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

ADDITION: Eureka Blu-ray (April 2022): Eureka have transferred Sergio Sollima's 1973 Revolver to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "a new 4K restoration". The image quality is very impressive. Visuals are frequently very tight with exceptional detail in close-ups and there is no damage, speckles or marks. Depth is frequently apparent - there is a green-blue leaning but I didn't find it intrusive and the grain textures are consistent and appealing. It is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate which produces a strong HD presentation. 

NOTE: We have added 56 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Eureka offer linear PCM dual-mono tracks (24-bit) in both the Italian and English language DUB options. Revolver has aggressive moments from guns to disarming a raving prison inmate and general bullying of the kidnapped wife (Paola Pitagora) that come through with authentically hollow depth via the uncompressed. The score by iconic Ennio Morricone (The Great Silence, Who Saw Her Die?, The Black Belly of the Tarantula, The Fifth Cord, Luna, Danger Diabolik, Two Mules For Sister Sara, A Bullet for the General, Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion, The French Conspiracy, U Turn, Stay As You Are etc. etc.) is a wonderful accompaniment to the onscreen tensions and action plus the more placid, and even romantic, parts of the film. The film's theme song, "Un Ami", is sung in French by Daniel Beretta in the Italian version, while the International version uses an instrumental version of the song. Eureka offer optional English subtitles for the Italian translation and from the English DUB on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

The Eureka Blu-ray offers a new commentary by Kim Newman and Barry Forshaw. They discuss Oliver Reed using an American accent in the English DUB, how Sergio Sollima's similar themes that run through many of his films, they indicate the brief presence of Ilona Staller in Revolver - she was the Hungarian-Italian former porn star and politician initially as part of Italy's first Green party - details on Oliver Reed's alcoholism, Fabio Test, Morricone and more. It is excellent. There is also a new 22-minute interview with film scholar Stephen Thrower, (author of Nightmare USA.) He discusses the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia film school that Sollima graduated from as did Michelangelo Antonioni, Pietro Germi, Lucio Fulci etc, an analysis of the film, producer Ugo Santalucia and other topics. I found it highly informative. There is a 10-minute interview with Paola Pitagora (Carlotta in Revolver) who played the kidnapped wife of Oliver Reed. There is a 17-minute archival interview with actor Fabio Testi, 6-minutes of the English credits opening, an original trailer and international trailer plus three Radio Advertisements. The package has a Limited-Edition Collector’s Booklet (2000 copies only) featuring two new essays by author Howard Hughes; one covering the background to the making of Revolver, and an extensive piece on Ennio Morricone’s “Eurocrime” soundtracks. The Blu-ray is housed in a Limited Edition O-Card slipcase (also 2000 copies only.)   

Sergio Sollima's Revolver is political with an slyly developed divergence expressed by the two leads. Perhaps it is they would 'revolve' their positions due being forced into actions that they did not anticipate. The two character's evolution makes it hard to determine the plot's direction. It is certainly a unique, and well realized, Poliziotteschi film that has a thoughtful edge. Eureka's Blu-ray package is magnificent - a very strong crime-thriller - prisons, kidnapping, Reed and Test - plus it has the valuable commentary, Thrower video piece, interviews and booklet. I probably never would have seen Revolver without this impressive 4K-restored image / audio options package out of the UK. It has our highest recommendation!

Gary Tooze