Screen greats Carole Lombard (Supernatural) and Charles Laughton (Devil and the Deep) star in the gripping Pre-Code drama about forbidden love, White Woman. The world of a widowed nightclub performer (the luminous Lombard) changes drastically when she agrees to marry a wealthy plantation owner (the larger-than-life Laughton). As the two begin their domestic life together on his remote Malaysian estate, she realizes the extent of his cruel and jealous nature. She soon finds herself drawn to another man but must keep their love secret to avoid the wrath of her husband. Hollywood ace Stuart Walker (The Eagle and the Hawk) directs and Charles Bickford (The Plainsman), Kent Taylor (I’m No Angel) and Percy Kilbride (The Egg and I) co-star in White Woman, which barrels to a white-knuckle climax set deep within in the dark heart of the jungle.
For thoughts on White Woman, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
[youtube https://youtu.be/GklBQOIHPaE?t=1460]
Video Quality
White Woman makes its Blu-Ray debut thanks to Kino Classics with a brand new 1080p master from a 2K master. For a film that is 90 years old, this presentation is sure to impress most audiences. The new transfer shows off a fine amount of depth and enhanced detail within the film’s composition. Black levels are pretty deep with no overwhelming occurrence of black crush or compression artifacts. The contrast is firmly defined, and the track only experiences a very minor amount of flicker and density fluctuation in the print. The shimmering black-and-white photography dazzles in high definition with natural grain intact. There is a great amount of detail present with nice textures on the outfits and within the plantation sitting. You will still find a pretty distinct layer of minor nicks and scratches, but there is no doubt that it has been cleaned up immensely. Kino Classics has treated this one well.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a pretty decent DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that treats this movie well considering its place in early cinema. With this being an older title, it does show its age at times when it comes to the music elements. The score is not a consistent presence, but even when it shows up it is never aggressively harsh. The track does sound a bit thin which can likely be traced back to the source elements. Outside of this, the track only presents with a minor amount of age related wear and tear and some hissing and crackles. Dialogue and background noises are balanced well with all competing elements. Kino Classics has done a fine job of handling this one. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Filmmaker Allan Arkush and Film Historian/Filmmaker Daniel Kremer deliver a really informative commentary track in which they discuss the origins of the film, how it fit into the pre-Code era, the background of the performers involved, the career of Carole Lombard, the Paramount style of storytelling, the public reception of the film, the deficiencies in some of the storytelling aspects and more.
- Trailers: There are trailers provided for Supernatural, Love Before Breakfast, Now and Forever, The Sign of the Cross, Witness For The Prosecution and The Eagle and The Hawk.
Final Thoughts
White Woman can get a bit vicious in the delicious way that Pre-Code dramas could bite, but overall the story is nothing too revolutionary. The direction of Stuart Walker is capable enough, but it is Carole Lombard and Charles Laughton who give this film an extra dose of entertainment value. The film is very breezy and does not overstay its welcome, so viewers can expect a fairly enjoyable experience that does not waste your time. Kino Classics has delivered a Blu-Ray release that sports both a solid A/V presentation and an entertaining commentary track. Fans of Pre-Code dramas will especially like this one, but anyone with a soft spot for Lombard or Laughton should check this one out. Recommended
White Woman will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray on February 14, 2023.
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.
