DVD Corner

Nickelodeon Blu-ray Review

“Nickelodeon” is an overlooked Peter Bogdanovich film.   

No, “Nickelodeon” is not about the cable network. Instead, it’s a 1976 comedy about the silent film era (the early 1910’s to be exact) that is written by Peter Bogdanovich and W.D. Richter and inspired by real stories of the time. The story is framed around a lawyer (Leo) who finds himself being roped into working as a writer and later a director with an indie film company (Kinegraph) run by H.H. Cobb. Kinegraph (along with other indie outfits) are under the threat of the Patents company (a collection of film studios trying to stop indie competitors). Leo works with an actress named Kathleen and an actor named Buck. Leo develops a crush on Kathleen and so does Buck. The love triangle is a key plotline throughout. The bulk of the story touches on their work in making creative and improvised movie shorts leading up the eventual evolution of the film biz with D.W. Griffith’s “The Birth Of A Nation.”

Although it was a troubled production behind-the-scenes, “Nickelodeon” feels like a personal love letter to the silent film era via Peter Bogdanovich (especially in the superior B&W Director’s Cut). For casual movie fans, it might come across as exhausting and unappealing, but for anyone with a knowledge of film history, silent films, and movie making, “Nickelodeon” is delightfully chaotic and brimming with energy just like a silent film. In fact, the film even incorporates so much of the silent shorts here with slapstick comedy, falls, accidents, stunts, fights, and pastries to the face. The film even touches upon the racism in films of that era. At its core though, the story is about love, making movie magic, art, independent cinema, collaboration, and dysfunctional family units (with the filmmaking team being a sort of dysfunctional family). It might seem like a niche story in this day and age, but it still captures the spirit and love of making cinema no matter the time period.

The cast is downright special. Ryan O’Neal and Tatum O’Neal give it their all. Burt Reynolds shines in a rather different role for the actor. Brian Keith scene steals as Cobb. Jane Hitchcock charms as Kathleen. There’s a whole host of other actors in supporting roles like John Ritter, Stella Stevens, M. Emmet Walsh, and so on.

Note: This Blu-ray contains the color theatrical film and the B&W director’s cut which is 3 minutes longer and is Bogdanovich’s true vision.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.85:1 1080p. How does it look? Both versions look incredibly sharp in hi-def, but the B&W cut is the one to go with to be sure.

Audio Track: 2.0 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? The audio delivers a crisp audio experience.

Extras include a theatrical trailer, an audio interview/commentary with Peter Tonguette and co-writer W.D. Richter, a Peter Bogdanovich commentary and a 16 ½ minute video essay about Bogdanovich and “Nickelodeon” by Peter Bogdanovich biographer Peter Tonguette.

May 31, 2026 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | 70's Film, Burt Reynolds, Nickelodeon Blu-ray Review, Peter Bogdanovich, Ryan O'Neal, Silent Films