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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
Hollywood legend Barbara Stanwyck saddled up with writer-director Samuel Fuller for the pulp maestro’s most audacious western, a boldly feminist spin on the genre that pivots effortlessly between ribald humor, visceral action, and disarming tenderness. High-riding rancher Jessica Drummond (Stanwyck) commands a forty-strong posse of cowboys, ruling Cochise County, Arizona, without challenge. When U.S. Marshal Griff Bonell (Barry Sullivan) and his brothers arrive in town with a warrant for one of her hired guns, Jessica begins to fall for the lawman even as he chips away at her authority. With astonishing black-and-white CinemaScope photography, hard-boiled dialogue laced with double entendres, and a fiery performance by Stanwyck at her most imperious, Forty Guns is a virtuoso display of Fuller’s sharpshooting talents. *** A strong example of style dominating substance. The film is genuinely entertaining if you don't peer too close and get overly picky about details - condemned in the US because of its incongruous narrative, but lauded in Europe for its eclipsing style. Fuller, always a masterful auteur, pulls no punches and fills this film with stylistic western conventions years before Leone would do similar. Bottom line: this is a fun western ripe for high testosterone and machismo genre fans. Purposely different than a Anthony Mann western, but Fuller has his own tricks that keep you intrigued. The 2.35 widescreen has huge appeal and the frame is used to great effect. |
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Theatrical Release: December 5th, 1957 - USA
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Optimum Releasing - Region 2 - PAL vs. Masters of Cinema (2015) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Masters of Cinema (2019) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
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1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT 2) Optimum - Region 2 - PAL SECOND 3) Masters of Cinema (2015) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - THIRD 4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - FOURTH 5) Masters of Cinema (2019) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - RIGHT
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Presently only available in Masters of Cinema's Fuller at Fox, Five Films 1951-1957 with Fixed Bayonets!, Pickup on South Street, Hell and High Water, House of Bamboo and Forty Guns
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The Fox is part of the Classic Western Collection - The Outlaws / The Proud Ones, Forty Guns, Broken Lance, and The Culpepper Cattle Co. | |||||
Distribution |
20th Century Fox Region 1 - NTSC |
Optimum Video Publishing Region 2 - PAL |
Masters of Cinema - Spine #116 Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Criterion spine # 954 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:20:00 | 1:16:45 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:20:05.008 | 1:20:17.437 | 1:20:05.425 |
Video |
2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 23,683,462,599 bytesFeature: 22,364,870,016 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 32.99 Mbps |
1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 48,839,499,910 bytes Feature: 24,233,324,544 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 35.86 Mbps |
1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 32,674,194,002 bytesFeature: 24,883,587,072 bytesCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 34.88 Mbps
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate:
Fox
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Bitrate:
Optimum
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Bitrate
2015:
MoC
Blu-ray
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Bitrate:
Criterion
Blu-ray
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Bitrate
2019:
MoC
Blu-ray
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Audio | English (Dolby Digital 4.0), English (Mono), DUB: Spanish (Mono) |
English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby) |
LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps |
LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps |
LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit |
Subtitles | English, Spanish, and none | None | English (SDH), none | English (SDH), none | English (SDH), none |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
Chapters 20
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Release Information:
Edition Details: • Trailers
(Wages of Fear, Breathless, Moby Dick) |
Release Information: Studio: Masters of Cinema
1080P Single-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 23,683,462,599 bytesFeature: 22,364,870,016 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 32.99 Mbps
Edition Details: • Video interview with film critic Jean-Louis Leutrat (16:56) • Theatrical trailer (2:08) • A booklet featuring new writing by Stephane Joudet, an extract from Samuel Fuller's autobiography, and rare archival imagery DVD of Feature included
Blu-ray
Release Date: June 22nd, 2015 Chapters: 9 |
Release Information: Studio: Criterion
1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 48,839,499,910 bytes Feature: 24,233,324,544 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 35.86 Mbps
