Rich girl Pammy (Trini Alvarado, Stella) is the sheltered daughter of a prominent politician. Wild child Nicky (Robin Johnson, D.O.A.) is a tough runaway. Together, the two teens escape from a psychiatric hospital and with the help of radio DJ Johnny LaGuardia (Tim Curry, The Rocky Horror Picture Show), become punk rock heroes on the streets of New York City. But just as their outrageous new life begins to come together, they find that society wants to tear them apart. Can a sisterhood that runs soul deep survive the cold heart of the city? Produced by Robert Stigwood (Saturday Night Fever, Grease) and directed by Allan Moyle (Pump Up the Volume, Empire Records), Times Square features an amazing soundtrack of hits from Patti Smith, The Cure, Lou Reed, The Ramones, The Pretenders, Roxy Music, Robin Gibb, Gary Numan, Suzi Quatro, Talking Heads, Joe Jackson, XTC and more.
For thoughts on Times Square, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic here.
Video Quality
Kino Classics presents Times Square with a major upgrade in the form of a new 1080p master transfer in 1.85:1 sourced from a 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative that looks smashing. The transfer provides nice, natural film grain absent of any compression artifacts or other such damage. The grain always resolves well without becoming loose or clumpy. The film features some splendid colors within the costumes and locations that pop off the screen with a great vibrancy.
The film is practically pristine with no noticeable instances of damage or dirt detected here. Skin tones look natural, and the presentation offers up deep black levels that stay strong even in the darkest corners. There is a substantial uptick in fine detail that should please longtime fans. Subtle details in the environments standout more than ever before, often revealing new aspects you previously would have missed. This presentation is another instance of Kino Classics scooping up a forgotten gem and giving it new life.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a terrific DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio track that both serve this film really well. One of the first things you will notice is the vibrancy and clarity of the soundtrack. This disc maintains an impeccable sense of fidelity that is appreciated when music and the radio is so central to the narrative. Despite the strength of this element, nothing ever overpowers the dialogue or other important information. Dialogue and background noises are balanced in perfect harmony with all competing elements. Thankfully, this track shows no discernible age related wear and tear such as hissing or popping. All of the sound effects and music appear to be faithful to the intent of the creative team. There are also optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film. You really could not ask for better from Kino Classics.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Director Alan Moyle and Star Robin Johnson provide an incredibly fun commentary track in which they discuss the origins of this film, how the script was developed from a found diary, the incredible cast, the limitations of filming with Tim Curry, the ways in which the film was ahead of its time, the elements in the film they were forced to remove and more. Moyle has not revisited the film since its initial release, so it is really fun to hear these two rediscovering the picture in real time even if it results in some extended moments of silence as they take it in.
- Audio Commentary #2: Film Historians Kat Ellinger and Heather Drain provides a more analytical take on the film including its portrayal of the titular location at this time, the thematic meaning behind the narrative, how music helps express emotion, the queer subtext of the feature, how this tackles themes that recur in Moyle’s later work and more. There are some really compelling personal reflections included within this one.
- Trailer: The three-minute trailer is provided here. There are also trailers provided for Diva, Zoot Suit, Modern Girls, Grace Of My Heart, Stella and The Gun In Betty Lou’s Handbag.
Final Thoughts
Times Square is a fun film, but more surprising is the dramatic heft it is able to bring to the narrative. What may appear to be a light and fluffy teen runaway film on its surface is revealed to have a darker, more complex underbelly that flaunts authority even under some creative constraints. The film is not perfect, but it is very compelling thanks to its two young performers who feel deeply connected to one another. Tim Curry is another highlight, but one cannot help but wish he was given more to do to flesh out his character. This was such a surprise in more ways than one, and it is one that I’m glad is getting a second chance to find an audience. Kino Classics has provided a new Blu-Ray featuring a 5-star A/V presentation and some invaluable supplemental features. If you are a fan of the film, this is the release of your dreams. Recommended
Times Square is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.
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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.