M-G-M legends Norma Shearer and Clark Gable star in Clarence Brown’s smashing adaptation of Robert E. Sherwood’s Pulitzer prize-winning play. They first meet in Omaha. They meet again years later at the Swiss border…and at the edge of World War II. Gable as smalltime hoofer Harry Van and Shearer as his one-time honey Irene, now passing herself off as a Russian aristocrat and clinging to the arm of a munitions baron who strike sparks in this witty, cogent clash of love and war, which was one of M-G-M’s many 1939 instant classics. Idiot’s Delight, released in the same year as Gone with the Wind, shows Gable at his rakish, manly, movie-star best. The most memorable scene features Gable’s performance “Puttin’ on the Ritz”, a wise-guy song-and-dance routine to the Irving Berlin classic that ends with the King leaping gracefully into the arms of a chorus line of peroxide cuties. Lucky girls!

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Video Quality

Warner Archive debuts Idiot’s Delight on Blu-Ray with a fantastic 1080p transfer sourced from a new 4K restoration of the best preservation elements. The fully intact Original Camera Negative may not be available, but fans will be pleased when they see the results of this dedicated team of miracle workers. There are very brief moments when you may spot a dip in quality, but this is as consistent of a transfer as one could desire.

The transfer is lovely with no egregious signs of wear and tear or specks of damage. The various theater settings in the beginning and the wintery palatial hotel in the third act provide dynamic textures and clarity. Black levels are robust with notable stability throughout, and the highlights never get close to blooming. The black-and-white photography from William H. Daniels retains a favorable amount of natural film grain that resolves well. Compression artifacts and other digital anomalies are nowhere to be found. Warner Archive has put forth the expected level of care here.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a restored DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that holds up within the limitations of the source. The clean-up has eliminated the most serious instances of deficiencies in the track such as humming, popping, and dropouts, although you may still put some fragility in the peaks. Dialogue and background bustling flow out with distinct accuracy along with the score from Herbert Stothart. This track presents every individual element with respectable fidelity. Exchanges come through clearly without being overpowered by other elements. The audio presentation makes a good showing thanks to the careful preservation efforts. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included in the feature film.

Special Features

Classic Cartoons

- The Good Egg: The nearly eight-minute Merrie Melodies short is provided here in HD which finds a hen adopting an abandoned egg that turns out to be a turtle egg.

- It’s An Ill Wind: The seven-minute Looney Tunes short is provided here in HD which finds Porky Pig and Dizzy Duck hiding away from a storm in a “haunted” old building.

Alternate Ending: A nearly four-minute alternate ending is provided here that was shown to U.S. and Canadian audiences in 1939.

Trailer: The four-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

Idiot’s Delight is an amiable romantic dramedy that feels a bit tonally confused at times yet pulls out the stops when it comes to all the other necessary elements. The reason for most to seek this one out is the pairing of Norma Shearer and Clark Gable for one final outing, and they do not disappoint. The movie pushes back against the war but never goes overboard in a way that would have alienated certain audiences of the time. There are many clever lines that will keep you laughing alongside some dazzling musical numbers. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray that features a fetching A/V presentation and some excellent special features. If you are a fan of the famous stars, you won’t be disappointed. Recommended

Idiot’s Delight 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.