It is likely that the monitor you are seeing this review is not an HDR-compatible display (High Dynamic Range) or Dolby Vision, where each pixel can be assigned with a wider and notably granular range of color and light. Our capture software if simulating the HDR (in a uniform manner) for standard monitors. This should make it easier for us to review more 4K UHD titles in the future and give you a decent idea of its attributes on your system. So our captures may not support the exact same colors (coolness of skin tones, brighter or darker hues etc.) as the 4K system at your home. But the framing, detail, grain texture support etc. are, generally, not effected by this simulation representation.

NOTE: 68 more more full resolution (3840 X 2160) 4K UHD captures, in lossless PNG format, for Patrons are available HERE

We have reviewed the following 4K UHD packages recently: Picnic at Hanging Rock (Criterion) (software uniformly simulated HDR), I Am Cuba (no HDR), The Demoniacs , The Nude Vampire (software uniformly simulated HDR), Nostalghia (no HDR), Werckmeister Harmonies (no HDR), Goin' South (software uniformly simulated HDR), La Haine (software uniformly simulated HDR,) All Ladies Do It (software uniformly simulated HDR), Old Henry  (software uniformly simulated HDR), To Die For (software uniformly simulated HDR), Snapshot (software uniformly simulated HDR), Phase IV (software uniformly simulated HDR), Burial Ground (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dark Water (software uniformly simulated HDR), Fear and Desire (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dr. Jekyll and the Werewolf (no HDR), Paths of Glory (software uniformly simulated HDR), Southern Comfort (software uniformly simulated HDR), Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (software uniformly simulated HDR,) The Wages of Fear  (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Roaring Twenties (software uniformly simulated HDR), Universal Classic Monsters Limited Edition Collection (software uniformly simulated HDR), Scarlet Street (software uniformly simulated HDR), eXistenZ (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Horrible Dr. Hichcock (software uniformly simulated HDR), Conan the Barbarian (software uniformly simulated HDR),  Django (no HDR), Lone Star  (software uniformly simulated HDR), Suspect Zero (software uniformly simulated HDR), Count Dracula (software uniformly simulated HDR), Full Circle - The Haunting of Julia (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Warriors  (software uniformly simulated HDR), Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (software uniformly simulated HDR), Blackhat (software uniformly simulated HDR), Mark of the Devil (software uniformly simulated HDR), Barbarella (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Last Picture Show (software uniformly simulated HDR).

On their 4K UHD, Kino use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. "High Noon" is has a fisticuff scuffle in the livery and gun violence in the conclusion. Everything is authentically flat with modest bass. One of the highlights is the memorable score of the iconic Dimitri Tiomkin (Gunfight at the OK Coral, Angel Face, Strangers on a  Train, The Men, Dial M For Murder, The Thing From Another World etc. etc.) rhythmically building the tension as the film progresses - plus there is Tex Ritter (father of actor John) crooning Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin which became a major hit on the country-and-western charts and later, a pop hit for Frankie Laine. The lossless audio is flawless. The discs offer optional English (SDH) subtitles - and the 4K UHD is region FREE, playable worldwide. The second disc Blu-ray is Region 'A'-locked.:

Fred Zinnemann's "High Noon" is one of the most influential westerns ever made. It has a strong theme of man's conflict of conscience - mercenary attitudes than lean close to cowardice. Many famous actors, regretfully, declined the role of Will Kane - John Wayne thinking Foreman's story was an obvious allegory against blacklisting - rejected it. Stanley Kramer offered it to Gregory Peck, who thought it was too similar to his role of aging gunfighter Jimmy Ringo in 1950's The Gunfighter. Also Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, and Charlton Heston also declined playing Will Kane. I loved the economic pace... and so many of the supporting cast; Katy Jurado (Broken Lance,) Lloyd Bridges (perhaps the opposite of his last role of Izzy Mandelbaum on Seinfeld,) Otto Kruger as the feeling Judge, Lon Chaney Jr. as the town's former marshal, Harry Morgan as Sam Fuller, Lee Van Cleef as silent Jack Colby, Sheb Wooley etc. and of course Grace Kelly as devout Quaker and pacifist Amy Fowler. "High Noon" exports the idea of what a man should be - fearlessly going against the crowd - when they are making self serving, short term, decisions. Unassisted by the town, after facing the consequences of his noble decision, Will throws his Marshal's star in the dirt and speechlessly leaves with his brave bride. God Damn. Kino's 4K UHD with the video upgrade and two new commentaries gets our highest recommendation. 

Gary Tooze