Μύ Richard Gere stars as a rebel who signs up to the US Navy Officer Candidate School to become a jet pilot. Immensely popular and with some career-defining performances, this trial of wits is now out on a disc that also offers a lesson in 80s Hollywood.
The picture transfer is very fresh, and a distinct improvement on Paramount's "American Gigolo" disc.
With the famous rock score of Jack Nitzsche and "Up Where We Belong" sung by Jennifer Warnes and Joe Cocker, this is a film that deserves a 5.1 remix. Sadly, 2.0 mono will have to do, although at least it is strong and clear.
There are plenty of director's commentaries on DVDs now, but most are unprepared, poorly thought out, and often rather dull. One exception is Taylor Hackford. His commentary for the "Dolores Claiborne" DVD was excellent and for "An Officer and a Gentleman" he really wheels out some fine anecdotes, especially of what he defines as "the different era of Hollywood", back in 1982.
"Much wilder" is one term he uses to describe the making of "Officer" the producer thought "sucked" but the head of production at paramount, Don Simpson, believed in. That period of the studio's history is fascinating with Simpson, Jerry Katzenberg, and Michael Eisner all carving out the beginnings of their careers. Hackford has plenty of great stories to relate of these major Hollywood players, and this disc is worth getting just to hear them.
Chapters: 15
Region: 2
Ratio: 1.85:1 (Anamorphic)
Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0
Extra Features: Scene selection, audio commentary with director Taylor Hackford, trailer, multiple languages, subtitles, English for the hearing impaired.
