PAPER MOON Criterion Review: The Bogdanovich Classic Comes to 4K

Criterion has prepared a 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray edition of Peter Bogdanovich’s Paper Moon for release this month, the first physical release of the movie since the Masters of Cinema Blu-Ray from Eureka Entertainment in 2015. Sourced from a new 4K digital restoration, it follows Criterion’s 2023 releases of Bodgdanovich’s Targets and The Last Picture Show, the latter on 4K. Their edition of Paper Moon is a terrific addition to that slate and gives the classic film a superlative release it has long been deserving of.

Paper Moon begins at the graveside service of Essie May Loggins, mother to the young Addie (Tatum O’Neal). After con man Moses Pray (Ryan O’Neal) arrives to attend the service, others in attendance note his facial similarity to Addie, implying that he is her father. Despite his denial of this, Moses agrees to help transport Addie to her mother’s sister in St. Joseph, Missouri. After observing Moses’ con—visiting the homes of recently widowed women and deceiving them into paying for “deluxe edition” Bibles he claims their husbands bought prior to their death—Addie proves valuable and the pair team up, but their partnership soon faces adversity.

Criterion’s release of the film arrives in a slip box with a cover by artist Raphael Geroni (who has previously designed covers for such Criterion releases as Moonstruck, Love Affair, and the Essential Fellini collection). Inside, the discs are housed in a DigiPack case that acts as a homage to one of the film’s key props—a Cremo cigar tin that Addie carries with her. The two discs’ art as well as the image upon which the disc retention hubs rest on top of continue this trend, displaying various contents of the tin, such as the $20 bill Moses and Addie use to con a sales clerk, and a bottle of Evening in Paris cologne, which Addie uses in one scene. Last but not least, the release includes a replica of the photo of Addie sitting on a smiling crescent moon, as well as a fold-out leaflet detailing the cast, crew, and other technical information, and featuring an essay by journalist and film historian Mark Harris titled “Partners in Crime”. The leaflet also doubles as a poster for “It’s Only A Paper Moon” (the song Bogdanovich named the film after and that plays over the opening credits), featuring the film’s original poster artwork of both leads sitting on the smiling crescent moon together.

Video and Audio

As noted in the “About the Transfer” section of the leaflet, Paper Moon is presented in Bogdanovich’s “preferred aspect ratio” of 1:66:1. The new 4K master is noted as having been created from the 35mm original camera negative, while a 35mm print of the film was provided by Paramount for reference. On the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc, the film is presented in Dolby Vision HDR.

I was lucky enough to see a 35mm print of the movie at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago last year and must say that it looks just as fantastic on the 4K UHD format as it did on the big screen. My first viewing years back was most likely sourced from the same master that was used for the previously-noted 2015 disc, and Criterion’s release offers a significant leap forward from that. While the previous master was generally great on its own merits, this new one is noticeably superior. The image is sharper with grain more stable, providing a more natural-looking presentation of cinematographer László Kovács’ gorgeous compositions. Darker areas of the film fare better as well—shadowed nuances are distinguished to a greater degree than they were previously.

Regarding the film’s new presentation in 1:66:1, whereas the Eureka release was 1:78:1, I did not observe any significant issues. It suits the movie well, and, similar to others that have been reformatted to 1:66:1, while some image on the left and right of the frame that was once there is lost, image on the top and bottom of the frame is gained. I do not anticipate there being any complaints about this as the movie overall looks significantly better than it ever has on disc previously.

As noted in the leaflet’s “About the Transfer” section, the movie’s original monaural soundtrack was remastered from the 35mm magnetic track. Right from the film’s opening moments at Addie’s mother’s graveside service, viewers can get a good sense of what to expect from this release. So much of Paper Moon‘s charm rests in its snappy dialogue, which sounds great here, but sound effects, music, and background dialogue also sound very organic.

Special Features

One supplement is included on the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc, and various others on the standard Blu-Ray disc. All descriptions below are taken directly from the discs themselves.

4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray:

• Commentary: This commentary track, recorded in 2003, features Paper Moon director Peter Bogdanovich.

Blu-Ray:

• Commentary: This commentary track, recorded in 2003, features Paper Moon director Peter Bogdanovich.
• Introduction by Peter Bogdanovich: The following program was recorded in 1989 for the laserdisc release of Paper Moon.
• “Keep Your Sunny Side Up”: The Ballad of Addie and Moze: The following video essay, written and narrated for the Criterion Collection by Peter Bogdanovich biographer Peter Tonguette, considers Moze and Addie’s father-daughter-like relationship, as well as the formal techniques and visual styles informed by it, in Paper Moon.
• The Making of “Paper Moon”: The following short documentaries, produced in 2003, feature director Peter Bogdanovich, production designer Polly Platt, cinematographer László Kovács, and associate producer Frank Marshall.
  • The Next Picture Show
  • Asking for the Moon
  • Getting the Moon
• Polly Platt: This excerpted interview with production designer Polly Platt was originally recorded in 2002 by the Art Directors Guild in Los Angeles after a screening of Paper Moon.
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: The following excerpt from an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson—featuring director Peter Bogdanovich and actors Ryan O’Neal and Tatum O’Neal—was taped around the time of Paper Moon‘s U.S. premiere.
• Location Scouting: Presented here are excerpts from the original location-scouting footage, shot by production designer Polly Platt with associate producer Frank Marshall.
• Trailer

Conclusion

Over fifty years since its release, Paper Moon remains a timeless movie and an impeccable directorial showcase for the late Bogdanovich. This is an immensely well-constructed work pretty much every which way you view it—Bogdanovich’s exemplary direction; the fantastic screenplay by Alvin Sargent; László Kovács’ beautiful black-and-white cinematography; the razor-sharp editing by Verna Fields; Polly Platt’s exquisite production design. The film’s richly textured period backdrop provides a delightful canvas for the father-and-daughter duo of Ryan and Tatum O’Neal, whose on-screen chemistry with one another is naturally electric, but each also give layered, incredibly moving individual performances in their own right (Tatum remains the youngest recipient of the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, as well as the ceremony’s competitive categories altogether).

Criterion’s new edition of Paper Moon is what so many have been long waiting for—a definitive release of this staple of 1970s American cinema. It arrives with a flawless visual/auditory presentation, a slew of excellent supplemental features, and a commendably creative interior design. This is a really impressive package and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Paper Moon will be released on November 26, 2024, courtesy of Criterion.