Blu-ray Review – The Golden Head – Flicker Alley

The Golden Head

Director: Richard Thorpe and James Hill

Screenplay: Ivan Boldizsar, Stanley Goulder, and roger Windle Pilkington

Minutes: 105 / 115

Year: 1964

Score: 6.26

Release: Flicker Alley

This is a pretty special release. In my experience most of the so-called lost films tend not to be so innocent. But Golden Head plays out like a 1960s Disney picture and is a peculiar Hungarian/US production

From FlickerAlley.com:

Largely unseen since its original theatrical release in 1965, and almost never shown in the U.S., The Golden Head is somewhat of a Cinerama mystery, not only in its “Emil and the Detectives” – style plot, but in its history as a unique, multi-national and nearly “lost” widescreen wonder.

A British-Hungarian-American production, the film takes place in and around Budapest, and follows the adventures of the Stevenson children: Milly, Michael, and Harold. In Hungary with their father, a British inspector attending an international convention of criminal investigators, the kids stumble upon a plot hatched by two thieves (Buddy Hackett, in his first role since the success of It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, and George Sanders), to steal the golden bust of Saint László from the Cathedral of Gyór and smuggle it out of the country. The Stevenson trio trails the thieves through Budapest and beyond in what amounts to a widescreen tour of the culture and landmarks of Hungary, highlighted by crazy chase scenes of earthy humor and elements of slapstick comedy.

Notoriously replaced by Flying Clipper (aka Mediterranean Holiday) after an 8-week theatrical run in London, The Golden Head was rarely seen ever again. Now, thanks to a brilliant, new restoration by Cinerama Inc., the 70mm Technirama can be enjoyed by all alongside the other critically acclaimed Blu-ray and DVD publications in Flicker Alley’s Cinerama collection.

It is worth noting that I have only seen three Hungarian productions and 66% of them have been very depressing and have more in common with a drippy oil painting drying on a peculiarly warm day than a cutesy Disney mystery. I offer this caveat as a means of suggesting that my knowledge of Hungarian cinema has been one-sided. I suppose that is also worth noting that I consider those two other films to be load bearing pillars in my love of film. The Golden Head is not on the same level as those. Low, my opinion may be tainted.

It isn’t fair to compare The Golden Head with the films of Bela Tarr, so I won’t. It may be valuable to compare it to The Shaggy Dog or Bon Voyage! I think that many cinephiles of a certain age have a special place in their hearts for Technicolor children’s comedy romp films of the 1950s and 60s. Some of my earliest memories of film feature Fred MacMurray as a pinnacle of ethical morality (The Apartment had a devastating effect). The Shaggy Dog, Swiss Family Robinson and their ike were like another parent in my life.

I imagine that The Golden Head would have been cool as hell if I had watched it as a child. Unfortunately, though, I watched it as a fully invested, and old, movie nut. The film plays very childish and prude.

That said the there is value to be found. The performances of George Sanders and Buddy Hackett were endearing and kept the film moving along. Also, it was pretty well photographed, the Hungarian countryside is beautiful. But I cannot see a young personal being interested in watching a Smilebox feature. This is a targeted release to a very specific demographic, and they are going to eat this up.

The release also has some valuable special features to wrap this with a neat little bow for hardcore completest cinephiles, if you are them you should definitely not skip on this. For the rest, I think it is a tough sell.

Special Features:

  • Fortress of Peace – A short film directed by John Fernhout, portraying the Swiss Army fighting against an unnamed, unseen enemy which originally screened theatrically in front of The Golden Head.
  • A Tale of Old Whiff – Originally in Smell-O-Vision, a 70mm scope cartoon where a dog, named “Old Whiff”, searches for a dinosaur bone.
  • Restoration of The Golden Head – A featurette narrated by David Strohmaier about the new restoration of this Cinerama title.
  • Restoration of the Animation, A Tale of Old Whiff – A featurette narrated by David Strohmaier about the restoration of this animated classic.
  • Image Gallery – Featuring original production, exhibition and promotional materials.
  • Trailer Gallery – Featuring restored Cinerama titles.
  • A Program Booklet – A facsimile representation of the original program booklet.

Director: 7 – Cinematography: 10 – Edit: 4 – Parity: 3 – Main performance: 7 – Else performance: 4 – Score: 7 – Sound: 6 – Story: 5 – Script: 6 – Effects: 7 – Design: 10 – Costumes: 6 – Keeps interest: 7 – Lasting: 5