Search - The Hudsucker Proxy on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Movie Release: 1994 DVD Release: 05/18/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV,Pan and Scan Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, French SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 51 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 30 Genres: Comedy, Screwball Comedy, Workplace Comedy

Joel Coen and Ethan Coen concocted this stylish screwball comedic amalgam of Frank Capra and Howard Hawks. Tim Robbins stars as Norville Barnes, a dull-wit from Muncie, Indiana who wrangles a job with the big Hudsucker Industries. He has a singular idea for a new children's toy that he wants to present to corporate executive Sidney J. Mussberger (Paul Newman). As he makes his way up to Mussberger's office, the company president Waring Hudsucker (Charles Durning) is on his way down -- through the window of the forty-fourth floor boardroom! Hudsucker's death sets off a panic that Mussberger sees as an opportunity for taking over the company -- by installing a total incompetent in Hudsucker's place and devaluing the stock. When Barnes stumbles into Mussberger's office, Mussberger sees his pigeon and appoints Barnes as the new company president. The only problem is that the new product Barnes proposes for the company, the Hula Hoop, turns out to be a tremendous success, and Mussberger has difficulty manipulating his new corporate president. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Tim Robbins - Norville Barnes
Jennifer Jason Leigh - Amy Archer
Paul Newman - Sidney J. Mussburger
Charles Durning - Waring Hudsucker
John Mahoney - Chief

The DVD release of this overlooked and underrated film by Joel and Ethan Coen has no extras associated with it, not even theatrical trailers or production notes -- ironic considering that this follow-up to the award-winning Barton Fink is a film for only the diehard Coen brothers fans who would pay for a collector's edition. The best thing that can be said is that the transfer is beautiful, in vibrant colors only seen on DVD. Two formats of the film are presented here: side one has the beautiful 1:85 widescreen transfer while side two is standard full screen. The audio is strictly stereo at best and the language and subtitles options are English and French only. Unless this film is way up on someone's list of all-time favorite films, its DVD release isn't worth owning. ~ Arthur Borman, All Movie Guide