The Shootist Blu-ray - John Wayne / Lauren Bacall

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Don Siegel
USA 1976

“I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.”

Legendary director Don Siegel (Dirty Harry) directs the iconic John Wayne as an ageing gunfighter dying of cancer in his final screen appearance, a superb adaptation of Glendon Swarthout's classic western novel, The Shootist.

John Bernard Books is the stuff of legend, a renowned ‘shootist’ whose reputation looms large. But it’s 1901, and like the old west, John is dying and a reputation like his draws trouble like an outhouse draws flies. As word spreads that the famous gunfighter is on his last legs, the vultures begin to gather; old enemies, the marshal, newspaper men, an undertaker, all eager to see him dead. Other men might die quietly in bed or take their own lives, but J. B. Books will choose his executioner and face down death with a pistol in each hand.

With an outstanding cast that features not only Wayne, but James Stewart, Lauren Bacall, Ron Howard, Scatman Crothers and John Carradine, The Shootist is an elegiac ode to a monumental screen presence and to the Western genre itself.

***

Afflicted with a terminal illness John Bernard Brooks, the last of the legendary gunfighters, quietly returns to Carson City for medical attention from his old friend Dr. Hostetler. Aware that his days are numbered, the troubled man seeks solace and peace in a boarding house run by a widow and her son. However, it is not Brooks' fate to die in peace, as he becomes embroiled in one last valiant battle.

Posters

Theatrical Release: July 16th, 1976

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Review: Arrow - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures:
Distribution	Arrow - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:39:03.376
Video	1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 46,003,987,892 bytes Feature: 26,857,318,720 bytes Video Bitrate: 31.93 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:
Audio	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1055 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1055 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit) Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Arrow 1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 46,003,987,892 bytes Feature: 26,857,318,720 bytes Video Bitrate: 31.93 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Brand new audio commentary by filmmaker and critic Howard S. Berger • The Last Day, a new visual essay by film critic David Cairns (28:36) • A Man-Making Moment, a new interview with Western author C. Courtney Joyner (40:27) • Laments of the West, a new appreciation of Elmer Bernstein’s score by film historian and composer Neil Brand (26:30) • Contemplating John Wayne: The Death of a Cowboy, a new visual essay by filmmaker and critic Scout Tafoya (22:32) • The Shootist: The Legend Lives On, archival featurette (18:26) • Theatrical trailer (3:19) • Image gallery Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Juan Esteban Rodríguez Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Juan Esteban Rodríguez Six postcard-sized lobby card reproductions Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by film critic Philip Kemp Blu-ray Release Date: March 12th, 2024 Transparent Blu-ray Case inside slipcase Chapters 12

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Arrow Blu-ray (March 2024): Arrow have transferred Don Siegel's The Shootist to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "New 2K remaster by Arrow Films from the original 35mm camera negative". We reviewed the 2001 Paramount DVD of the film HERE. The new 1080P is quite a revelation beside the very green SD rendering. There is also more information in the frame on the side edges. There is a tinge of blue and pink (warmer flesh tones) in the new HD presentation but detail rises in the close-ups and it has consistently textured grain. It looks wonderful now. Thank you Arrow.

NOTE: We have added 64 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Arrow use a DTS-HD Master mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. The Shootist has plenty of aggression almost exclusively in the form of gun and rifle fire. There is authentic hollowness and some piercing bass. The score was by Elmer Bernstein (The Great Escape, See No Evil, Sudden Fear, From the Terrace, The Hallelujah Trail, The Grifters, Robot Monster, Devil in a Blue Dress, Saturn 3, Birdman of Alcatraz, Love With the Proper Stranger, The Bride at Remagen, The Comancheros, The World of Henry Orient, Kings of the Sun, Hud, To Kill a Mockingbird, Summer and Smoke) sounding clean with consistent dialogue in the lossless transfer. Arrow offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Arrow Blu-ray offers a new commentary by, one of our favorites, Howard Berger who talks about this different type of Don Siegel film, the friction between director and star John Wayne who had Wayne's directorial suggestions and script alterations, the film clips of the black and white prologue, the use of The Duke's old friends in the cast including Jimmy Stewart, quotes from book sources including Garry Wills' John Wayne's America, Don Siegel 's A Siegel Film: An Autobiography, Michael Munn's John Wayne: The Man Behind the Myth etc. Howard talks about much of the cast's careers, Siegel films, the multi-layered story, and much more. Howard is always great - there are a few gaps - but I loved the commentary. Great job Howard. The Last Day is a new 1/2 hour visual essay by film critic David Cairns about Wayne. A Man-Making Moment, a new 40-minute interview with Western author C. Courtney Joyner (author of The Westerners: Interviews with Actors, Directors, Writers and Producers.) Laments of the West, is a new 1/2 hour appreciation of Elmer Bernstein’s score by film historian and composer Neil Brand. Contemplating John Wayne: The Death of a Cowboy, is a new 22-minute visual essay by filmmaker and critic Scout Tafoya. Lastly are The Shootist: The Legend Lives On, a 20-minute, 2001, archival featurette with Peter Frankovich, Hugh O'Brian, William Self, Miles Hood Swarthout and archival footage of Lauren Bacall, Bond Rogers, Ron Howard, Gillom Rogers and The Duke. Plus there is a theatrical trailer and image gallery. The package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Juan Esteban Rodríguez, a double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Rodríguez, six postcard-sized lobby card reproductions and an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by film critic Philip Kemp.

Don Siegel's The Shootist has John Wayne in his last film appearance before his death in 1979 at age 72. He died of Cancer... and his character in The Shootist, J.B. Books, was dying of Cancer. There are a number of plot similarities in The Shootist to 1950's The Gunfighter with Gregory Peck as notorious gunslinger Jimmy Ringo looking to hang up his holsters and start a new life. Both character's past haunts them. The Shootist starts with black and white clips of Wayne in Red River, Hondo, Rio Bravo and El Dorado (mostly set circa 1890s) as a prologue to the character "J.B." Books life - now dying in 1901. The Shootist has an exceptional cast - many good friends of Wayne - including James Stewart, suffering hearing loss, Lauren Bacall, Ron Howard, Richard Boone, John Carradine, Scatman Crothers, Harry Morgan, Sheree North and Hugh O'Brian. It's a wonderful memorial western tying closely to the man and myth of The Duke's legacy. I thoroughly enjoyed the Arrow Blu-ray. It is a strongly recommended package with a huge upgrade in the a/v, a revealing commentary, two visual essays, interviews, booklet and accouterments. The review is dedicated to western lover Alec Mills - who I won't get to loan this to. RIP Alec.