Blu-ray Review: THE LAVENDER HILL MOB - Quintessential British Comedy!

Ealing€™s classic crime caper comedy is pure 24-carat gold in HD and is well worth revisiting with this week's new 60th anniversary Blu-ray release! Henry Holland (Alec Guinness) is a shy, methodical and trustworthy bank clerk who is responsible for the shipment of gold bullion to the bank. Following the same procedure for many years he has long lusted after the gold and dreamt of the fantastic life such wealth would bring. Understanding that he would have to get the bullion out of the country in order to enjoy it, Holland has refrained from attempting a theft with the knowledge that he€™ll get caught. That is until novelty souvenir sculptor Alfred Pendlebury (Stanley Holloway) moves in upstairs€ Now with an opportunity to export the gold to France in the form of souvenir Eiffel Tower models, Holland entices Pendlebury into his scheme. Holland and Pendlebury set a trap to lure two common crooks (Sid James and Alfie Bass) into their scheme and set about planning the heist. They manage to steal the gold despite a few hitches and even smuggle it into Paris, but when a mix up means that some of the real gold statues are sold to British tourists it€™s a madcap chase through France and England as Holland and Pendlebury attempt to get them back. Will they succeed in recovering the loot or will it fall into the hands of the police and spell the end of their success? The screenplay for The Lavender Hill Mob was the 1952 Academy Award winner and it€™s easy to see why. This crime caper spoof film is a timeless comedy that combines an exciting, fast paced narrative with gags that remain funny to modern audiences. The entire cast slot perfectly into their roles, which helps cement the power of the film€™s comedy. Alec Guinness embodies the entire character of Holland, who he convinces is both a mild-mannered, polite bank clerk and a shrewd, calculating bank robber! His rapport with co-star Holloway is pure comic genius, with both characters€™ eccentricities played to full extent, but just on the right side of ridiculous. Holloway is perfect as the ebullient Pendlebury and he manages to achieve more through a series of expressive and hilarious facial expressions than most actors can in an entire performance. Both Guinness and Holloway prove their comic weight in the final portion of the film, as they are forced to try and allude the police, only to end up in a madcap chase across London. It€™s hard to find another British pair whose comic chemistry is as compelling and strong as these two. Sid James and Alfie Bass lend entertaining support as the two crooks that get embroiled in the plot and both give humorous performances that work in tandem with those of Guinness and Holloway€™s, but this really is the two leads€™ vehicle. Director Charles Crichton uses his talent from previous years as an editor to great advantage, creating a film that is visually striking in numerous ways. One scene in particular shows Crichton and his cast€™s talent: as Holland and Pendlebury run down the stairs of the Eiffel Tower in hot pursuit of some English schoolgirls who have purchased some of the solid gold statues, they and the camera gain velocity virtually spinning on screen and making the audience equally giddy. The scene is a perfect combination of editing and performance, as Guinness and Holloway begin to laugh uncontrollably as the camera also appears to almost go out of control. This one sequence almost single-handedly encapsulates the overall tone of the film: utterly barmy!

QUALITY

The high definition transfer looks fantastic, making this 60 year old film look as incredible today as it must have upon its initial release - if not better in fact! The images are near enough flawless throughout, with only a very minor grain affecting certain scenes. What Optimum Releasing have managed to achieve is a sharply defined picture, with an excellent colour contrast. With a palette that includes deep, inky blue-blacks and sheer, translucent whites, The Lavender Hill Mob is in great shape. The audio is similarly impressive, with a deep sound level that fills speakers with ambient noises that submerge viewers into the action. Dialogue remains clear, crisp and audible throughout the narrative, even at points where speech is kept to a whisper. Essentially, the film boasts all that is excellent about Blu-ray!

EXTRAS

This 60th anniversary special edition comes with the following extra material: Introduction by Martin Scorsese - the legendary director recalls all that is great about the film and exactly why we should all love it! Behind the Scenes Stills Gallery - this compilation of photographs gives viewers an insight into the shooting of the film, plus some rather humorous publicity shots! Excerpt from BECTU History Project interview with Charles Crichton - this audio only interview provides some intriguing insight into the film and its production, but the low quality of the recording makes it difficult to hear without turning your television up to an exorbitant level! Good Afternoon: Mavis interview with T. E. B. Clarke - this vintage television interview with the film€™s writer is an entertaining and interesting look at not only The Lavender Hill Mob but also Clarke€™s wider scope of work. Restored trailer Film: 5 out of 5 The classic Ealing formula makes The Lavender Hill Mob one of the quintessential British comedies, with outstanding performances and a madcap narrative that€™s full of charm. Visuals: 4 out of 5 The film looks incredible for it€™s age and the newly restored HD transfer is virtually free from flaws. A vibrant black and white colour palette means images are sharp and only a minor grain affects some scenes. Audio: 4 out of 5 The audio presents no problems, with dialogue remaining clear and crisp throughout. The musical soundtrack fills speakers and excellently reflects the comical storyline! Extras: 3 out of 5 The small array of extras that accompany this 60th anniversary edition are extremely interesting, but still leave audiences€™ appetites wet for more. Presentation: 4 out of 5 The funky cartoon design front cover adds a fresh look to the film, whilst retaining the energy and timeless cool of the film. This is reflected in the menus, which are simple and easy to navigate. Overall: 4.5 out of 5 An excellent film that€™s as funny and engaging today as it was upon its original release, The Lavender Hill Mob has been given an impressive upgrade and comes with some interesting additional material. All this means it well deserves to be on your Bluray shelf! The Lavender Hill Mob is now available on DVD and Blu-ray, as well as on a limited theatrical re-release.