Disc Size: 37,166,010,978 bytes

Feature: 28,129,855,488 bytes

Video Bitrate: 30.99 Mbps

DVD Release Date: 25.09.2001
Keep Case

• Cox on Corbucci - filmmaker and author Alex Cox surveys Sergio Corbucci's career and how The Great Silence fits within the maestro's oeuvre (14:46)
• Western, Italian Style - This 1968 documentary on Italian westerns includes prime behind the scenes footage of The Great Silence (38:01)
• Two never-before-seen alternate endings, including the option to play one of the alternate endings with Alex Cox commentary (Part 1 - 2:01, Part 2 - 4:31 )
• The Great Silence original theatrical trailer (3:46)
• The Great Silence 2018 theatrical trailer (1:44)
• Italian and English language versions.
• Ending the Silence - a new essay about The Great Silence by film critic Simon Abrams

Chapters 13

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

Film Movement have brought one of the most beloved pasta westerns The Great Silence to Blu-ray for the 50th Anniversary of its original release. It's on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. The 1080P presentation is a revelation over the weak DVDs - but in the beginning I did notice unusual visuals that kind of looked like gauze over the lens HERE and HERE in Silence's coat. It looks odd to me and am still investigating if it is damage or an form of digital noise. I lean to the former. The good news is that I only noticed it in the, lone, early scene. The transfer shows thick grain and detail significantly rises over SD and doesn't show the light scratches that are on both DVDS. It is in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio showing more in the frame - notable on the side edges, has depth and skin tones warm looking far more realistic losing the orange-ness of the DVDs. I think the transfer is adept and it is at the mercy of the source - which ends up being reasonably consistent through the majority of the HD presentation.

Film Movement provide a robust linear PCM 2.0 channel (24-bit) track in the original Italian language with the option of a loss Dolby English DUB. Audio has the usual noticeable sync issues but is clear and gunfire has hollow depth - which would probably be accurate to the original production. The score is by the iconic Ennio Morricone (A Pure Formality, Luna, A Bullet for the General, Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion, U Turn, Stay As You Are etc. etc.) doing a wonderful job of establishing tone, promoting tension and supporting the film's style - often in a restrained manner. It sounds pleasing in the lossless. Film Movement add optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

Extars include Cox on Corbucci spending 1/4 hour with filmmaker and author Alex Cox who surveys Sergio Corbucci's career and how The Great Silence fits within the maestro's oeuvre from a lone cabin in the wilderness. Western, Italian Style is a 38-minute, 1968 documentary on Italian westerns includes prime behind the scenes footage of The Great Silence commenting on the how the genre was established. There are two never-before-seen 'alternate endings', including the option to play the first one with and Alex Cox commentary. Fans of the film  may find these interesting. There are also The Great Silence trailer - an long original and a shorter 2018 one. The package has liner notes with Ending the Silence - a new essay about The Great Silence by film critic Simon Abrams.

The Great Silence is a one of the premium of its style-heavy genre and a stellar western. It's a film that gets better in repeat viewings. The Film Movement Blu-ray has immense value over the DVDs with the imperfect but vastly improved a/v and the extensive extars. Absolutely recommended!