Edition Details: • A Fuller Life (2013), a feature-length documentary by Samantha Fuller about her father, featuring filmmakers Wim Wenders, William Friedkin, and Monte Hellman; actors Mark Hamill, James Franco, Jennifer Beals, Bill Duke, and Constance Towers; and others (1:20:24) • Audio interview with Samuel Fuller at London’s National Film Theatre from 1969 "Woman With a Whip" New interview with critic Imogen Sara Smith, author of In Lonely Places: Film Noir Beyond the City (34:12) • Stills gallery • PLUS: An essay by film scholar Lisa Dombrowski and a chapter from Fuller’s posthumously published 2002 autobiography, A Third Face: My Tale of Writing, Fighting, and Filmmaking
Blu-ray
Release Date: December 11th, 2018 Chapters: 13 |
Release Information: Studio: Masters of Cinema
1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 32,674,194,002 bytesFeature: 24,883,587,072 bytesCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 34.88 Mbps
Edition Details: • FORTY GUNS Interview with film critic Jean-Louis Leutrat [16:56] • FORTY GUNS A Fuller Life [1:20:23], a feature-length documentary directed by Samantha Fuller • Trailer (2:08)
Blu-ray
Release Date:
November 11th, 2019 Chapters: 8
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Comments: |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.ADDITION: Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' Blu-ray November 2019: This comes in The Masters of Cinema's Fuller at Fox, Five Films 1951-1957 with Fixed Bayonets!, Pickup on South Street, Hell and High Water, House of Bamboo and Forty Guns. Short take - this is a surprise - a new transfer from their 2015 one. It is not simply a re-transfer but this appears to be a different print with different framing. It is now brighter and very similar to the Criterion 1080P. It is also now on a dual-layered Blu-ray disc with a max'ed out bitrate. Audio appears to be the same - linear 24-bit mono track in the original English and subtitles are still an option but positioned differently from the 2015 transfer (see samples below). So the supplements also have a big addition. We still have the audio interview with Samuel Fuller from 1969 at the National Film Theatre in London running to the feature, plus the 17-minute video interview with film critic Jean-Louis Leutrat from Allerton Films (in French with English subtitles) and a theatrical trailer. But Masters of Cinema have also added A Fuller Life - the 2013 feature-length documentary by Samantha Fuller (and mother Christa) about her father, featuring filmmakers Wim Wenders, William Friedkin, and Monte Hellman; actors Mark Hamill, James Franco, Jennifer Beals, Bill Duke, and Constance Towers; and others also found on the Criterion BD. The package has a 100-PAGE PERFECT BOUND COLLECTOR'S BOOK (limited to 2,000 units) featuring essays by Richard Combs, Murielle Joudet, Philip Kemp, Glenn Kenny, and Amy Simmons; excerpts from Fuller's autobiography A Third Face; and rare imagery. So the UK boxset is exceptionally strong and will make some noise in our year-end poll. *** ADDITION: Criterion- Region 'A' - Blu-ray November 18': Forty Guns comes to Criterion on a new dual-layered Blu-ray with an impressive maxed out bitrate. It is cited as a "New 4K digital restoration". The Blu-ray image is noticeably lighter than the previous release from Masters of Cinema. Gone is the slight waxiness that was previously evident. The new image has more information on all sides of the frame, and a better contrast, despite being overall lighter. Whereas detail and information was previously lost in the dark shadows, it now flourishes without sacrificing the contrast. The film is so beautifully framed and this transfer finally presents this film closest to its original theatrical experience.Criterion utilize a 24-bit linear PCM mono track as did the Masters of Cinema. The score by Harry Sukman (Verboten!, The Crimson Kimono, Underworld U.S.A., Someone's Watching Me!) sounds just as good here with little difference to my ears. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles and the Blu-ray disc is region 'A'-locked. The main extra here is the 2013 documentary "A Fuller Life". As Criterion states, "For this eighty-minute 2013 documentary, Samantha Fuller called on a variety of collaborators and fellow travelers of her father, Samuel Fuller, to evoke the director's inimitable voice and spirit by reading from his autobiography. Shot entirely within "the Shack," as the elder Fuller called the former garage he used as a writing refuge and filled with notes for future projects, A Fuller Life follows him on his path from New York tabloid journalist to Hollywood hyphenate, including his formative experiences as an infantryman in World War II." The film features many familiar faces that I won't spoil here. The documentary is also shot with such a wonderfully wild style befitting of the late director, reminding the viewer of how rote a lot of these talking heads extras usually are. Its a great thing, full of love for its subject, made with love by the late director's family. Fuller's widow (and DVDBeaver's good friend!) Christa Lang Fuller, and daughter, Samantha Fuller, are interviewed at their home in Los Angeles as another extra, "Fuller Women", lasting about 20-minutes. Also here is the 34-minute "Woman With a Whip", a new interview with critic Imogen Sara Smith, author of In Lonely Places: Film Noir Beyond the City. Finally, a discussion with director on Samuel Fuller took place in 1969, at the National Film Theatre in London. It is offered as an extra here and plays over the film in its entirety. Very cool. Samuel Fuller was so rad. The screenwriter, novelist and director was able to transcend almost any genre he touched, elevating boilerplate material of the time into something wild, dangerous and subtly stylistic. Criterion have given this fabulous and edgy western a wonderful Blu-ray transfer. The extras are extensive and quite lovingly put together, showing that not only did Fuller have a wonderful career, but a wonderful family as well.
