'Kiss Me Kate' (1953) Blu-Ray Review - Cole Porter Musical Is A Vivid Spectacle (2025)

At his New York apartment, actor Fred Graham and composer Cole Porter discuss plans to recruit Fred’s ex-wife, actress Lili Vanessi, to star in their new show, Kiss Me Kate, a musical version of William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” Lili arrives, and after singing the love duet with Fred, agrees to consider taking the role of Katherine. They are interrupted by the arrival of flashy dancer Lois Lane, who has used her wiles on Fred to secure the role of Bianca. Jealous words fly between the two women, and Lili prepares to leave, after informing Fred that she is going to be married soon. The film stars Ann Miller, Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, Tommy Rall, Keenan Wynn, and James Whitmore.

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Video Quality

Warner Archive brought Kiss Me Kate back in print to Blu-Ray in 2019 after first being released on Blu-Ray by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment in 2015. This disc is the exact one used in the original run, only brought back so you do not have to pay exorbitant prices on the second-hand market. This disc does include a 3D option, but we do not have a television that can evaluate this aspect of the disc. The team at MPI restored the film for this original release, and both the 3D and 2D are housed on a single disc in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio that looks quite splendid.

One of the most impressive aspects of the film is the resplendent array of colors within the costumes and settings that leap off the screen with the utmost vibrancy. Every hue is a treat that appears to be dialed into its perfect shade. Black levels are deep with resolute stability throughout, and highlights are brilliant without succumbing to any blooming. The restoration appears to have eradicated virtually all dirt and damage for a pristine appearance. Likewise, there do not appear to be any unwanted digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or other such nuisances. The level of detail and clarity is more than respectable with a faithful amount of natural film grain intact, yet there is a bit of softness at points that we suspect might be due to having both 3D and 2D on one disc instead of having dedicated discs for each format. Despite this minor nitpick, this presentation was handled well by Warner Bros., and we are happy Warner Archive brought it back into print.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a dynamic DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that tastefully expands the original stereo roots. The normal dialogue comes through clearly with nothing buried by competing elements. There are spectacular moments when the track is frenzied with all of the competing elements, but the fidelity never comes up short. The star of the show is the music, and this track executes these elements gracefully. It balances the powerful vocals with the thrilling dance numbers and the accompanying music with the foremost clarity. The surround speakers expand the sonic palette without commanding focus. Warner Bros. has provided a first-rate presentation that avoids signs of age-related wear and tear. Optional English (SDH), French, Spanish (Castillian), Spanish (Latin), and Korean subtitles are provided.

Special Features

• Cole Porter In Hollywood – Too Darn Hot: A ten-minute archival featurette hosted by Ann Miller which details the creation of the film including interviews with Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, Tommy Rall, and James Whitmore.

• Mighty Manhattan, New York’s Wonder City: A five-minute archival piece on the bustling city of Manhattan and how it ties into the career of Cole Porter.

• Barney’s Hungry Cousin: A seven-minute Barney Bear cartoon in which a hungry bear attempts to get into the picnic prepared by Barney.

• Theatrical Trailer (3:33)

Final Thoughts

Kiss Me Kate is a clever musical filled with huge moments of spectacle and amusing banter between numbers. There are fleeting elements of the story that do not hold up as well, but there is enough ingenuity and charm that you cannot resist the fun of the endeavor. The cast has a charismatic presence on screen, and they have voices that carry the material well. Musical fans will delight in this one. Warner Archive has re-released a Blu-Ray featuring a fetching A/V presentation and a smattering of special features. Recommended

Kiss Me Kate can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.