ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (July 2019): Georges Lautner's "Le Professionnel" has arrived on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber. When compared to the older standard definition DVDs, there is certainly an increase in clarity, with the 1080p image showing finer definition within the 1.66:1 frame. The film has been put on a single-layer Blu-ray and carries a modest bitrate. Certain scenes can feature lighting that seems overblown, and oversaturated. This may well be the intended look of the film, though barring a new 4k transfer of the original negative, for example, this will have to do the trick (strangely, no notes from Kino as to where this master was obtained). There is some moderate amount of grain, but overall this is a pretty lackluster presentation, though I suppose it could always be worse.

Kino use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel mono track in original French language (16-bit.) The score from Ennio Morricone (The Black Belly of the Tarantula, The Fifth Cord, Luna, A Bullet for the General, Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion, U Turn, Stay As You Are etc. etc.) comes through the channel solidly, showcasing his great talent for composing lyrical and melancholic themes. This score may not fit the film like a glove (as the 3 commentators mention in their must-listen track) but it is undeniably catchy. There are optional English subtitles (see sample) and the Blu-ray disc is Region 'A'-locked.

The main feature here is yet another fantastic commentary from the trio of Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson. They start out by discussing the repurposed score from Ennio Morricone and the differences between European and American scores of the time. They go on to discussing the various aspects of the production, most interestingly the editing. I particularly loved a comment after a hallway brawl, noting that the fight was "... an interesting combination of everything this movie is; violent, exciting, and funny." After the commentary, we are only left with the film's trailer, as well as trailers for some other Kino titles.

Certainly not the Blu-ray many of us were waiting for. Though the A&V department is only mediocre, the obvious 1080p uptick in definition is there. The commentary is worth the price of the disc alone. To any that may have missed this picture in the past, I would certainly recommend picking up this Blu-ray, with the aforementioned caveats.

Colin Zavitz

***

ON THE DVD: Le Professionnel ('The Professional') has been available on DVDs in France and US. I have a Universal/Studio Canal single-layered PAL disc with an optional English DUB but no subtitles HERE - COMPARED below). It was previously accessible in North America, for years, via a very limited Image Entertainment DVD transfer HERE - now out-of-print and fetching too-high prices.

I was never happy with what I had heard of the Image Entertainment DVD nor what I knew of the French DVD that I owned - the DUB was poor, - there was plenty of speckles, the image seemed far too bright and now I can see occasionally cropped as well. Both transfers are anamorphic in the correct 1.66:1 aspect ratio but I am happy to have the optional English subtitles. There is something a miss with the image quality of both - the Lions Gate looks too green with a low bitrate but I think it is, shamefully, the best that I have seen Le Professionnel on DVD to date. Audio is an unremarkable 2.0 channel in original French with the choice of the ineffectual, almost laughable, English DUB. Stay with the subs.

No extras save a trailer but GREAT film! You can't imagine anyone but Belmondo in this role. While made in the early 80's it still has that 70's rough and ready dynamic feel. If you haven't had the chance to indulge in this action/thriller - with doses of politic - then you may as well give the Lions Gate a spin. Still far from pristine but I had a ball re-watching Le Professionnel. It deservers a better edition - even Blu-ray but I suppose this is all we are getting.

Gary W. Tooze