We have started a Patreon page with the hopes that some of our followers would be willing to donate a small amount to keep DVDBeaver alive. We are a tiny niche, so your generosity is vital to our existence.

We are talking about a minimum of $0.10 - $0.15 a day, perhaps a quarter (or more) to those who won't miss it from their budget. It equates to buying DVDBeaver a coffee once, twice or a few times a month. You can then participate in our monthly Silent auctions, and have exclusive access to many 'bonus' High Resolution screen captures - both 4K UHD and Blu-ray (see HERE).

To those that are unfamiliar, Patreon is a secure/verified third-party service where users can agree to a monthly donation via credit card or PayPal by clicking the button below.


 

Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Tierras Lejanas" or "Je Suis Un aventurier")

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/direct-chair/mann.htm
USA 1954

Another Jimmy Stewart and Anthony Mann gem. They teamed to do some of the best westerns ever made and these classics always seem to be forgotten. Probably close to my favorite- Winchester '73.


The cinematography of the majestic Canadian Rockies serves as a monumental backdrop as again Stewart plays a jaded loner, this time named Jeff Webster. His only real companion is his sidekick Ben Tatum (Walter Brennan). Gold again is the elusive target and the honor code and male-to-male nobility make for a space but ripe narrative. Another classic western. They do not make films like this anymore.

***

 An archetypal example of its genre, The Far Country is one of five superb westerns the screen legend James Stewart (Vertigo) made with acclaimed Hollywood auteur Anthony Mann (El Cid, The Man from Laramie).

Mann s film tells of Jeff Webster (Stewart) and his sidekick Ben Tatum (Walter Brennen, My Darling Clementine): two stoic adventurers driving cattle to market from Wyoming to Canada who come to logger heads with a corrupt judge (John McIntire, Psycho) and his henchmen. Ruth Romain (Strangers on a Train) plays a sultry saloon keeper who falls for Stewart, teaming up with him to take on the errant lawman.

An epic saga set during the heady times of the Klondike Gold Rush, The Far Country captures the scenic grandeur of northern Canada s icy glaciers and snow-swept mountains in vivid Technicolor. Mann s direction expertly steers the film to an unorthodox, yet thrilling all guns-blazing finale, whilst the imposing landscape takes on a whole new splendour in High Definition.

***

One of the most entertaining of the Western movies to come out of the 1950s, this is a Stewart vehicle in which he must take on the ruthlessness of the frontier. Set in the Yukon, Stewart and his friends are driving cattle to market from Wyoming to Canada, where the boom towns pay top dollar for beef. When they arrive in Skagway, the corrupt sheriff of the town (John McIntire) steals the cattle and Stewart et al are forced to fight for their herd. Together with the female saloon keeper of another town (Ruth Roman), they find themselves up against an evil they were not prepared for. When Stewart's friend (portrayed by Walter Brennan) is killed, he is forced to go up against the evil sheriff. Good versus evil in incredible Yukon settings makes this an above average Western.

Excerpt from B+N located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: February 12th, 1955 (USA)

Reviews                                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Universal (Universal Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal (James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal (Spanish Edition) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

Big thanks to Vincent Lacomme for the PAL Screen Caps!

 

Box Covers

 

  

Re-released in November 2021:

Distribution

Universal

Region 1 - NTSC

Universal

Region 1 - NTSC

Universal
Region 2 - PAL
Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:36:51       1:36:51 1:33:03 (4% PAL speedup) 1:36:59.814 (both)
Video 1.33 Open Matte format
Average Bitrate: 5.53 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.85 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 8.67 mb/s

NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.85 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.937 mb/s

NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s 

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc One Size: 47,026,726,097 bytes

Feature: 29,761,014,720 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.96 Mbps

2.0:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Two Size: 30,315,972,751 bytes

Feature: 2 29,745,654,720 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.94 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate (Universal Western Collection):

Bitrate Universal (Stewart Collection):

Bitrate Universal (Spanish Edition):

Bitrate  (Arrow 1.85:1n) Blu-ray:

Bitrate (Arrow 2.0:1) Blu-ray:

Audio English 2.0 Mono English 2.0 Mono English 2.0 Mono DUB: Spanish 2.0 Mono, Italian 2.0 Mono, Russian (Voice Over) 2.0 Mono

LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
Commentary:

LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit

Subtitles English Closed Captioned, French, Spanish, none English Closed Captioned, French, Spanish, none English, Spanish, Italian, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, none English (SDH), None - both
Features Release Information:
Studio: Universal

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33

Edition Details:
• Theatrical Trailer

DVD Release Date: May 6th, 2003
Keep case

Chapters 21

 

Release Information:
Studio: Universal

 

Aspect Ratio:

Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85

Edition Details:
• Theatrical Trailer

DVD Release Date: May 6th, 2003
Keep case

Chapters 21

Release Information:
Studio: Universal

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85

Edition Details:

• Theatrical  trailer (4:3) - 1:48

set contains - Destry Rides Again / Winchester 73 / Bend of the River / The Far Country / Night Passage / The Rare Breed

DVD Release Date: May 20th, 2008

Slim transparent Case (6 inside box)
Chapters:
20

Release Information:
Studio:
Arrow

 

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc One Size: 47,026,726,097 bytes

Feature: 29,761,014,720 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.96 Mbps

2.0:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Two Size: 30,315,972,751 bytes

Feature: 2 29,745,654,720 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.94 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

DISC ONE
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the film in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1
New audio commentary by film scholar Adrian Martin
American Frontiers: Anthony Mann at Universal, an all-new, feature-length documentary with Mann biographer Alan K. Rode, western author C. Courtney Joyner, script supervisor Michael Preece, and critics Michael Schlesinger and Rob Word (33:06)
Mann of the West, a newly filmed appraisal of Far Country and the westerns of Anthony Mann by the critic Kim Newman (23:50)
Image gallery
Original trailer

 

DISC TWO
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the film in the alternate original aspect ratio of 2.00:1

New audio commentary by film scholar Adrian Martin

Limited edition booklet with new writing on the film by Philip Kemp and original reviews
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys


Blu-ray Release Date:
November 11th, 2019
Transparent Blu-ray Case inside cardboard sleeve

Chapters 13 X 2

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Arrow Blu-ray (November 2019): Arrow have transferred Anthony Mann's The Far Country to  Blu-ray described as being from a "Brand new 4K restoration from the original film elements by Arrow Films". This offers two presentations of The Far Country in both original aspect ratios of 1.85:1 and 2.00:1. These are on separate dual-layered Blu-ray discs and both have a max'ed out bitrates. The image quality is the same. The film has always had a very thick and heavy appearance. The image still has some unsavory softness, more realistic (warmer) skin tones and looks significantly improved in-motion. I like the film-like heaviness and it suits the HD presentation. You can see from the screen captures the information from top and bottom unseen in the 2.0:1 ratio (I like this appearance the best - nice inclusion Arrow!).

On their Blu-ray, Arrow use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. It is another advancement in the film's audio that has western effects (horses and guns) and a score credited to the collaboration of Herman Stein (This Island Earth, Female on the Beach, The Land Unknown, It Came From Outer Space, War Arrow, Tarantula, There's Always Tomorrow, The Incredible Shrinking Man), Henry Mancini (Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation, Hatari, Experiment in Terror, Charade), Hans J. Salter (Man Without a Star, The Killer that Stalked New York, The Strange Door, Cover Up, Man Without a Star, Scarlet Street, The Land Unknown, The War Lord, The Mole People, The Strange Case of Doctor Rx) and Frank Skinner (The Appaloosa, Madame X, Magnificent Obsession, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, All That Heaven Allows, Thunder Bay, and The Naked City). It sounds authentically flat but exports some minor depth. Arrow offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

Arrow include a new audio commentary by film scholar Adrian Martin accessible on both Blu-ray discs. His commentaries are thought-provoking and his gentle manner makes the relaxed commentary always a pleasure to indulge in. Many facets are covered from the production, Mann, Stewart, some supporting players etc. American Frontiers: Anthony Mann at Universal is an all-new 1/2 hour documentary with Mann biographer Alan K. Rode, western expert C. Courtney Joyner (author of Western Portraits: The Unsung Heroes & Villains of the Silver Screen), script supervisor Michael Preece, and critics Michael Schlesinger and Rob Word. It covers much of The Far Country's lesser known details of Mann working at a variety of genres at Universal - educational, informative and entertaining. Mann of the West is a 24-minute newly filmed appraisal of Far Country and the westerns of Anthony Mann by the critic and author Kim Newman who we always love to hear his thoughts and recollections of minute details. There is also an image gallery, original trailer and there is a liner notes booklet with photos and an essay by Philip Kemp, credits and notes on the restoration.

