Blu ray review: The Country Girl (1954)

Kino Lober has released a nice restoration of the award winning film directed by George Seaton which he adapted from a play by Clifford Odets.  Bing Crosby plays perhaps his most layered role as an alcoholic ex-stage star who tries to mount a comeback with the help of his long suffering wife (Grace Kelly) and a determined writer-director (William Holden). 

Seaton’s Oscar winning screenplay adaption allows for the actors to explore their roles fully, with Crosby’s usual affability crowded by the suffering of his character who spends the film living down a past tragedy.  Grace Kelly won an Oscar as the wife who supports while trying to avoid enabling her husband.  Her performance is top notch and her Oscar was well deserved. William Holden anchors his scenes as the powerful force that hopes to make things happen again.

Films of the 1950s have their own particular style, attempting things the studio system and the production code would never have allowed.  But they are still thwarted by a culture not ready to accept these things in movies, so Holden and Kelly do quite a brilliant job effectively conveying the sexual tension between their characters within these parameters.

Kino’s blu ray is the 2023 hi def master by Paramount Pictures from 4K scans and looks sharp and beautiful, really bring out John F. Warren’s cinematography.  There is an excellent audio commentary by track by professor and film scholar Jason A. Ney.

A strong drama with depth and substance, The Country Girl is highly recommended for libraries, research centers, and fans of classic film.  It can be purchased at this link:  COUNTRYGIRL