Cohen Film Collection introduces this Fifties British rock and roll classic, a fast-paced story about a cheap, opportunistic Soho talent agent (Laurence Harvey) who always looks for the quick buck. He’s glib and he’s flashy, a bluffer with a ready talent for the quick double-cross. When he picks up amateur singer and bongo player (Cliff Richard) in a Soho espresso bar, he uses a little bit of luck and tons of chutzpah to transform the kid into a highly-regarded international singing sensation.
This 2K restoration from the original negative was done in collaboration with the British Film Institute and its Unlocking Film Heritage program. This is the full and original 1959 theatrical version, which includes a number of songs that were cut out of the later and more commonly available 1962 version that was released at the time to capitalize on the popularity of Cliff Richard.
For thoughts on Expresso Bongo, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic here.
Video Quality
Expresso Bongo makes its Blu-Ray debut thanks to the Cohen Media Group with a brand new 1080p master from a 2K restoration of the original camera negative. Apart from a few of the briefest instances of lesser quality, likely due to the source elements, it is heartening to see this transfer look so spectacular. The gorgeous black-and-white photography sparkles in high definition with natural grain intact. There is a fantastic amount of detail present with nice textures on the clothing, both in the standard suits of the main men and the more revealing outfits at the club. The new transfer shows off a great amount of depth and enhanced detail within the production design. Black levels are very deep with no trace of black crush or compression artifacts. The contrast is well defined, and there are only occasional nicks and scratches present in a couple of scenes. Cohen Media Group has done a lovely job here.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a steady DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono track that serves this movie incredibly well. The first thing you will notice is the warmth and vitality of the music that is so important to this story. Despite the strength of the music, nothing ever overpowers the dialogue or other important information. Dialogue and background noises are represented in perfect harmony with all competing elements. There are no obvious instances of age-related wear. There are also optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film. This release maintains a nice fidelity throughout which fans should really appreciate.
Special Features
- Trailer: The minute-long new restoration trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
Expresso Bongo is a really fantastic discovery which takes the standard “star is born” concept and goes on a unique journey with it. It is filled with some really great songs and strong performances from everyone involved. Sylvia Syms is especially a delightful presence that elevates the picture. You might not expect the movie to push boundaries in the way that it does, but it never fails to feel fresh and energetic throughout. Cohen Media Group and Kino Lorber have released a Blu-Ray that features a stellar A/V presentation but next to nothing in the way of special features. Nevertheless, the quality of the feature itself is strong enough to warrant a purchase in the best quality possible. Recommended
Expresso Bongo is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Cohen Media Group and Kino Lorber 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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.