Anchor Bay, which quickly rose as one of the finer producers of quality DVDs, doesn't really hit the mark with this release, one that will only appeal to those fans who find substance in this odd romantic comedy. The quality of supplements far outshine the movie itself, but even they are relatively weak. On the plus side is a commentary track from director Anthony Harvey and film archivist Robert A. Harris. Beyond that is an unusual seven-minute featurette that is as much a promotional piece for the film as a New York travelogue. Also included is the theatrical trailer and biographies for Harvey and stars George C. Scott and Joanne Woodward. As for the picture, it is 1.85:1 and anamorphic, but the transfer is dull and lifeless. Granted, many films of the early '70s have a similar flat look, but it simply doesn't translate any better with this digital format. Specks and scratches pop up infrequently but aren't too distracting. The sound fares no better with a Dolby Digital mono track split up over two channels. The dialogue is, by and large, clear, and there aren't any significant problems, but the same blandness is present. There obviously isn't any use of the surrounds, even though Anchor Bay often upgrades the audio for older releases. More people probably know of the band They Might Be Giants than the movie where it got its name; this disc could change that, but the presentation is so lackluster that even that is questionable. |