“Be sure the story is something you cannot resist,” Richard Rodgers once advised Meredith Willson. After considering 100 projects for a successor to The Music Man, Willson found one that was irresistible. And unsinkable. Debbie Reynolds plays the title role, inviting all to Belly Up to the Bar, Boys for the whoop-and-holler film of Willson’s 1960 Broadway hit. Reynolds won a 1964 Best Actress Oscar nomination as the backwoods heroine who survives the Titanic and the snobbery of Denver society. Screen-debuting Harve Presnell reprises his stage role of Johnny, who has heartful-and-a-half of love for Molly. Johnny wasn’t alone. Astronauts Gus Grissom and John Young so admired the movie they named their Gemini 3 spacecraft Molly Brown.

For thoughts on The Unsinkable Molly Brown, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Warner Archive brought The Unsinkable Molly Brown to Blu-Ray in 2016 with a sterling 1080p master transfer sourced from a 2K scan of an Interpositive in 2.35:1 which sparkles in high definition. This visually dazzling film has likely not looked this good since it debuted in theaters. The restoration seems to have done away with nearly all dirt and damage for a timeless visage. There also does not appear to be any unwanted digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or any other such nuisances. The level of detail and clarity will make your jaw drop with a preferable amount of natural film grain intact and resolved without issue. The film features some brilliant colors within the costumes and settings that propel off the screen with an intense vibrancy. Black levels are nice and deep with excellent stability throughout. Highlights are grand without succumbing to any blooming. This presentation is a first-rate effort from Warner Archive on all fronts.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a splendid DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that respectfully expands the four-track stereo roots. With music being one of the foremost elements in the film, it is worth pointing out that the track executes these elements flawlessly. It balances angelic vocals with the bustling dance numbers and the accompanying music with robust clarity. Dialogue emerges clearly from beginning to end. There are exciting moments when the track is pushed to its limits with all of the competing elements, but the fidelity never stumbles. The surround speakers complement the main thrust of the audio journey without stealing focus. Warner Archive has provided an enviable presentation that does not exhibit any signs of age-related wear and tear. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided.

Special Features

The Story Of A Dress: A five-minute archival featurette that explores the costume department at MGM.

Theatrical Trailer (3:01)

Final Thoughts

The Unsinkable Molly Brown is a buoyant and spirited musical that radiates joy thanks to a captivating performance from Debbie Reynolds. The particulars of this story may be exaggerated a bit for dramatic effect, but you cannot argue with the highly entertaining results. Even clocking in at over two hours, there is not a moment when this feels like it drags in any notable way. Numerous numbers will be stuck in your head after the credits have finished rolling. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a grand A/V presentation and a strong array of supplemental features. If you are a musical fan, this is a fun one to add to your collection. Recommended

The Unsinkable Molly Brown 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.