noise or compression artifacts. The highlights are more firmly defined without ever succumbing to blooming. The cinematography is a delight with smooth gradients and subtle textures. The transfers eradicate any lingering dust specks or print damage that may have survived previous restorations. The films are virtually spotless while maintaining the filmic quality with finely resolved film grain that allows for wonderful detail. There are small facets within the costumes and production design that were previously hidden that are in the spotlight with this transfer. This picture displays an impressive amount of depth to the image which gives way to a pleasing sense of scale within the interiors. Classic films are a stunning sight on 4K UHD Blu-Ray. 

A Man For All Seasons and Tootsie make their 4K UHD Blu-Ray debut with knockout 2160p/Dolby Vision transfers which allow the films to look better than they ever have. Both films use previous 4K workflows as the basis for new masters complete with HDR and additional cleanup. These new 4K UHD discs offer significant improvements over the previous Blu-Ray discs. Both movies have a terrific amount of natural film grain that resolves very tight and deliberate. This conjures so much exceptional texture and detail in the transfers. The images present a remarkable amount of depth that makes these vastly different locales feel more tactile than ever. 

Skin tones appear to be natural and the clarity of the transfer gives you a formidable amount of facial detail. These transfers reveal so much character within these two stories. The upgrade in contrast and overall clarity is extraordinary, especially when you look at the facade of buildings in A Man For All Seasons or the textures on the makeup effects in Tootsie. These UHD discs contain dazzling, deep colors throughout various elements such as the foliage and certain clothing choices. Each title provides bolder highlights accompanied by greater stability that never veers into blooming. Black levels are deep and allow the picture to maintain an excellent amount of detail in shadowy environments. Whether in the country or the city, Sony cares for their classics equally. 

The Age of Innocence offers a noticeable uptick in quality over the already strong accompanying Blu-Ray. The transfer is derived from a 4K restoration of the 35mm Original Picture Negative and an HDR/Dolby Vision pass approved by Thelma Schoonmaker. The glorious film grain remains intact and resolves favorably without being clumpy or unnatural. There has been no digital manipulation on this transfer, so this disc is free of DNR, compression artifacts, and other encoding issues. The period costumes and textural output are gorgeous with everything displaying without any issues. Skin tones appear more natural with healthy doses of fine detail apparent on faces such as freckles and pores. The production design is presented with agreeable depth and perfect clarity to reveal many previously overlooked details. 

The greatest improvements are in the dominance of the color spectrum. The Dolby Vision brings depth to the natural scenery. Colors are more rich, more natural, and more accurate to what was intended by the creative team. The highlights in the film are more refined with whites pure and balanced with no instances of blooming to be found. Black levels are especially inspiring in this presentation, staying deep and inky with great detail. These transfers offer up a flawless presentation that should please longtime fans. 

Little Women makes its hotly-anticipated 4K UHD Blu-Ray debut with a peerless 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer that allows the film to look better than it ever has. This new master is sourced from a 4K Digital Intermediate with Dolby Vision/HDR applied which means this disc is given a whole new level of color and detail never before achieved on home media. Even compared to the accompanying Blu-Ray, this disc offers welcome improvements not to be missed. You can clearly observe specific text in Jo’s writing that was too unclear to capture before. The improvements in contrast, sharpness, and overall clarity will not go unnoticed, especially when you look at the depth and detail of the interiors and textures of the clothing. 

This is a disc where Dolby Vision is given a chance to truly shine, both in the primaries and in the low-key lighting that is more refined than ever. The colors of essential costumes are dialed in perfectly to their intended shade. Shadow detail is greatly improved thanks to the deep black levels which never devolve into crush. Highlights are brighter and offer greater stability and saturation without veering into blooming. Skin tones look natural and the clarity of the transfer gives you a grand amount of facial detail. Every transfer in this collection shows off the best of what the studio can do with physical media. 

Audio Quality

All of these 4K UHD Blu-Ray discs are provided with a new Dolby Atmos track outside of All The King’s Men which only retains the restored lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mono track. All of the other films also include their original lossless audio tracks for the purists. The sheer amount of audio and subtitle options Sony provides on these discs is unlikely to displease anyone. 

All of the films make an impression when it comes to the music, as the gorgeous, stirring scores envelop you in the most rewarding manner. Atmospheric sound effects are brought to life appropriately within each mix so that precision in direction is never an issue. These films are without exception more dialogue-driven, but the expanded audio tracks nonetheless allow them to feel more substantial than ever. Dialogue is crisp and clear without ever getting overshadowed by the music or sound effects. The low-end effects from the subwoofer give key moments extra personality despite none of these rising to the level of being classified as an action spectacle.  

