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Too Late Blues (Masters of Cinema) (Dual Format Edition) [Blu-ray + DVD] [1961]

Bobby Darin (Actor), Stella Stevens (Actor), John Cassavetes (Director, Producer, Writer) Rated: Suitable for 12 years and over Format: DVD
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 31 ratings
IMDb6.8/10.0
Additional DVD options Edition Discs
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DVD
21 July 2014 		—
2
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— £49.99
DVD
29 May 2012 		—
1
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Too Late Blues — —
Format PAL
Contributor Marilyn Clark, James Joyce, Rupert Crosse, Lionel Lindon, John Cassavetes, Bobby Darin, Vince Edwards, Everett Chambers, Val Avery, Mario Gallo, Richard Carr, Stella Stevens, Nick Dennis See more
Runtime 1 hour and 43 minutes
Colour Black & White
Number of discs 2

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Product description

Product Description

Synopsis: The supreme master John Cassavetes followed up his earth-shaking 1959 debut Shadows with this, his first directorial effort for a major studio. Positioned somewhere between Cassavetes' ferocious independent productions and the Hollywood fare of the early 1960s, Too Late Blues represents a glimpse at a road not taken neither by the director himself, nor by mainstream American cinema in the era of the studio system's collapse - a parallel-universe of the movies that never came to pass... except in rare instances such as Too Late Blues.

Legendary American singer Bobby Darin (of "Beyond the Sea" fame) plays the leader of a jazz band whose peripatetic performances ultimately lead him to cross paths with a singer (Stella Stevens, later of Jerry Lewis's The Nutty Professor) with whom he falls in love. Drama ensues when Darin's masculinity is thrown into question following a violent brawl, and the film lurches towards its gripping conclusion.

The critic Jonathan Rosenbaum wrote that Cassavetes' film is a portrait of "the self-laceration and other forms of emotional brought about when a footloose jazz musician decides to sell out and go commercial, " that it "has moments that are indelible and heartbreaking, " and that "if you care a lot about Cassavetes, you should definitely see this. " The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present John Cassavetes' Too Late Blues for the first time on Blu-ray and DVD in the UK.

SPECIAL FEATURES-

  • Gorgeous high-definition 1080p presentation on the Blu-ray, progressive encode on the DVD
  • Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
  • New and exclusive video discussion of the film by critic David Cairns
  • 52-PAGE BOOKLET featuring a new essay by critic and scholar David Sterritt, a 1961 interview profile with John Cassavetes, an excerpt from composer David Raksin s autobiography, and a 2007 interview with actor Stella Stevens.

Review

One of the more impressive Hollywood movies to be set in the hip, flip jazz world --Time Out

Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 16:9 - 1.78:1
  • Rated ‏ : ‎ Suitable for 12 years and over
  • Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 18.03 x 13.76 x 1.48 cm; 83.16 g
  • Director ‏ : ‎ John Cassavetes
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ PAL
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 43 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ 21 July 2014
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Bobby Darin, Stella Stevens, Everett Chambers, Nick Dennis, Vince Edwards
  • Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Eureka
  • Producers ‏ : ‎ John Cassavetes
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00I5RW36Y
  • Writers ‏ : ‎ Richard Carr, John Cassavetes
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2
  • Customer reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 31 ratings

