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

ADDITION: Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray January 19': The Twilight Time significantly exports the Technicolor to a far higher degree. It can look saturated and possibly been have some moiring - but this darker image is a far better representation of the film than the Koch. It is significantly darker and shows more information in the frame - this is a huge improvement.

Audio is 24-bit lossless (offered in both 2.0 channel and mono) - another improvement and the Twilight Time offers optional English (SDH) subtitles (see sample) on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

No extras - not even the usual isolated score but it doses have Julie Kirgo's liner notes. Fans of the Fritz Lang western with Fonda should nab this BD - it's the far better way to watch the film in your home theater.

***

ADDITION: Koch Media - Region 'B' - Blu-ray April 16': There are scenes that are okay but overall I was a very under-whelmed. Perhaps I was expecting too much. Colors aren't as vibrant as I would have expected but it does seems to advance upon the SD although I did see some noticeable contrast flickering in one spot. It doesn't have the tightness of the Blu-ray of Western Union but it looked acceptable in-motion. It may be marginally horizontally stretched. To be honest though, I enjoyed the presentation despite it being far from ideal.

Audio goes DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel mono in original English or two German DUBs (72' and 80'). The score by David Buttolph (Pete Kelly's Blues, Rope, Three Secrets, Kiss of Death, Blood and Sand and many more) works well in the western genre - and it benefits from this lossless rendering. There are optional English subtitles (see sample) and is coded for region 'B', although many Koch Media's Blu-rays (Western Union, Yellow Sky, The Ox-Bo Incident, Lonely Are the Brave, Two Flags West, An Angel at My Table) are region FREE.

The only extra is a gallery. I've always been a fan of this particular western. Fonda is great and it's nice to see Tierney in her first role. Genre fans may wish to indulge. It's a film I can re-watch repeatedly.

****

NOTE: I had some hesitation issue with the playback of this DVD. I will attempt to verify on other machines although it may be just mine. If you also experience these please inform us here.

Colors tend to look a shade 'irrational' at times but I have no idea how this film looked theatrically over 65 years ago. Regardless, the transfer from Fox is single-layered but holds up quite well with only minor speckles showing through in the damage department. Progressive in the original 1.33 ratio - the image has acceptable detail. It does shows some artifacts but basically is quite strong all things considered. The mono audio seemed clear with no dropouts, hisses or pops - I didn't check the 2.0 channel stereo. There are optional English or Spanish subtitles.

No real extras - 2 Fox Flix trailers and there is a short, but competent, essay by Tom Weaver in the liner notes.

It would seem impossible for me not to embrace this film - a western from Fritz Lang with Henry Fond and Gene Tierney... cone on! I love the older films of this genre and nothing about it disappoints on any front. Bottom line is that the price is right giving this high value - I considered it a must-purchase DVD so we obviously recommend! 

Gary W. Tooze