Synopsis
Glenda Jackson is a job placement consultant who wants to resign. Peter Finch is a doctorwho has more than his fair share of neurotic patients. Both Finch and Jackson are in love withMurray Head, a young artist who really loves himself more than either of his two lovers. Jacksonand Finch know about each other, and try to reconcile themselves with having to share Head. Asensitive character study, Sunday Bloody Sunday rivets with its superlative performancesand …enerally understated direction. The film goes off the rails once, about halfway through,when a traumatic traffic accident is unconvincingly shrugged off by all concerned, demolishingthe carefully constructed reality of the characters, and giving Schlesinger the chance to go nutswith pointless flashiness. But this is the only false note in an otherwise excellent drama.
Audio
The sound is the original mono, and it sounds fine, unplagued by background hiss ordialogue distortion. There are many long stretches of near or total silence, rendering a stereoremix pointless. On the other hand, the film’s excellent use of music (notably a passage fromMozart’s Cosi Fan Tutti) might make one pine for stereo.
Video
The ratio is the original 1.66:1 widescreen (non-anamorphic). The grain is sometimes quienoticeable, but this looks more like a factor of the original print than of the transfer. The colours,flesh tones and blacks are very good. The contrasts are fine, even in the dark scenes. About 100minutes in, there is a bit of damage, but otherwise the print is in good shape, and is free ofspeckling.
Special Features
None except for the theatrical trailer.
Closing Thoughts
A major film from 1971, and so the lack of extras is both surprising and disappointing. Asolid transfer, however.
Special Features List
- Theatrical Trailer
