Plot: What’s it about?
This film seems so simple in nature, but when I began to write the plot synopsis I locked up. So I will offer a brief and very vague passage on what to expect, then exploring the details is up to you when you view the picture. In a small New England town the residents still leave their doors unlocked and the sense of friendship and trust is alive and well. In a town like this one, everyone knows each other and the folks will always be willing to extend a hand to help one another out. This is white picket fence land and though it all seems so simple at first glance, there’s a lot going on within the city limits. As time passes and technology and such advances, this small town is forced to evolve along with it all which is not an idea the residents seem pleased with. While change seems so bad to most of these people, it is really happening all around them in the smaller detail of life. Whether someone is getting married, someone dies, or a resident decides to leave town, it all causes some changes to the way the lives operate.
I’d never seen this movie before this disc was released, but I have seen the play performed a few times so I knew what to expect. If you’ve seen the play before and think the movie is the same deal, you’re incorrect as this movie makes some rather substantial changes from the stage version. While most of the changes are small and don’t alter the story much, one sequence that is difference is huge and it changes the whole scope and impact of the storyline. I won’t spoil it for those who haven’t seen the cinematic version yet, but suffice it to say I greatly prefer the original ending of the story. Now that I have that off my chest, I can proceed and tell you this is a very good movie and one I wish I would have looked into sooner. While the ending lacks the impact of the original and the storyline seems thinner than it should be, the cast of this film elevates it all to a higher level of success. This is a very positive movie that might be of some inspiration to some, which is always good in my opinion. I recommend this movie to fans of classic cinema and whether you opt to rent or purchase, your money is well spent.
This film was directed by Sam Wood, who directed some eighty movies during the span of his career. This film came toward the end of that career and his experience behind the camera certainly shows here. While Wood never left any signature marks on his movies, he always was able to deliver solid and effective movies and this proves to be no exception. I wouldn’t claim this to be his finest work, but I would place among the very best of his films. If you want to see more of Wood’s movies I recommend The Devil And Miss Jones, Madame X, A Night At The Opera, For Whom The Bell Tolls, The Pride Of The Yankees, and Command Decision. This film was based on the play written by Thornton Wilder and while it doesn’t measure up in all respects, the basic story and message still emerge in fine form. This film features a wonderful cast and though all involved do a good job, William Holden seems to command his screen time more than the others. Holden (Casino Royale, The Wild Bunch) is better known for his flashier roles, but he is able to work well here as a more subdued character. The rest of the cast includes Fay Bainter (The Human Comedy, Babes On Broadway), Thomas Mitchell (Alias Nick Beal, The Sullivans), Beulah Bondi (The Snake Pit, Latin Lovers), and Martha Scott (Ben Hur, The Ten Commandments).
Video: How does it look?
Our Town is presented in a full frame transfer, which retains the original aspect ratio of the film. This film was made in 1940 so I didn’t expect that good of a transfer, but FocusFilm has issued an impressive visual presentation with this release. There is some marks and debris on the print, but not much and I’ve seen much worse prints of this film. This is the best looking version you’re going to find, which is good enough for me. This is a black & white film and as such contrast is vital and this release comes through with no problems. The darker areas remain distinct but never obscure detail, while brighter areas never bloom or appear overly light. Given the age and likely condition of this movie, I am pleased with this transfer.
Audio: How does it sound?
This release uses the original mono track and while the audio is good as a whole, the dialogue sometimes seems muffled and a little hard to decipher. This usually occurs when the music is also playing, so this muffling doesn’t happen very often. The rest of the time the dialogue sounds good, though not as crisp as a more recent release might sound. The music sounds good also and the sound effects come across well. So while this isn’t a memorable audio experience, I doubt many folks will complain.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release contains a terrific audio bonus feature in the form the of the entire radio broadcast version of Our Town. This feature is time and chapter coded for access ease and stills run while you listen. Kudos to FocusFilm for including this excellent supplement. You’ll also find The Town, which is a short documentary film that explores a small town much like the one in Our Town. This is a welcome inclusion that helps put the film version in perspective. Finally you can view The Wizard’s Apprentice, which is basically a live action version of the short by the same name found in Fantasia. This is of course older than that short and it is obvious that this was the inspiration for the classic cartoon version. In all honest, I think this short film is worth the asking price alone.