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
31 global ratings

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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Pauly
    5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible performances
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 August 2014
    Verified Purchase
    A strange film for its time when first released and I heard so much about it through the years I decided to order it on its Blu-ray release.I am not disappointed as this is a cracking film with an incredible performance by Bobby Darin and also Stella Stevens.She says in the interview enclosed in the booklet this was one of her favourite performances and Im not surprised Highly recommended
    7 people found this helpful
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  • R H Warwick
    3.0 out of 5 stars Its not a musical at all
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 May 2016
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    Saw it the cinema years ago. It's still good but not every-bodys cup of tea.
    There is some music in it but its not a musical.
    One person found this helpful
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  • H. Alexandre
    4.0 out of 5 stars Indie Jazz Noir cinema
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 May 2014
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    For me, the best Cassavetes outside of academical critics' choice forever citing "Shadows", "A Woman Under the
    Influence" or "Faces"... and a fairly unknown one, very close to what he was playing himself in atmosphere, in his TV series of Jazz Detective : "Johnny Staccato" using a lot of the same cast. Stella Stevens, belying Cassavetes' love of stellar blondes in a smoky, party, Jazzy, Noir atmosphere, is absolutely gorgeous and this may be her best movies. The Bongo Beatin' Beatnik Jazz Music is the real star, however, using one of early Teen Rock'n'Roll's idols, Bobby Darin in a kinda counter-role in the opponing Adult Jazz scene.
    The image is well digitalised. Only sore point is that there isn't any bonus to set the scene in a historical context : downtown New York Jazz clubs in the late Fifties... or adding to the mood with a shortie or what.
    Reccomended for Cassavetes fans!
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Poormepete
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent film really proved that bobby Darin was a great ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 August 2017
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    Excellent film really proved that bobby Darin was a great actor. Should be up there with east of Eden and a street car named desire. Great five stars
    One person found this helpful
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  • James Begg
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great film!!!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 August 2018
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    Great film, unusual role for a pop star at the time.
    Great purchase
    One person found this helpful
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  • John B
    4.0 out of 5 stars Bobby Darin Standing in for John Cassavetes
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 June 2016
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    Interesting film. Bobby Darin seems to be standing in for Cassavetes who clearly should have been the star as this type of part is just up his street. Good support from the others in the cast especially Everret Chambers
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Bjorn Hykkerud
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 January 2016
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    I like it
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  • The CinemaScope Cat
    4.0 out of 5 stars In his second film, director Cassavetes turns his eye on the jazz scene
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 June 2012
    An uncompromising jazz musician (Bobby Darin) holds firmly to his artistic convictions not to sell out for money and fame. But when he falls in love with a sad and wounded wannabe singer (Stella Stevens), he feels humiliated and ashamed when he can't physically defend her from a drunken thug (Vince Edwards) and he turns against her and his bandmates. After the critical success of his indie film SHADOWS (which won the Critics award at the Venice film festival) in 1959, director John Cassavetes second directorial effort was for a major studio, Paramount. Yet it doesn't have the feel of a slick Hollywood studio movie, it feels improvisatory and spontaneous (Cassavetes co-wrote the script) while retaining an authentic jazz milieu. Only the ending feels like a mainstream Hollywood film but I don't know if it was Cassavetes' idea or a compromise. The acting is excellent with both Darin and Stevens showing great potential that was never fully realized in either's acting career. Stevens, in particular, seems a major actress about to bloom. The nicely rendered B&W photography is by Lionel Lindon (MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE) and the minimal underscore by David Raksin (LAURA). Fine supporting work by Everett Chambers as Darin's mean spirited and spiteful agent, Cliff Carnell, Seymour Cassel, Nick Dennis, Rupert Crosse and Marilyn Clark as rich matron who makes Darin her gigolo.

    The Olive Region 1 DVD is a crisp B&W transfer in an anamorphic 1.85 aspect ratio.
    14 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Trim Vis 44
    3.0 out of 5 stars Don't watch it if you're feeling down
    Reviewed in Canada on 26 March 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Bobby Darin is extremely convincing as an arrogant and despicable jazz pianist in this rather aimless tale of love, jealousy and disillusionment. I didn't like this movie when I saw it years ago, but figured I might warm to it more now I'm older. No such luck. Cassavetes is not my favourite director and I find this the least watchable of his movies. In a way it's a character study but I found the all the main characters so unpleasant that I stopped caring long before the film ended. Darin's jazz combo of losers have their playing ghosted by an impressive array of jazz greats, but in keeping with the group's not supposed to be that great, the music is rather unimpressive. Much of the dialogue and some of the action seem improvised and all the performances are solid. The DVD is b&w, widescreen. Don't watch it if you're feeling down.
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  • densoulplanet
    5.0 out of 5 stars A real sleeper of a film.
    Reviewed in the United States on 17 September 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Too Late Blues [Blu-ray]Recently bought this bluray and as with all the OLIVE FILMS product, the transfer is sumptuous. First of all I never understood why John Cassavetes kind of disowned this film. I believe it is excellent. The film is made with a great deal of discipline which Cassavetes "more personal" efforts mostly weren't. His skill at directing actors was always wonderful and it is no less true of this film. Everyone in it is at their peak. Some have asserted that Bobby Darin was miscast here but I don't agree at all. The real standout in a grand cast is Stella Stevens. Recently Tim Lucas (of Video Watchdog)opined that Jerry Lewis MUST HAVE SEEN THIS FILM before casting her in his own THE NUTTY PROFESSOR. I never thought of that before but the similarity in the roles template is reason to wonder at the very least. And she is not only one of the most beautiful women to ever exist but QUITE a grand DRAMATIC as well as comic actress.

