Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Disc:

Video (both):

• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Samm Deighan
• Theatrical Trailer (2:10)

Bitrates:

 

Description: The breathtakingly beautiful Technicolor cinematography of Irving Glassberg is but one of the many small pleasures of the big-budget western Backlash. Set in post-Civil War Arizona, the film stars Richard Widmark as Jim Slater, who hopes to prove that his down-and-out father (John McIntire) was not involved in a gold robbery. To prove this, Slater has to find the money, which is also the goal of Karyl Orton (Donna Reed), the supposed widow of one of the thieves. Eventually, Slater discovers that his father is every bit as rotten as the law claims he is, though he can take some comfort in the fact that Karyl is now in love with him. As in his earlier Bad Day at Black Rock, Backlash director John Sturges is more concerned with building tension than with overt displays of wanton violence.

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Backlash is a 1956 Technicolor film starring Richard Widmark, released by Universal-International Pictures. It was directed by John Sturges, and unfolds in the vein of the psychological Western.

***

In the aftermath of an Apache ambush, Widmark (who believes his father was in the doomed party) and Reed (whose husband was killed in the massacre) become involved in a serpentine search for the lone survivor and some missing gold. Plotty Western written by Borden Chase.

 

 

The Film:

Excerpt from TCM  located HERE

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

Backlash sees the HD digital light of day on Blu-ray.  Colors and contrast are the high points of the image. As with Explosive Media's Man Without a Star the Technicolor shines through to varying degrees via the 1080P transfer. It can be quite impressive at times.  This, essentially, bare-bones disc is single-layered with a decent bitrate. It has some inconsistency with some softness and, what looks like, brief registry issues. This is in the, original, 2.0:1 aspect ratio. There is no noise or noticeable artifacts. This Blu-ray isn't perfect but harkens back to the desirable Technicolor hues of days gone by - that may be appealing for many.

The Kino is a shade darker and colors may benefit from the more robust technical transfer. Same framing but Kino's dual-layered 1080P is the best of the two.

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

 

Subtitle sample - Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

1) Explosive Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray  TOP 2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

1) Explosive Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray  TOP 2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

1) Explosive Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray  TOP 2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

1) Explosive Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray  TOP 2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE

 

Dual linear PCM's in original English and a German DUB. There are penetrating effects from the galloping of horses via a chase to significant gun-play. Depth is present but no range. Herman Stein (This Island Earth, Tarantula, There's Always Tomorrow, The Incredible Shrinking Man) includes a rousing score filled with energy. There are no optional subtitles and my Oppo has identified it as being a region FREE playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.

The Kino sounds the same to my ear - also a DTS-HD Master (16-bit) - no discernable advancement in the audio but the Kino does offer optional English subtitles (see sample above) on their Region 'A'-locked Blu-ray.

Extras :

Only a trailer, photo gallery and long compilation advert of western films also released by Explosive Media.

Kino wins hands down with the Samm Deighan audio commentary filled with valuable insights. There is also a trailer for the film and other western trailers.

Explosive Media - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 

Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
Backlash is a bit of an odd-ball western - trying to cover a little too much ground plot-wise. But I agree with many other's sentiments that Widmark gives the film it's edge. I had never seen it before and it seems to have been a lost film in the genre. Backlash got a bad review in the NY Times and then vanished for years.  I don't know of, even, a DVD edition outside of Germany. This Explosive Media Blu-ray has some positives even beyond the ability to simply see the film. The Technicolor colors are appealing - and , of course, there's Widmark with support from Donna Reed, and familiar television faces Edward Platt  (The Chief,) Harry Morgan (Col. Potter) and William Campbell (Trelane). I actually liked the western-adventure-revenge angle and I think fans of Widmark and the genre will enjoy it the most.

 

Kino is the way to go - an uptick in the video, optional subtitles and the Samm Deighan commentary as a valuable supplement. The film grew on me and I loved Widmark's single-minded character. This is a decent and enjoyable western - recommended!  

Gary Tooze

March 25th, 2014

August 3rd, 2020

 

Bonus Captures: