George Stevens’ 1942 classic The Talk of the Town is now … excuse me … the talk of the 4K community after receiving a wonderful release from Sony. Starring the legendary Cary Grant, Jean Arthur, and Ronald Colman, the film was well received upon release and the comedy drama is still incredibly entertaining in 2025.
“When accused arsonist Leopold Dilg (Cary Grant) escapes jail, he hides out in the home of friend Nora (Jean Arthur). Posing as a gardener, Dilg teams up with Nora to convince her summer tenant, Supreme Court candidate Michael Lightcap (Ronald Colman, Lost Horizon) that Dilg was framed. The zaniness never stops as the three of them dodge the cops, try to snag the real crooks and discover along the way that both men have fallen for Nora. But who has captured Nora’s heart? Find out with The Talk of the Town, a sparkling gem from Hollywood’s Golden Age of Comedy, nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture,” says the official description.
I am always blown away whenever I get a classic movie from Sony and The Talk of the Town 4K is no exception. The black-and-white film has received a really lovely restoration, which allows for the photography to really pop and for the detail to really shine through. While I had seen the movie before, it felt like viewing it for the very first time in 4K, allowing for a great appreciation of this classic film.
One thing that has helped The Talk of the Town age well is how ahead of its time it was in many regards. For example, having two competing male leads was quite rare for the time, but seeing Cary Grant and Ronald Colman both share the screen and compete for Arthur’s affection is a lot of fun. Its mix of tones — mixing a dramatic court trial with plenty of hijinks — also feels modern.
The Talk of the Town 4K also has some solid special features, even if they’re not super extensive. The highlight is an audio commentary track by author Marilyn Ann Moss, who wrote a book on director George Stevens. Marilyn does a great job adding context to the film and it’s an entertaining track. Additionally, there’s a brief interview with George Stevens Jr. called “Talking About The Talk of the Town,” which is worth checking out.
The Talk of the Town 4K Review: Final Verdict
There’s a good reason why The Talk of the Town was nominated for seven Academy Awards — it’s a great movie that has stood the test of time. Thankfully, Sony’s The Talk of the Town 4K release does the classic film justice as it looks great and allows a new generation of cinephiles to enjoy the comedy drama.
Disclaimer: ComingSoon received product from the distributor for our The Talk of the Town 4K review.
