Review by Gary Tooze

 

Production:

Theatrical: Junior Film

Video: Raro Video

 

Disc:

Region: FREE! (as verified by the Oppo Blu-ray player)

Runtime: 1:37:16.230

Disc Size: 18,164,483,309 bytes

Feature Size: 17,461,444,608 bytes

Video Bitrate: 22.37 Mbps

Chapters: 12

Case: Standard Blu-ray case (see picture below) inside cardboard slipcase

Release date: October 29th, 2013

 

Video:

Aspect ratio: 2.35:1

Resolution: 1080i / 23.976 fps

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Audio:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio Italian 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB

 

Subtitles:

English, none

 

Extras:

• Video Documentary: Two Bounty Killers for a Massacre (14:33 in Italian with optional English subtitles - 480i)
• A fully illustrated booklet (8-pages)

 

Bitrate:

 

 

Description: In this classic spaghetti western from Sergio Garrone (Django the Bastard, Three Crosses Not To Die) making its home video debut, an evangelical bounty hunter teams up with another to bring an outlaw gang that has been sneaking illegal immigrants over the border to sell as slaves to justice.

 

 

The Film:

Desperately sought after and never before released worldwide on Blu-ray Raro video is proud to be releasing the action packed film, Hanging for Django. In this spaghetti western, an evangelical bounty hunter teams up with another to bring an outlaw gang that has been sneaking illegal immigrants over the border to sell as slaves to justice.

Excerpt from TCM located HERE

An entertaining, though somewhat standard-issue Italian western, this is well-made and fairly atmospheric, with a neat final gun-down. Steffen and especially Berger are pretty cool too, as is big Mario Brega (of Leone's Dollars trilogy among other films) finally getting to play one of the good guys!

One interesting aspect of the film is the depiction of illegal immigration, the "coyotes", and their primarily well-to-do white enablers as a public nuisances that help in keeping poor Mexicans down. This is a point of view you'll never see in the scared, hypocritical film world of today.

Excerpt from My Duck is Dead located HERE

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

While the print used for Hanging for Django seems in good shape with few blemishes or even speckles, unfortunately the Raro Blu-ray is rendered in a 1080i (interlaced) transfer. The interlacing creates a trailing effect in motion or horizontal pans. I wouldn't say it was overwhelming but picky fans may find it noticeable and distracting. This is only single-layered with a modest bitrate but I suspect minor DNR as there is an unusual softness in the visuals - more prominent in the beginning 1/3rd of the film. Characters, in the many close-ups, can appear a bit waxy. This combined with the interlacing may be enough of a game-breaker for some to dismiss the release. I wasn't in a picky mood and kinda had fun watching the film - with its typical pasta-western conventions. This Blu-ray has weakness but many systems (and eyes) may not pick up on the deficiencies.  The film is clean and contrast and colors seem supported. There is plenty of darkness, but no noise.

 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audio :

Audio is offered in both Italian or English tracks unfortunately not taking advantage of the higher-end lossless capabilities of the new format. There are both in simply Dolby 2.0 channel tracks. It sounded okay but the gun-play lacked the depth that might have further intensified the scenes. There are optional English subtitles and my Oppo has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.

 

Extras :

Nice to see Raro attempt some supplements. We get a 15-minute video documentary entitled Two Bounty Killers for a Massacre aka due Bounty Killer per un Massacre (in Italian with optional English subtitles - 480i). It has Manlio Gomarasca discussing the film, and other spaghetti westerns, with some salient points. There is also an 8-page liner notes booklet included.

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
I will reiterate that this was fun to watch despite all the transfer faux-pas. Garrone seems to have his own style from his films that I have seen... and it can be contagiously appealing. This is more macho spaghetti-western action fitting snugly into a quintessential ranking of its genre. Unfortunately, the Blu-ray has too many deficiencies to recommend although it wouldn't hurt fans who can get it cheap. I appreciate Raro trying to bring this out in HD. Great cover inside the slip-case!

Gary Tooze

October 10th, 2013

Case inside the above cardboard slipcase: