Sleeper

It's unfortunate that with older films the transfer onto DVD is not always a smooth one. Besides the expected nicks and scratches, lines often appear blurred and colors can bleed. This inconsistency is evident in this MGM release of Woody Allen's futuristic comedy Sleeper. Often when there is a clean image, it will quickly become an unbalanced one, especially when there is much activity happening in the frame. This is not an anamorphic transfer, though there is a choice between widescreen and pan-and-scan. As with all Allen films, sound is in mono only with dialogue superseding everything else. It serves this film well, and the tinny background clarinet music is not due to the transfer quality as much as to the actual dated recordings. Allen's DVDs are expected to contain the barest in the special features department, and here there is only a collectible booklet containing background info, and the original trailer. Still, this is such a witty film that audiences will not be disappointed.