Belle of the Nineties Blu-ray

Belle of the Nineties

Belle of the Nineties Blu-ray Review

A charming classic starring Mae West.

Belle of the Nineties is a an entertaining old-school musical comedy with plenty of drama up its sleeve. The production is based on the story "It Ain't No Sin" by Mae West. The feature-film is produced by William LeBaron (The General Died at Dawn, Lovin' the Ladies). Starring Mae West in the leading role, fans of the beloved actress will want to check it out.

Performer Ruby Carter (Mae West) moves from St. Louis to the busting city of New Orleans to get away from the legendary Tiger Kid (Roger Pryor). As she quickly rises in stardom as a performer at "The Sensation Club", Carter finds that she is in for much more than she bargained for: becoming involved in a match of wits with many jewel thieves (in an outlandish plot). Murder and danger beckons at every turn of the page. Can Ruby survive to perform another show?

Mae West delivers a solid performance in Belle of the Nineties. The role was made for her and she delivers a strong and commanding performance in the leading part. West has a unique style and sensibility which can be felt throughout the production. Her strong sensuality is also apparent in nearly every scene.

The art direction by Bernard Herzbrun (The Fighting O'Flynn, Creature from the Black Lagoon) is effective at adding layers of sophistication to the production. The filmmaking manages to feel lively in so many ways: the sets are strong and the stylistic flourishes are believable. The efforts of Herzbrun are well appreciated. A solid effort.

One of the best components of the production is the lavish costumes by Travis Banton (The Paradine Case, Shanghai Express). West is especially impressive: donning gowns that are luxurious and quite stylish. The efforts paid off for the production big time as Banton delivered effective costumes for the entire cast of actors.

A must-see performance.

Belle of the Nineties has rewarding cinematography by Karl Struss (Sunrise, The Great Dictator). The visual component of the film is enjoyable from beginning to end. The lush black and white visuals are splendid and help one to become absorbed by the storytelling. There is a romantic style at play here and the visuals of Struss do not disappoint.

Another effective element of the film is the original music score composed by Howard Jackson (Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, Eight Bells), John Leipold (The Big Wheel, Two Yanks in Trinidad), and Tom Satterfield (Goin' to Town, The Gilded Lily). The score is a nice backdrop to the filmmaking and has plenty of rhythm. The music is impressive during the scenes featuring Duke Ellington and his orchestra (as showcased during many musical numbers featuring Mae West).

The screenplay by Mae West is entertaining. The mixture of comedy and drama was well balanced. The characters are compelling and the story never drags on unnecessarily. The pace and rhythm are handled nicely. West made the story fun – and audiences are in for a treat.

The editing by LeRoy Stone (Make Way for Tomorrow, Going My Way) helped to keep the film in tip-top shape (with no unnecessary baggage). The filmmaking is fun and charming. There are no weak scenes that seem entirely out-of-place (as in some classic films). Belle of the Nineties never loses one's attention.

Leo McCarey (An Affair to Remember, Going My Way) capably directs Belle of the Nineties. The film has plenty of style and rhythm. McCarey did a great job assembling the production. The director was successful at working with Mae West (and helped to bring out a great performance from her). Fans of West certainly won't want to miss this compelling feature-film. Check it out.

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, Belle of the Nineties is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.37:1 full frame. The presentation is quite impressive overall. Though the release did not receive a sparkling new restoration (such as a 4K scan), the print quality is surprisingly good. There is little in the way of print damage: the scan showcases only fleeting scratches and is largely in excellent shape. There are no significant issues to report in regards to print degradation (such as burn marks and damaged reels). The scan showcases the black-and-white cinematography capably.

The release is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio mono. The lossless audio on the release is quite good overall. Dialogue is crisp, clear, and easy to understand. There are no significant issues to report in regards to the audio presentation (such as egregious crackle, warps, pops, clicks, and other audio-related detriments). The track is clear throughout and engaging sounding. There are no issues with overbearing hiss. A strong accompaniment to the video presentation.

Optional English subtitles are provided.

Audio Commentary by Film Historian Samm Deighan

Belle of the Nineties Theatrical Trailer (HD, 1:54)

The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: Night After Night (SD, 2:39), I'm No Angel (SD, 1:58), Goin' to Town (SD, 1:42), Every Day's a Holiday (HD, 2:27), and My Little Chickadee (SD, 1:36).

Belle of the Nineties is an entertaining classic with a must-see performance from screen-legend Mae West. The beloved actress gives the role her all and imbues the part with her unique sensibility at every turn. The feature-film was well produced and has a number of impressive components: from the music to the writing. The Blu-ray release features a solid presentation and is worth a watch. Recommended.

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