One of the greatest westerns ever made - #9 (I think) in our Top 100 listing. The Far Country is an Anthony Mann / James Stewart film that fans have desired for years. Thank goodness that Arrow had the reins on the Blu-ray despite our reservations on the image. It is complete - offering the much-wanted 2.0:1 (same as Superscope) format version, 4K-restored, the commentary (on both ARs) and the other great supplements. The film gets our highest recommendation!

Gary Tooze

ADDITION DVD: James Stewart - The Western Collection contains Destry Rides Again / Winchester 73 / Bend of the River / The Far Country / Night Passage and The Rare Breed. This would be considered and upgrade to have this now in widescreen and NTSC.

It looks about the same as the Spanish PAL release but has a much higher bitrate and a shade better detail.  I'm still VERY pleased about this new Collection of which we have reviewed/compared every title (links in paragraph above). For these six western gems the price amounts to $5 a piece which is really a ridiculous deal.   

 - Gary Tooze

***

ON THE ORIGINAL AND PAL RELEASES: Note: The movie was shot in Academy Ratio (1.33) and framed so that it looks fine in widescreen, so it's an open-matte format. It was shown in widescreen in theatres equipped for the format. So both DVDs could be considered "Original Aspect Ratio".

 - Vincent Lacomme

I don't like to think of myself as a widescreen fetishist. Meaning that many 'open matte' films for me are not totally discounted especially when they contain significantly more information, as this NTSC issue does here. This is dissimilar to bastardization through 'pan and scan'. Now my optimum choice would be the widescreen version that was shown in the theater - every time. The composition is lost in the vast open spaces on the top of the frame. Anthony Mann would not compose this way. There is a small amount of information also lost on the sides of the NTSC in comparison to the widescreen. The trouble with the PAL edition is it is very hazy and slightly inferior to the Region 1 in image sharpness. I'd love to see this marvelous film widescreen, but I would also like to as sharp (or sharper) than the current unremarkable Region 1 DVD. Universal NTSC also did this with another Stewart/Mann western (name eludes me - was it 'Bend of the River'?- no the box claims it was cropped - but was shot in 1.33) and it is very discouraging. Regardless, I enjoyed my Region 1 viewing being oblivious at the time there was a widescreen edition floating around. I wouldn't buy the PAL edition though. I would sooner put tape on top and bottom of my TV screen - but that is just me. The beauty of the comparison gives you your own choice. I enjoyed my Region 1 viewing immensely. Colors are good on both and as an extra they both include the theatrical trailer (4:3 - by the way).
 

 - Gary Tooze

 


(Universal (Universal Western Collection + Jimmy Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Universal (Spanish Edition) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

 

 

Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray 2


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Subtitle Sample

 

1) Arrow (1.85:1) - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP

2) Arrow (2.0:1) - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

 

1) Universal (Universal Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal (James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND

3) Universal (Spanish Edition) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) Arrow (1.85:1) - Region FREE - Blu-ray FOURTH

5) Arrow (2.0:1) - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Universal (Universal Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal (James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND

3) Universal (Spanish Edition) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) Arrow (1.85:1) - Region FREE - Blu-ray FOURTH

5) Arrow (2.0:1) - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Universal (Universal Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal (James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND

3) Universal (Spanish Edition) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) Arrow (1.85:1) - Region FREE - Blu-ray FOURTH

5) Arrow (2.0:1) - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Universal (Universal Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal (James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND

3) Universal (Spanish Edition) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) Arrow (1.85:1) - Region FREE - Blu-ray FOURTH

5) Arrow (2.0:1) - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) Universal (Universal Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Universal (James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND

3) Universal (Spanish Edition) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) Arrow (1.85:1) - Region FREE - Blu-ray FOURTH

5) Arrow (2.0:1) - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

  

 

Box Covers

 

  

Re-released in November 2021:

Distribution

Universal

Region 1 - NTSC

Universal

Region 1 - NTSC

Universal
Region 2 - PAL
Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray


 


 

Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

Hit Counter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

 CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Thank You!