Directed by John Sturges
USA 19
58

 

A solid no-nonsense director, virtually the post-World War II master of the adventure movie (The Great Escape, 1963) and the big budget Western (Gunfight at the OK Corral, 1957), John Sturges excelled in staging exquisitely timed action sequences framed in visually exciting compositions. Actor Robert Ryan made a perceptive observation in 1955 when co-starring in Sturges' splendid Bad Day at Black Rock that the picture demonstrated "...the first good use of CinemaScope," a particularly perceptive comment considering that the process was still in its infancy.

Sturges, who began at RKO in the 1930s as an editor, had an instinctive knack for the new widescreen formats of the fifties, as evidenced by the aforementioned classic and The Law and Jake Wade (1958), wherein reformed outlaw Robert Taylor is methodically stalked by his psychotic ex-partner Richard Widmark (the latter in a role reminiscent of his landmark Kiss of Death debut in 1947).

Excerpt from TCM located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: June 6th, 1958

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DVD Review: Warner - Region 1 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover

   

CLICK to order from:

Also available in Warner's Home Video Western Classics Collection with Escape from Fort Bravo / Many Rivers to Cross / Cimarron 1960 / The Law and Jake Wade / Saddle the Wind and The Stalking Moon.

         

Distribution Warner Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime 1:26:39 
Video 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.25 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s 

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0) 
Subtitles English, French, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Warner

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 2.35:1

Edition Details:

• Trailer (2:07)

DVD Release Date: August 26th, 200
8
Keep Case
Chapters: 9

 

Comments:

Very unremarkable, somewhat hazy, single-layered transfer from Warner on this super widescreen western gem. Colors seem strong but detail almost looks like it has gone through DNR (although I highly doubt that process was bothered with here) with a with an overall softness / smoothness unbecoming any original film grain. It is anamorphic, progressive and supports the film for a decent viewing but I'll wager this looked a lot better in the theater 50 years ago. Still ,quite watchable for a thoroughly enjoyable western on pragmatic DVD.

Only a 2.0 channel option for the audio but it does the job without major flaws and the dialogue is supported by English or French subtitles. No extras save a trailer.

Fans of the western genre should indulge at this reasonable price although the entire package seems the best way to go. We will review others titles in the boxset as we can.

NOTE: We've covered Escape from Fort Bravo , Cimarron 1960, The Law and Jake Wade and The Stalking Moon so far.     

Gary W. Tooze

 



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DVD Box Cover

   

CLICK to order from:

Also available in Warner's Home Video Western Classics Collection with Escape from Fort Bravo / Many Rivers to Cross / Cimarron 1960 / The Law and Jake Wade / Saddle the Wind and The Stalking Moon.

         

Distribution Warner Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC




 

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