Discover the magic and warmth of Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors, based on the inspiring story of living legend Dolly Parton’s remarkable upbringing in rural Tennessee. Set in 1955, this special follows the Parton family as they struggle to overcome tragedy and discover the healing power of love and faith.

For thoughts on Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors arrived on Blu-Ray in 2016 with a sterling 1080p transfer which captures the television movie perfectly. The color palette is bright and natural throughout as it captures the rural throwback aesthetic. There are numerous pops of color in the titular garment, the production design, and the lush landscapes. Black levels hold up favorably with no serious instances of black crush present. Digital noise and banding are only very fleeting issues with this release. The amount of distinct clarity and detail present on this Blu-Ray makes for an unbelievable viewing experience. Subtle details on faces are amazingly clear and fine textures such as facial hair hold up surprisingly well both in close-ups and long shots. This is a great presentation for a movie that we easily could see left in the land of standard definition.

Audio Quality

Warner Archive brings this Blu-Ray to audiences with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix that offers an ideal representation of the soundscape. The dialogue comes through crisp and clear in terms of accuracy to the source even with some overlapping voices fighting for prominence with the boisterous Dolly. Nothing ever gets trounced by the music in the film or other kinetic environmental flourishes. Songs are a key part of the narrative, and each one emerges with perfect fidelity. The environmental effects allow the narrative to feel grounded in the sprawling shooting locations. The surround track is not too showy, but it fleshes things out quite effectively. This track is a great audio experience that fans will surely appreciate. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Original Version (1:25:11) and Alternate Version (1:25:19): The only difference between these two versions appears to be the bookend moments with Dolly Parton. The original version has her speaking during Christmastime, whereas the alternate version is an evergreen version that appears to be shot in the summer.

Coat of Many Colors – Bringing the Song to Screen: A seven-minute featurette in which Dolly Parton and the creative team discuss the process of bringing this personal story to life.

Deleted Scenes: This disc provides ten minutes of unused footage.

Come Visit Georgia PSA: A five-minute look at the process of filming on location in Georgia.

Final Thoughts

Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors is a film that succeeds within its modest ambitions. For a broadly appealing, made-for-television outing, this delivers the melodramatic earnestness you expect while retaining the proper amount of charm to make you appreciate the fact that you are watching something that was never intended to be a critical darling. The acting is largely over-the-top across the board, but it somewhat fits with Dolly’s “larger than life” personality. It is wholesome and lightly humorous, and it fits comfortably alongside other classic TV movies. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a lovely A/V presentation and some cool special features. If you are a Dolly Parton fan, this is worth a watch. Recommended

Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors 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.