    So many of the other performances (for that matter co-writer Cassavetes had more discipline in the script here than ever)are super. Everett Chambers wonderful lizard like performance turning on dime from smiling glad-hander to back-stabber, Bobby Darin playing a jazz musician (someone whose musical tastes AND OUTPUT was ALWAYS broad in real life)who is basically a self-centered egocentric (MANY would assert not far from his REAL personality)is always convincing and never a caricature. Nick Dennis is always a ball to watch and see (Everyone remembers him in Aldrich's KISS ME DEADLY..."Pretty POW!"). Vincent Edwards (when he was doing almost NOTHING but villains before BEN CASEY too him to stardom) isn't convincing as an IRISH person, but is effective as a drunken bully who beats tiny Darin up and humiliates him in front of his friends/bandmates and girl (Stevens)...In addition the parts of the band are played by real jazz players and they are all extraordinarily effective...as is Lionel Lindon's cinematography and David Raksin's score. SEE IT!
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  • Dr John E Vazzana PhD
    3.0 out of 5 stars Too Bad Blues
    Reviewed in the United States on 20 July 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I had not seen this film for a long time and was disappointed when I did recently. Bobby Darin was an outstanding show and saloon performer, but he is simply not for the big screen. He doesn't photograph well for the part and is just not an accomplished actor. Stella Stevens is always stunning, but her character certainly would not be introduced in a Dior or Del La Renta gown. Call this discriminatory, but she is just too glamorous to portray the down on her luck character. Again, both Stevens and Darin seem stymied on their lines, when they have them, and there are not many good ones at that. There is also a lack of character depth which leaves the viewer in an often confused state of "how did they get there?" The Greek bar owner was a silly stereotype which may be offensive to many. The best performer was Steven's agent and members of the band. It is a real artistic blunder when secondary characters are more than the stars! I have never liked Casavetes as a director/writer because of his continual dark attitude, but that is OK in some situations. In Too Late Blues the script has an annoying direction when the dialogue is between actors. Often the lines for two could be better served by being said by one. The viewer often knows exactly what a response will be to a line because the second actor is just a written extension of the first. Again, there is not a clear enough definition of each character to make a difference between lines. Finally, the script is too preachy and moves into "telling us what to believe" rather than letting the message naturally emerge. The film batters us with moral messages and that's not art - it's politics but I would never advise not to see the film. What one does not appreciate, another may. Caveat Emptor...
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  • Karen Esibill
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bobby Darin--Underrated, but Great
    Reviewed in the United States on 5 July 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This was the second film directed by John Cassavettes, and it suffers from his quirkiness, and terrible editing job. It was originally 4 hours long. Although I'm a fan of JC's anyway. With a character as complex as Ghost, and a back drop of the world of jazz musician's trying to make it, he could've had a classic, gritty film about the subject. He almost does. But what saves it and makes it worth while for me is Bobby Darin. He lives, breathes, and is Ghost Wakefield. Darin easily shows great emotion with his communicative brown eyes, and his pliable, handsome face. He's a natural, and it's a shame his health robbed him of the opportunity to do more film work. He has a dymanic presence on screen, sizzles with sexual undertones. Darin would only have gotten better and better as he matured.

    Why I rate it high is because it belongs in any retrospective of the legendary, uncompromising director, and it gave Bobby Darin one of the most multi-talented entertainers of all time, a chance to shine. I'll be forever grateful to Cassavettes' for casting Bobby in this role.
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  • Gary Vidmar
    4.0 out of 5 stars David Raksin's title tune is worth the price of admission
    Reviewed in the United States on 25 July 2012
    Verified Purchase
    The Raksin theme (aka A SONG AFTER SUNDOWN) is the real highlight of the movie and gets TOO LATE BLUES an extra star. John Cassavetes directs what's generally regarded as a failure, albeit one with potential and some curiously good moments. The biggest problem is that the film doesn't concentrate enough on the music, or the beat-generation mentality, that defines it. It's too mainstream, and there was little freedom to explore, with any detail, the psychosexual connection between a hooker and an impotent musician. Darin and Stevens are obviously discombobulated by the Cassavetes knack for improvisation, and weak editing only compounds the problem.
    The Olive Films' blu-ray looks sterling.
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