Step inside “the Castle,” a large private psychiatric facility. Here, Dr. Stewart McIver (Richard Widmark) devotes night and day to his profession while neglecting his pining, voluptuous wife (Gloria Grahame). A colleague (Charles Boyer) with a fondness for booze and a pretty face seeks to comfort the wife. Now add Lauren Bacall, Lillian Gish, John Kerr, Susan Strasberg, Oscar Levant and subplots of love, life and derangement and you have the entanglements of The Cobweb. Some critics gleefully skewered the film’s labored storyline about patient involvement in the choice of library draperies, but pay no heed. With its top cast and Vincente Minnelli’s command of color and melodrama, this film is popcorn for fans of soaps.
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Video Quality
Warner Archive presents The Cobweb with a stupendous new 1080p master transfer sourced from a 4K restoration of the Original Camera Negatives that reminds you why they are considered one of the best in the game. This transfer is a stunner on all fronts. The transfer reveals a plethora of detail and clarity that will make you swoon thanks to the natural film grain that remains intact. The film features some complex colors within the clothing and production design that radiate off the screen. Black levels are very deep with stern stability throughout. There does not appear to be any egregious digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or any other such nuisances. The film appears to be clear of dirt and damage, achieving the level of excellence you expect from the company. Warner Archive is in a league of its own.
Audio Quality
Warner Archive has provided a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio stereo presentation that has been restored, and the results are dynamite. The Leonard Rosenman score sets the tone of the material, and it comes through with impeccable fidelity. Dialogue is the lifeblood of this film, and it comes through crisp and clear with no weak points. There is very little in the way of traditional action, but all minor altercations are stable. Warner Archive has provided a standout audio presentation that does not reveal any overwhelming instances of age-related wear and tear. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided.
Special Features
- Salute to the Theaters: A 17-minute Cinemascope short film hosted by George Murphy, who talks to stars such as Esther Williams, Jane Powell, Gene Kelly, and more, discussing upcoming movies from MGM. The Cobweb is featured near the end of the short with comments from the author of the source material.
- The Egg and Jerry: An eight-minute Tom & Jerry animated short is provided here in which Jerry protects a baby woodpecker from Tom.
- Theatrical Trailer (2:49)
Final Thoughts
The Cobweb has the sensibilities of a film noir, but the narrative plays out more like a melodrama. This is not a complaint, as you have some amazing performers coming together to bounce off one another and tap into a reservoir of emotion. The storylines are dramatic, yet they never veer off to the strictly unbelievable. Vincente Minnelli has firm control over the material, and everything builds to a rewarding payoff. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a gorgeous A/V presentation and a brief selection of special features. If you are a fan of any of the talent involved, you will enjoy this release. Recommended
The Cobweb can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through 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.
