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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (August 2022): Kino have transferred Yves Boisset's The Cop (Un condé) to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "Brand New 4K Restoration". It looks wonderful if having a few teal-leaning walls in certain scenes. Black levels are fairly pitch. There is fine grain textures and impressive, film-like detail in the film's close-ups. The 1080P looked solid on my system.

NOTE: We have added 40 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original French language. The Cop has man aggressive scenes from gunfire to beatings and torture that come through with impactful depth. It has a score by Antoine Duhamel (Frank and Eva, Truffaut's Mississippi Mermaid, Godard's Weekend) sounding similar to Morricone and it is supportive in the lossless transfer. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary by my favorite trifecta of commentarists, Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson. They talk about connections to Michael Winner and Death Wish. They state that William Friedkin may have been influenced by The Cop. They also find links to John Frankenheimer's French Connection II, how the film is very dark (black) - reminiscent of John Alton from T-Men - and they discuss the egregious violence, how the car crash evokes Goldfinger. Gianni Garko playing Dan Rover reminds Howard of Michael Caine in Get Carter. They touch on the cast; Michel Bouquet (Just Before Nighfall), Françoise Fabian (The Specialists), Michel Constantin (Le Trou), Bernard Fresson (Polanski's The Tenant), Adolfo Celi ('Largo' to Bond fans) - the director Yves Boisset ('minimalist style'.) I think it was Nathaniel who states that this is the first video release of The Cop in North America, how it was a much discussed film in France - courting controversy etc. There is also a trailer for the film.

Yves Boisset's The Cop tackles some harsh morality with a committed police officer who has had enough after a colleague dies and goes on a cold-blooded vengeful spree against the baddies. Perhaps evoking Dirty Harry to a certain degree with the strong indifference to criminal's rights. There are no redeeming male characters in The Cop and the French government wanted to ban it for the portrayal of police corruption and the extensive violence. While the French release had a few cuts, this Kino Blu-ray is the complete version. It's a highly impacting crime-film appealing to the vigilante cinema fans. It's very adeptly realized by Boisset. I am very happy this gripping, intense, film is available in such pleasing a/v with the addition of the excellent commentary. Absolutely recommended!

Gary Tooze