Colin Zavitz
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ADDITION: Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' -
Blu-ray
June
15':
The 1080P
looks good - a shade waxy - but the DVDs suffered from this as well.
This has a high-bitrate - but perhaps an errant artifact or two. A
couple of scenes had contrast close to, but not achieving, moiring. This
was also consistent with the SDs. Detail really tightens on the BD - as
the captures will indicate.
MoC use a linear PCM mono track at 1152 kbps. It exports the gunplay
with some depth and the score by Harry Sukman sounds decent in the lossless. There are
optional English (SDH) subtitles and the
Blu-ray disc is region 'B'-locked.
The feature-length audio interview with Samuel Fuller from 1969 at the
National Film Theatre in London plays as the film runs and has
similarities to a commentary. It's really informative. There is also a
video interview with film critic Jean-Louis Leutrat running 17-minutes
from Allerton Films. It is in French with English subtitles. There is
also a theatrical trailer and the package contains a liner notes booklet
featuring new writing by Stephane Joudet, an extract from Samuel
Fuller's autobiography, and rare archival imagery. There is also a DVD
of the feature (Dual Format package).
This has always been a western that continues to grow on me with each
viewing. Stanwyck and Fuller - what a combination! I am pleased with the
Masters of Cinema
Blu-ray - as the extras are fabulous. Strongly recommended!
*** ON THE DVDs: Bottom line on this comparison is that the Optimum is slightly sharper and brighter than the Fox. The Fox has optional subtitles (bright yellow) and the Optimum does not. The Fox has a trailer for the film, the Optimum has 3 trailers for other Optimum DVD released films. I don't see any significant cropping issues and as both are so cheap I'm glad I own the Optimum for image and Fox for the trailer + audio.
RE: The Optimum - Well, who knew a single layered
DVD could look this good? Certainly the data is used primary for the
anamorphic and detailed image, not for extras or subtitle (which are
non-existent). Strong black levels and contrast too. The price is right
and this beckons as a must-own for Fuller and western fans alike. I
strongly recommend.
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DVD Menus
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Masters of Cinema (2015) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
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Masters of Cinema (2019) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Screen Captures
1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Optimum - Region 2 - PAL SECOND 3) Masters of Cinema (2015) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - THIRD 4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - FOURTH 5) Masters of Cinema (2019) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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NO SUBTITLES ON OPTIMUM |
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1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Optimum - Region 2 - PAL SECOND 3) Masters of Cinema (2015) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - THIRD 4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - FOURTH 5) Masters of Cinema (2019) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Masters of Cinema (2015) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE 3) Masters of Cinema (2019) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Masters of Cinema (2015) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE 3) Masters of Cinema (2019) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Optimum - Region 2 - PAL SECOND 3) Masters of Cinema (2015) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - THIRD 4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - FOURTH 5) Masters of Cinema (2019) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Optimum - Region 2 - PAL SECOND 3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - THIRD 4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Optimum - Region 2 - PAL SECOND 3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - THIRD 4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Optimum - Region 2 - PAL SECOND 3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - THIRD 4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Optimum - Region 2 - PAL SECOND 3) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - THIRD 4) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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More Blu-ray Captures
1) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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Box Covers |
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Presently only available in Masters of Cinema's Fuller at Fox, Five Films 1951-1957 with Fixed Bayonets!, Pickup on South Street, Hell and High Water, House of Bamboo and Forty Guns
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Report Card:
Image: |
Blu-ray |
Sound: |
Blu-ray |
Extras: | Blu-ray |
Recommended Reading for Western Genre Fans (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
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The Crowded Prairie: American National Identity in
the Hollywood Western (Cinema and Society) by Michael Coyne |
The Invention of the Western Film : A Cultural
History of the Genre's First Half Century (Genres in American Cinema S.) by Scott Simmon |
The Western Genre by John Saunders |
Westerns: Films through History (AFI
Film Readers) by Janet Walker |
The Encyclopedia of Westerns (The Facts on File
Film Reference Library) by Herb Fagen, Tom Selleck |
Gunfighter Nation: The Myth of the Frontier in
Twentieth-Century America by Richard Slotkin |
The Western (Inside Film) by David Lusted |
Red River (Bfi Film Classics) by Suzanne Liandrat-Guigues |
Check out more in "The Library"