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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (May 2024): Kino have transferred Charles Vidor's Thunder in the East to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "2022 HD Master by Paramount Pictures – From a 4K Scan". Aside from a few light marks and speckles the 1080P image quality is quite good. Grain textures are consistently exported and contrast is pleasing with strong black levels. The source density appears to have been intact. There are moments of softness but I have the feeling this was a function of the production not the transfer that has a supportive bitrate. Decent and acceptable. 

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On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. Thunder in the East has a few plane scenes and a barrage of later gunfire which does have surprising depth. The score was by Hugo Friedhofer (Plunder of the Sun, Zombies of the Mora Tau, One-Eyed Jacks Two Flags West, Man in the Attic, Ace in the Hole, Body and Soul, Gilda, The Bishop's Wife) and it adds another layer to the drama and sub-continent locale. Kino offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A'-locked Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary by author/film historian Lee Gambin and costume historian Elissa Rose. They talk about Vidor, Alan Moorehead (the novel), Boyer, Friedhofer, Ladd, Kerr, set decorator Sam Comer and the wardrobe by Edith Head. They cover many topics - sometime tangentially related to Thunder in the East. There are also trailers for Lucky Jordan, China, Calcutta, O.S.S., Chicago Deadline, The Chalk Garden, A Woman's Vengeance and Back Street as well as for Thunder in the East. 

Charles Vidor's Thunder in the East was based on the 1948 novel by war correspondent Alan Moorehead; The Rage Of The Vulture. Of course, the film softens the Muslim - Hindu conflict details as well as British / Indian factors, instead focusing more on a fictitious privileged ex-pat community in a Northern Indian state called 'Gandahar' as they gained independence - circa 1947. Charles Boyer is wonderful as humanist Prime Minister Singh adhering to a philosophy of non-violence. This is at odds with "Don't Tread on Me" gun hustler Steve Gibbs; a Yank mercenary, non-nonsense, tough guy played expertly by Alan Ladd at the height of his charisma. Corinne Calvet (Rope of Sand, The Far Country) tries to seduce her way onto his escaping plane (the representation of safety) while a 'good girl', who happens to be blind and the Vicar's daughter, Joan Willoughby (sweet Deborah Kerr) is turned off by Steve's 'me-first' attitude. This is despite their obvious blossoming chemistry. When the going gets tough though - throw out your inner virtue and bring out the equalizer - the, previously impounded, Thompson sub-machineguns - which save the stranded survivors being ambushed. Mow'em down without mercy after Ladd and Kerr desperately wed. She succumbs to his unselfishness. Wow - they do not make them like this anymore. Charles Vidor's Thunder in the East represents a rare film viewing experience with Ladd doing what he does best, Boyer exceptional as the Nehru-like politician and the gals Kerr and Calvert adding some romantic entanglements. I really enjoyed this Kino Blu-ray. I'm still a bit flabbergasted by the film's ending. Certainly recommended.

Gary Tooze