Search - Kramer vs. Kramer on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Brief Nudity, Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1979 DVD Release: 08/28/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Dual Layered Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, French, Korean, Spanish, Thai SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 45 mins Studio: Columbia TriStar Members Wishing: 14 Genres: Drama, Marriage Drama, Family Drama See Also: Kramer vs. Kramer [Blu-ray]

Robert Benton's Oscar-winning adaptation of Avery Corman's bestseller takes on contemporary problems of divorce and shifting gender roles, as a jilted husband learns how to be a nurturing father. Manhattan housewife Joanna Kramer (Meryl Streep) walks out on her workaholic ad man husband Ted (Dustin Hoffman), leaving their young son Billy (Justin Henry) in Ted's less than capable hands. Through trial and error, Ted learns how to take care of Billy, devoting more energy to his family than to his work, and finally losing his high-powered job because of his new priorities. When Joanna returns with her own lucrative job and the intent to take custody of Billy, Ted finds employment that won't interfere with his paternal duties. Even though he proves that he can do it all, Joanna still wins in court. Joanna, however, rethinks her desires when she finally grasps how close father and son have become. Addressing the male side of the self-actualization question, previously explored from the female perspective in such 1970s movies as An Unmarried Woman (1978), Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), and The Turning Point (1977), Kramer focuses on Ted's evolution from absent parent to ideal father, as he learns to balance domestic and professional lives in the shifting late-1970s social landscape. Joanna's attempt to achieve the same, however, gets buried; only Streep's sensitive performance prevents Joanna from seeming an unsympathetic harridan. Critics praised the film's realistic depiction of Ted's travails, as well as the three lead actors' work; and audiences, perhaps facing the same questions of divorce and self-realization, turned it into a box-office smash. It went on to win five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actress. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide

Dustin Hoffman - Ted Kramer
Meryl Streep - Joanna Kramer
Justin Henry - Billy Kramer
Jane Alexander - Margaret Phelps
Howard Duff - John Shaunessy
JoBeth Williams - Phyllis Bernard

Released by Columbia on DVD, =Kramer vs. Kramer features a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer that is solid and very well done. There is only a slight amount of dirt and edge enhancement present in the picture. Overall, colors are very bright, with black levels equally dark and solid. For a film over 20 years old, Columbia has done a very nice job on the video presentation of this disc. Audio is presented in Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono and, while only adequate, certainly gets the job done. Since Kramer vs. Kramer is a dialogue-driven film, a Dolby Digital 5.1 remix was not really warranted. Dialogue, effects, and music are all evenly mixed without any distortion present. Also included on this disc are English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Thai, Korean, and Chinese subtitles. =Kramer vs. Kramer is not packed to the brim with extra features, but it does include a very long 50-minute documentary that is a reflection on the making and impact of the film. Featuring interviews with such actors as Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Justin Henry, and director Robert Benton, this documentary is a very thorough and in-depth look at all aspects of the film and its production. For fans, this will be an absolute must to view alongside the feature. Also included on this disc are filmographies for principal cast members, as well as theatrical trailers for Kramer vs. Kramer plus the Dustin Hoffman vehicles Hook and Hero. Although not an official "special edition," =Kramer vs. Kramer includes sufficient extra material to be a must-have for drama fans. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide