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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (November 2023): Kino have transferred Edward Dmytryk's The Carpetbaggers to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "Brand New HD Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative". The Technicolor looks marvelous with wonderful balance and detail. Contrast is well layered and the overall 1080P image has spectacular moments. It looks exceptional on my system with gorgeous rich colors. Wow.

There was an Imprint Blu-ray from 2020 available HERE.

NOTE: We have added 50 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino offer the options of DTS-HD Master tracks (24-bit) in 2.0 channel stereo or 5.1 surround. The Carpetbaggers actually had a 3 Channel Stereo mix theatrically. There are effects - a lot of plane engines etc. that export some audible separations. The score by Elmer Bernstein (The Great Escape, See No Evil, Sudden Fear, From the Terrace, The Hallelujah Trail, The Grifters, Devil in a Blue Dress, Saturn 3, Birdman of Alcatraz, Love With the Proper Stranger, Robot Monster, The Bride at Remagen, The Comancheros, The World of Henry Orient, Kings of the Sun, Hud, To Kill a Mockingbird, Summer and Smoke) can be quite dramatic and explosive - really adding to the viewing experience. It sounds clean with consistent dialogue in the lossless transfers. Kino offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers two new commentaries. The first is by film historian and writer Julie Kirgo who talks about what was going on in the cultural and political history of Hollywood and America when the film was made in 1964. She talks about the book being a Roman à clef (French for novel with a key, is a novel about real-life events that is overlaid with a façade of fiction.) She discusses some of the Howard Hughes references and those of other character inspirations. She references other Harold Robbins novels and book-to-film examples. Julie identifies differences from the book to the film and, in her youth, it was considered 'dirty' citing the extensively described sex scenes, sadomasochism etc. She makes observation on the story that has parts of aviation and the American west. Julie is always good and she fills the 2.5 hours with valued comments. The second commentary is by another favorite, film historians David Del Valle and David DeCoteau. They talk about how successful both the book and film were. How The Carpetbaggers was a not-so thinly veiled account of Howard Hughes. Discussions arise about Edward Dmytryk, George Peppard (best role of his career), the dream cast of veterans, the character chapters of the book. Del Valle's enthusiasm always show through and I feed off of it. He identifies differences from the work print, anecdotes about Carroll Baker, Alan Ladd, Peppard and much more. I always enjoy him. There is also a trailer for The Carpetbaggers and a few other films. There is a revisable cover (see below) and an O-card slipcase.       

Edward Dmytryk's The Carpetbaggers is based on Harold Robbins 1961 novel of the same name and stars George Peppard as a ruthless tycoon - representing Howard Hughes, and Carroll Baker as Rina Marlowe (a role offered to Joan Collins - however she was pregnant at the time) based on Jean Harlow. Baker did the film Harlow a year after this. It was Elizabeth Ashley's first film and the last film of Alan Ladd - who died at 50 and didn't live to see the The Carpetbaggers's premiere. The film was considered a landmark of the sexual revolution of the 1960s and was a huge commercial success - with a $3 million budget but grossed $40 million. It might be a poorer, more lurid cousin to George Stevens' Giant with hints to the camp of Mark Robson’s Valley of the Dolls. The Kino Blu-ray has a gorgeous video, supports the 3 Channel Stereo audio mix and offers two commentaries. Described as "First-rate trash" The Carpetbaggers has a stacked cast and the Kino Blu-ray is oozing with epic garish Hollywood value.

Gary Tooze