Letty Lynton

At long last

You could say I’ve waited my whole life to see this film, since it’s been out of circulation for over 90 years. And I enjoyed it. The first half, which sets up the romantic relationships, is kind of standard stuff. But it gets very good in the second half. And it’s quite refreshing---a bit of fun---to see an old film in which the main character basically gets away with MURDER and has a happy ending. This film never would have been allowed to be made, once the Production Code was fully implemented in mid-1934. So, as a Crawford fan, this one gets a definite thumbs-up from me. Picture quality is fine; certainly better than the wretched print that had been floating around online. I’d say it looks as good as it possibly could, given the fact that the original negative is long gone. Ah, but as for that famous dress…. Okay, I’m definitely not a fashion guy (as is obvious by the clothes in my wardrobe). So I guess I don’t always notice what someone is wearing. And in this case, honestly, if I hadn’t known that this frilly white concoction was a well-known and influential gown, I don’t know that I would have given the dress any particular attention when it appeared onscreen. I mean---to me it was just another in a string of gowns that Joan wore throughout the picture. It’s pretty enough (though really a bit too flouncy and frilly for my taste). But it didn’t grab my attention in those scenes where it was featured, and stand out in a way that said "this dress is special!" In the extras, the documentary on Thalberg was quite good---I'm thinking, maybe I had seen it before, many years ago? As for the radio broadcasts, a nice bonus is that Judy Garland appears in one of them as well. Judy was a semi-regular on the Good News radio show throughout the mid-to-late 1930s, and in this one she's promoting Listen, Darling. So at one point she and the whole cast---Joan included---sing "On the Bumpy Road to Love" together. Fun.

Letty Lynton Blu Ray

Long Not Available Title has finally arrived on blu ray and Warner Archive's Print is Excellent when played on my 65" 4K Sony Bravia with OPPO 4K Player! Highly Recommended!

Another great title from Warner

Being able to finally see this Joan Crawford gem is everything. Looks great, too! Hard to believe this film is almost 100 years old.