Made in the hopeful post-World War II era that produced such classics of social conscience as The Search and Intruder in the Dust, this provocative film is a fable for its time — and ours. It tells the supernatural-tinged story of an orphan who finds a safe haven in small-town America until the day his hair turns green. Then the townfolk turn against him, frightened by the change they cannot understand. A call for tolerance, an inspiring statement that “different” doesn’t mean “threatening,” The Boy with Green Hair boasts a fine cast (Robert Ryan, Pat O’Brien, Dean Stockwell), a popular theme song (Nature Boy) and the feature-film debut of director Joseph Losey (The Servant, The Go-Between).
For thoughts on The Boy With Green Hair, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
[youtube https://youtu.be/b-PtbyQxg_Q?t=408]
Video Quality
Warner Archive presents The Boy With Green Hair with a spectacular new 1080p master transfer sourced from a 4K scan of the original nitrate Technicolor negatives which precisely recombined the three strips using proprietary technology. Warner Archive has almost always knocked it out of the park with eye-popping Technicolor films debuting on Blu-Ray, and this one is no exception. The level of detail and clarity is incredible with the perfect amount of natural film grain intact.
The film features some stunning colors within the production design and costumes, but most notably in the titular unusual hair. Each hue pops off the screen with an immense vibrancy. Black levels are incredibly deep with an impressive stability throughout. The film appears to be entirely free of dirt and damage, allowing for a blemish-free viewing experience. There does not appear to be any jarring digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding or any other such issues. This presentation serves as a 5-star effort from Warner Archive.
Audio Quality
Warner Archive has delivered a restored DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio presentation that holds up to the visual majesty. Dialogue is the main focus of this film, and it comes through crisp and clear from beginning to end. The track balances vocals with the environmental sounds with magnificent clarity. Even the more active moments provide no concern over whether or not the track will fail to maintain its stability.
When it comes to the music in this feature, the track is in fine form with its handling of the different core elements. The playful score from Leigh Harline feels almost like another character in the film and it comes through flawlessly with remarkable fidelity. Warner Archive has provided a virtually flawless audio presentation that does not exhibit any glaring signs of age-related wear-and-tear. The disc also comes with optional English (SDH) subtitles.
Special Features
- A Very Important Person: An 11-minute live action short from John Nesbitt’s Passing Parade featuring Dean Stockwell as a young boy who is trying to win a contest by writing an essay about an important person. This leads to the boy observing his surroundings in a new and rewarding way.
Final Thoughts
The Boy With Green Hair has a quaint title which conjures a certain image, and the film delivers on this in some respects, but there is an underlying thematic resonance which sneaks up on you and allows it to feel more substantial than you might expect. It is fun to see a young Dean Stockwell in the lead role, and his adult counterparts support him nicely. This is a very strong family film which does not talk down to its audience. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a top-tier A/V presentation but not much in the way of special features. If you want a whimsical and emotional film suitable for the entire family, this one is well worth your time. Recommended
The Boy With Green Hair 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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
