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I ordered this 4-title set as soon as it was available from Criterion. One of my favorite films was in the set, 'In Which We Serve', from 1942. The other titles are, 'This Happy Breed', 'Blithe Spirit', and 'Brief Encounter'. Surprisingly, I had never seen the latter 3 titles in any form. I have to say that the two films I've seen in this wonderful set are absolutely superb in Blu-ray. 'Brief Encounter's deep blacks and shadows were quite impressive. 'Blithe Spirit' is now a treasured title for me. I viewed this first because of Margaret Rutherford's contribution as a medium who's called upon to conduct a seance for a married couple, Rex Harrison and Constance Cummings. Rutherford steals the film with little to no effort, she's hysterically funny whenever she's on camera. However, it's the 1945 COLORS rendered by Cinematographer Ronald Neame in this film that are eye-popping in their beauty. Criterion has done a splendid job with these titles. I'm planning on viewing 'In Which We Serve' soon and 'This Happy Breed' after that. I don't know anything about 'Happy Breed', but if it's been Directed by David Lean, I'm sure I'll be pleased.
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All four are sublime classics.
You wont be disappointed in any of them.
Happy Breed might be considered to have the least impact but it was an engaging film, which tapped into the charm and spirit of the period and characters.
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By coincidence, just this morning I read in Kevin Brownlow's biography of David Lean:
The reactions after the show and at the party at the Grosvenor House were ecstatic, and David was even able to laugh when Noel Coward said that had Peter O'Toole been any prettier, the film would have to have been called "Florence of Arabia."
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Does the BluRay show up the exploding inflated condoms tied under the water for the machine-gun strafing shots in 'In Which We Serve'?
All classics. 'Happy Breed' is a sort of family saga through the years.
A bit off-topic, but an anecdote ...
When Coward and John Fraser were passing a billboard that read, 'Michael Redgrave and Dirk Bogarde: The Sea Shall Not Have Them', Coward allegedly said, 'I can't think why not: everybody else has ...'
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If I put BRIEF ENCOUNTER out-of-competition, THIS HAPPY BREED has always been my long-time favourite "David Lean Directs Noel Coward" film.
A deeply moving family chronicle since its very first elegant opening shot to its (reverse) last elegant closing shot.
A masterpiece !
I concur Angelillo! I viewed the film of 'THIS HAPPY BREED' last night and am still amazed at why I'd never heard of this film before; as well as just HOW this film had escaped me for decades. The film is indeed a masterpiece! Cinematographer Ronald Neame does outstanding work here with his interiors and exteriors, the colors for 1944 are simply amazing and I'm sure it's partly because of Criterion's new Blu-ray transfer as well as what Neame's intentions were for the film. There is a scene in the film where bad news is about to be announced to the parents who have left the family room to go outside (and out of view) to the garden through the open doors. The camera is left looking at an empty room until it begins a slow pan to it's right giving the viewing audience the tremendous added tension of waiting for some sort of realization that the news has been received. This scene was marvelous, worthy of Hitchcock. Actress Ceilia Johnson gives (in my opinion) her very best performance, far more nuanced than her Oscar nominated turn in 'Brief Encounter', she holds this film together along with the terrific Actor Robert Newton as her Husband. This film was made some 15-20 years BEFORE 'Coronation Street' in The U.K. made it's debut and I can't help but think that 'Street' was influenced (somewhat) by this film. The last scene in the film was strongly reminiscent to me as that last scene in the very last episode of the long-running, 'UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS'. Marvelous, stirring entertainment. I just love this film and will cherish it now that I've 'discovered it'.
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Second the motion on PASSIONATE FRIENDS, Ray. Saw this years ago on L.A.'s late, lamented Z Channel. It's not hard to see why Rains became one of Lean's favorite actors. I didn't know the film is not currently available here, but yes, it certainly should be. It would seem to be an obvious choice for Criterion's agenda.
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