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

ADDITION: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - (July 2019) - The New Kino is advertised as "A 4K Restoration of the Original 128-Minute Director’s Cut!". It, indeed, runs 11-minutes longer than the 2011 Criterion BD release. There are a few version running from 1:55:00 - 2:10:00. This 1080P image is brighter than the Criterion and there is a slight shift in the 1.66:1 frame with the Kino, generally showing more information although this can slightly vary from sequence to sequence. I don't find it overly bright and looks excellent on my system. The grain is beautifully exported and I think I prefer this 4K restoration viewing to the older, and now out-of-print, Criterion Blu-ray.

Kino use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel mono track in original French language (16-bit.) Criterion advance with their linear PCM at 24-bit although few might notice the difference in the authentically flat track. Martial Solal (Melville's Two Men in Manhattan aka Deux hommes dans Manhattan, Godard's Breathless etc.) does the score - one of only 15 composition credits. It sounds very good although I always not the extensive pauses in the film more than the subtle music. There are optional English subtitles (see sample) and the Blu-ray disc is Region 'A'-locked.

Kino include a full length audio commentary by Filmmaker and Historian Mike Siegel (some may recall from his 2005 film "Passion & Poetry: The Ballad of Sam Peckinpah") He has done quite a few commentaries but only a handful in English. He is German and has an accent, only very occasionally, struggling with English and it wasn't a distraction and he makes some decent points in regards to the production, Melville, and much more (it is over 2-hours) and he doesn't focus on production details. As in Le Doulos we get The Demon Within Him - a 1/2 hour interview with Volker Schlöndorff. It is the same supplement where he recounts the film and his participation noting details about Melville. Fans may enjoyed the hour-long Master Class Jean-Pierre Melville with Philippe Labro & Rémy Grumbach de-constructing many of the director's scenes. Also included is Jean-Pierre Melville's 1946 19-minute short 24 heures de la vie d'un clown – described as "A day in the life of Beby the clown. Filmed between shows at Circus Medrano, at home and in the streets of Paris, with his faithful partner and friend the clown Maïss." Lastly. is a theatrical trailer for Leon Morin, Priest and other Melville films.

A less typical Melville film but brilliantly crafted and an interesting tale with toned down sexual impulses always prevalent between the priestly-garbed Belmondo and wholesome looking Emmanuelle Riva. Leon Morin, Priest is a fabulous viewing experience of love, survival, conflict... The longer running Kino Blu-ray with its 4K restoration and optional commentary gets our highest recommendation - even for those already owning the Criterion.