As a matter of fact, most of these films are reserved and would seem like unexpected candidates for a Dolby Atmos upgrade. Lucky for audiences, the addition of Atmos tracks is not solely reserved for bombastic soundscapes. This expanded channel allotment opens up these soundscapes tastefully with a true sense of immersion and power. While the focus may be on the front channels for most of the sounds, activity creeps into the surrounds, rears, and overhead speakers to make these environments feel more three-dimensional and dynamic. The sounds up above complement the main activity thoughtfully without seeming at odds with the creative intent. These channels come alive with impeccable texture overhead. Sony has done some tremendous work on these presentations. 

Special Features

The Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection: Volume 5 includes a coffee table-style book featuring an introductory essay explaining the thematic link shared between the six titles in this collection followed by essays for each title. The book includes new essays from film critics and historians Scott Tobias, Keith Phipps, Peter Tonguette, Julie Kirgo, Peter Bradshaw, and Shirley Li. Each of these breaks down the themes of the story, the production, the legacy of the picture, and more. There is also a brief section dedicated to details on the remastering process for each film. These materials provide a great amount of context and insight into each film that is very worthwhile. Please watch the unboxing video of the packaging at the top of this review. The on-disc special features are as follows: 

All The King’s Men (1949)

Blu-Ray

• Audio Commentary (New): Film Historians Julie Kirgo and Peter Hankoff 

• Force of Will – The Making of All The King’s Men: A new 26-minute retrospective on the legacy and creation of All The King’s Men in which various film historians discuss the background of director Robert Rossen, how Columbia execs got around the idea of Rossen being a communist, how the film functions as an adaptation, the themes of the story, and more. 

• Theatrical Trailer (2:37)

On The Waterfront

Blu-Ray

• Audio Commentary (Archival): Critic Richard Schickel and Film Historian Jeff Young

• Budd Schulberg – A Righteous Indignation: A new nearly 16-minute featurette that delves into the background and career of writer Budd Schulberg including his privileged childhood, how he revealed the secrets of Hollywood, his complicated relationship with the movie business, and more. 

• Boris Kaufman – A Vision Beyond Borders: A new 15-minute featurette that delves into the career of cinematographer Boris Kaufman, why he was an unexpected choice for director Elia Kazan, the mastery of his compositions, and more. 

• Martin Scorsese and Kent Jones Featurette: A nearly 18-minute archival piece in which director Martin Scorsese and critic Kent Jones discuss the impact and innovation of On the Waterfront, the controversy stirred by its release, the atypical acting style for a Hollywood film, why it had a profound impact on Scorsese, and more. 

• Contender – Mastering the Method: A 25-minute archival examination of the most famous scene from the film courtesy of numerous film historians and prominent figures. 

• Interview with Director Elia Kazan: A 12-minute archival interview with the filmmaker in which he discusses why he wanted to make a film about the waterfront, working with Budd Schulberg, learning from real-life figures who experienced similar circumstances, and more. 

• Eva Marie Saint Interview: An 11-minute archival interview with the actress in which she discusses her initial fear of performing this role, working with Elia Kazan, the performance of Marlon Brando, and more. 

• Thomas Hanley Interview:  A 12-minute archival interview with the performer in which he discusses his real-life tragedy that echoes the movie, his memories of the performers and characters, and more. 

• On the Aspect Ratio: A very informative five-minute archival featurette that details the history behind the multiple aspect ratios included in this set and how it tied into the changing theatrical landscape. 

• Photo Gallery (4:29)

• Theatrical Trailer (2:41)

A Man For All Seasons

Blu-Ray 

• Audio Commentary (Archival): Film Historians Lem Dobbs, Julie Kirgo, and Nick Redman 

• Moral Clarity with Bishop Robert Barron: A new 15-minute featurette with a real-life bishop who discusses his love of the movie, the moral questions at the core of the film, the work of director Fred Zinnemann, the real-life figures portrayed in the film, and more. 

• The Life of Saint Thomas More: An 18-minute archival featurette that explores the life of Thomas More and his impact on history. 

