The Blu-ray Disc
Harvey is presented in 1080p high definition in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio. As is necessary, one has to be prepared for excessive digital tampering from Universal, whose presentations of classic films can vary wildly. Fortunately, heavy-handed DNR application seems to be fading out of vogue at Universal lately, as Harvey demonstrates. There’s a visible grain structure here that appears stable and unadulterated, allowing for strong amounts of fine detail and a sharp, crisp image. Grayscale separation isn’t stunning, but clean whites and reasonably deep blacks are present. There does appear to be some excessive edge enhancement — the fence in the opening shot really displays it — but that seems to settle down as the film proceeds.
The 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio track is pretty clean, with only some light hiss around the edges occasionally and a clear presentation of dialogue from the fronts.
Special Features
There’s not much to speak of here. Two new featurettes created for Universal’s 100th Anniversary about Carl Laemlle’s and Lew Wasserman’s respective eras as studio heads aren’t about Harvey at all. A short intro from Stewart is ported over from the previous DVD, which brought it over from the VHS before it. The disc also includes the theatrical trailer. Included in the set is the original DVD disc.
The Bottom Line
A solid upgrade from DVD and a heartening indication that Universal might be correcting course on classic Blu-ray transfers, this disc of Harvey is a welcome release.
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