Who doesn’t love a classic Hollywood pairing? Whether it be Bogart and Bacall or Powell and Loy, there is something about a duo with a professional shorthand that makes for an electric time. A personal favorite would have to be Spencer Tracy (Libeled Lady) and Katharine Hepburn (Bringing Up Baby), a pair that created nine cinematic outings for the silver screen over a decades-long personal and professional relationship. The third of these came in 1945 with the romantic comedy Without Love, based on the 1942 play by Philip Barry. The playwright was already something of a lucky charm for Hepburn, who had jumpstarted her fledgling career during the mid-1930s with 1938’s Holiday starring Cary Grant and the runaway success of The Philadelphia Story in 1940 with Grant and Jimmy Stewart. That film’s screenwriter, Donald Ogden Stewart, would once again tackle Barry’s material, only this time the reception would be a bit more muted. The film has all the ingredients for a classic romantic pairing, but it did not quite reach the success of other works from the talent. Nevertheless, this film is ripe for reexamination thanks to its new lease on life from the Warner Archive.
The film has a charming enough setup to get the comedic wheels turning; Tracy plays Patrick Jamieson, a military research scientist who arrives in Washington D.C. during a housing shortage. Quite by chance, he crosses paths with a drunken Quentin Ladd (Keenan Wynn) who is trying to make it the residence of his cousin, Jamie Rowan (Katharine Hepburn). Patrick’s helpfulness is repaid with a roof over his head for the night, but the sobering light of day following the night brings about a comedy of misunderstandings that leads Patrick to staying at the house full time. The widow Jamie softens to the idea of him staying after learning of his scientific work trying to develop an oxygen mask that can be effective at high altitudes. Patrick appreciates having a place to stay and a willing volunteer like Jamie to help with his experiments. What pushes the situation over the edge is Jamie’s proposition; a marriage of convenience. Each of them have experienced the best and worst that love has to offer, so maybe a platonic friendship is just what the doctor ordered?
The actual mechanics of the plot are the weakest aspects of the film. Sure, the chance to avoid marital spats and difficulties in courtship sounds appealing, but those are some of the richest parts of being alive. Of course, this bares outs as what begins as a platonic endeavor evolves into something much more emotionally charged. This is where the movie taps into the magic of Hepburn and Tracy; the audience hangs on every little exchange between these two due to their undeniable chemistry. You can see the puzzle pieces starting to fall into place for each of them as they realize the other person is exactly who they need, no matter how unlikely. What keeps this film from being remembered as a classic is likely the bloated runtime, as you start finding yourself checking the clock during the bloated midsection of the feature before wrapping things up in a nice little bow.
Of course, these two leads are not the only thing propping up the film. In all honesty, there is arguably a more important couple to come out of this collaboration. Lucille Ball makes quite an impression as Kitty, a real estate agent and girlfriend to Jamie. This may be thought of as more of a throwaway role in her career, but this is where she met cinematographer Karl Freund, who would revolutionize the way sitcoms are filmed a few years later on a little show called I Love Lucy. Quite the creative couple, right? This film makes for an enjoyable time, but it never gets to the level of feeling essential. For many, it is enough just to see Hepburn and Tracy circle each other on screen for a couple of hours. You cannot fault anyone who wants to see that, but those being honest will admit this could have used an editorial tightening of the script.
Video Quality
Warner Archive presents Without Love for the first time on Blu-Ray with a 1080p transfer sourced from a 4K restoration of the best surviving elements. You can always count on Warner Archive to deliver impeccable work, and the image is nothing short of stunning for a film that is over 75 years old. This black and white feature has nice, natural film grain throughout that provides a great amount of detail to the image. The presentation has a pleasing amount of depth to it including in the shadows where there is no evidence of any black crush. Print damage is virtually nonexistent to these eyes throughout the duration of the movie. This disc also lacks anything in the realm of digital anomalies such as sharpening or compression artifacts. It is always amazing to see what tricks Warner Archive has up their sleeves, and this release shows off their prowess for preservation.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray release comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that sounds simply wonderful. Spencer Tracy has a signature vocal delivery style that always comes through crystal clear. As a matter of fact, none of the sound effects or the playful score from Bronislau Kaper ever overpowers the dialogue on this release. The more kinetic sequences including the tinkering of different science projects are appropriately lively in the speakers. There does not appear to be any damage and only a minimal amount of age related wear present on the track. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles available on the disc for those who need it. Overall, this is an excellent audio presentation that gives the material the life it deserves.
Special Features
- 1945 MGM Short – Purity Squad: A 20-minute short from the Crime Does Not Pay series that interestingly focuses on some shifty opportunists who attempt to skirt FDA regulations and sell an insulin substitute to poor results.
- Cartoon – Swing Shift Cinderella: An eight-minuted Tex Avery short is presented here in standard definition. This was actually restored in HD and released as a part of Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume Three.
- Theatrical Trailer: A two-minute trailer which plays up the author and the star power on display.
Final Thoughts
Without Love is a fun effort from Tracy and Hepburn even if it does not top the list for either performer. There is some bloat to the screenplay which could have been eliminated, but the baseline chemistry between the two keeps you invested even during the lulls. The supporting performances are likewise pleasant, especially from Lucille Ball who is more than just Lucy Ricardo. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray that features a fantastic A/V presentation and some fun special features. For fans of the leading pair, this is a disc that should be in your collection. Recommended
Without Love can be purchased directly through the Warner Archive Amazon Store 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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