• Theatrical Trailer (3:19)

Tootsie

Blu-Ray

• Audio Commentary (New): Film Critic Cerise Howard & Filmmaker Rohan Spong

• A Better Man – The Making Of Tootsie: A three-part 69-minute archival documentary that explores the production history, the evolution of the script, the challenges of the material, the transformation of Dustin Hoffman, the importance of the pre-production process, and more. There are some great interviews with Dustin Hoffman, Sydney Pollack, Teri Garr, Jessica Lange, Dabney Coleman, and more.

• • Good Friends (18:15)

• • A Better Man (29:19)

• • Keep It Real (21:19)

• Deleted Scenes: There are nine unused scenes totaling nine minutes provided here in a rough finished form. 

• Dustin Hoffman Screen Test Footage: A three-minute look at the screen test for Dustin Hoffman filmed in 1981. 

• Dustin Hoffman Interview: An 18-minute 2014 interview with the star in which he discusses what attracted him to this idea, the work of Hal Ashby on the project before Sydney Pollack replaced him, compromising on ideas for the direction of the movie, obstacles faced over the years, and more. 

• Theatrical Trailer (1:19)

The Age Of Innocence

Blu-Ray

• Interview with Martin Scorsese: A nearly 24-minute interview with director Martin Scorsese from 2017 in which he discusses working with screenwriter Jay Cocks, the inspirations from classic and international cinema, the impact of clothing on character, the themes he took from the novel, trying to explore this material in a different way, and more. 

• Interview with Jay Cocks: A 23-minute interview with the screenwriter from 2017 in which he discusses what drew him to this story, writing the script with Martin Scorsese, how this collaboration differed from future ones, sticking closely with the details of the book, and more. 

• Original 1993 EPK Featurette: A seven-minute promotional piece in which Martin Scorsese, Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona Ryder, Jay Cocks, and more discuss the film. 

• Moments From The Set – B-Roll: A six-minute collection of fly-on-the-wall moments during the production. 

• Theatrical Trailer (2:23)

Little Women (2019)

4K UHD Blu-Ray 

• Audio Commentary (New): Writer / Director Greta Gerwig and Saoirse Ronan

• Revisiting Little Women with Greta Gerwig & Saoirse Ronan: A 17-minute conversation between the filmmaker and star in which they discuss where they were at personally during the production, the respect they had for other adaptations, how this version utilizes the nonlinear structure, the connection they have with one another, Saoirse advocating that she play Jo, and more. 

Blu-Ray

• A New Generation of Little Women: A 13-minute featurette that looks at the classic material, why Greta’s version suits the modern era, how this tackles the life of Louisa May Alcott, the qualities of each character, and more. 

• Making A Modern Classic: A nine-minute piece that looks at the craft elements of the movie including the production design, cinematography, and more. 

• Greta Gerwig – Women Making Art: A nearly ten-minute exploration of the qualities that Greta Gerwig brought to this production, how her vision shaped the story, and more. 

• Hair & Make-Up Test Sequence (2:58)

• Little Women Behind The Scenes: A three-and-a-half-minute broad overview of this adaptation. 

• Orchard House, Home of Louisa May Alcott: A ten-minute featurette on the real-life house of Alcott as told by Jan Turnquist, Executive Director of Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House. 

• Previews

Bonus Disc

• Silent Films

• • The Price She Paid (1924) (1:01:07, 4K SDR) 

• • The Belle of Broadway (1926) (1:00:52, HD) 

• • Ladies of Leisure (1926) (57:56, 4K SDR) 

• • The Desert Bride (1928) (56:34, HD) 

• • The Scarlet Lady (1928) (1:12:11, 4K SDR)

Final Thoughts

The Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection: Volume 5 is a terrific release worthy of a place in any physical media collection. The newest installment provides a varied offering of unbeatable features from the archives of the studio with classics for everyone. From the political resonance of All The King’s Men to the emotional wonder of Little Women, and everything in between, each film is an essential part of the cinematic landscape. Not only are the films some of the best cinema has to offer, but the new 4K UHD Blu-Rays showcase why Sony is considered the best major studio releasing physical media. 

The A/V presentations are unimpeachable from one of our favorite companies supporting the 4K UHD format. These releases also carry over nearly all of the legacy special features along with adding a respectable amount of new pieces to enhance the experience. Not only this, but all of these films come in a stunning package which includes a coffee table book plus five restored silent films. This is the platonic ideal of what home entertainment can achieve in the modern landscape, and it should be celebrated as such. If you even somewhat like these films, you owe it to yourself to pick up this collection before it goes out of print. Essential 

Columbia Classics Collection: Volume 5 is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and titles are available individually on Digital. 

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

Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment 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.