‘There’s No Tomorrow’ Blu-Ray Review – An Emotionally Taxing Max Ophüls Melodrama

From the masterful Max Ophüls (Letter from an Unknown Woman, The Earrings of Madame de…) comes There’s No Tomorrow (Sans lendemain), a bittersweet melodrama with a dash of film noir. Edwige Feuillère (From Mayerling to Sarajevo) commands the screen as a woman of bourgeois origin, now reduced to dancing in a disreputable nightclub to support her young son. When her lost love (George Rigaud, I Walk Alone), now a successful doctor, suddenly reappears, she puts on the charade that her life has been far more fortunate. But maintaining such an illusion won’t come easy. A ravishing and tragic screen romance, There’s No Tomorrow glitters with Ophüls’ trademark sophistication and opulent camerawork.

For thoughts on There’s No Tomorrow, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic: 

[youtube https://youtu.be/Bx4vP5G81XY?t=4805]

Video Quality

There’s No Tomorrow makes its Blu-Ray debut thanks to Kino Classics with a brand new 1080p transfer from a restoration conducted by the CNC courtesy of Gaumont. For a film of such vintage, this presentation is very fetching despite the occasional unresolved issue with the master. Most nicks and scratches have been eliminated, but there are still a handful of marks that linger without distracting. The black-and-white photography sparkles in high definition with natural grain intact and resolved amiably

The new transfer shows off a significant amount of depth and enhanced detail within the film’s composition. You will spot an enviable amount of texture on the clothing and within the varied production design, both in the more economical apartment and in the ritzy abode. Black levels are solid with no obvious occurrence of black crush or compression artifacts. The contrast is firmly defined, and the track only experiences occasional instances of flicker and density fluctuation in the print. Kino Classics has given this one a rich second life on disc. 

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a good DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track in the original French with optional English subtitles which serves this movie well. Dialogue and background noises remain in harmony with all competing elements. At worst, the experience sounds slightly thin on occasion, which likely dates back to the age and condition of the source elements. The music never overshadows the dialogue or other important information. This track presents with a minuscule amount of age related wear and tear and some faint hissing. On the whole, Kino Classics delivered a pleasant audio experience.

Special Features

• Audio Commentary: Film Historian Adrian Martin delivers a really informative commentary track in which he talks about the output and style of Max Ophüls, the careers of the performers, some of the social background as it relates to the story, the themes of the film and more.

• Trailer: There is a four-minute trailer provided for There’s No Tomorrow.

Final Thoughts

There’s No Tomorrow is an impeccably constructed melodrama which rewards visually but frustrates a bit narratively. The tragic quality of a woman imploding her life simply to keep her “dignity” feels a bit antiquated, but it is not out of the realm of possibility even in modern times. The performances are great, especially Edwige Feuillère, who sells the heartbreak authentically. Max Ophüls brings a lot to this narrative, even if certain aspects rub us the wrong way. Kino Classics has delivered a Blu-Ray release that sports a great A/V presentation and an excellent commentary track. If you are a Max Ophüls enthusiast, you should love this release. 

There’s No Tomorrow is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Classics 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.