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A view on Blu-ray by Gary W. Tooze

The Guns of Fort Petticoat aka "Das Fort der mutigen Frauen" [Blu-ray]

 

(George Marshall, 1957)

 

 

   

  

 

Review by Gary Tooze

 

Production:

Theatrical: Columbia Pictures Corporation

Video: Explosive-Media

 

Disc:

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

Runtime: 1:21:21.293

Disc Size: 22,585,545,956 bytes

Feature Size: 21,360,752,640 bytes

Video Bitrate: 29.90 Mbps

Chapters: 11

Case: Standard Blu-ray case

Release date: July 22nd, 2016

 

Video:

Aspect ratio: 1.78:1

Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Audio:

LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit

DUB:

LPCM Audio German 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit

 

Subtitles:

English, German, none

 

Extras:

• Gallery (2:04)
• Explosive-Media Trailer Reel (15:30)

 

Bitrate:

 

 

Description: In 1864, during the American Civil War, Texan Lt. Frank Hewitt (Audie Murphy) is serving with the U.S. Cavalry under Colonel John Chivington. On patrol, Hewitt meets a group of Indians who are unarmed and returning to the Sand Creek reservation which they were not supposed to leave. While being briefed by Hewitt, the colonel orders the attack known to history as the Sand Creek Massacre. Hewitt not only disagrees with the punishment of the Indians, but realizes they will use the attack as an excuse to unite and spread terror throughout the Southwest, including his own hometown in Texas which has been emptied of the majority of its men who are fighting for the Confederacy. Colonel Chivington sees Indian attacks on Texas as a bonus to create havoc in the Confederacy. Violently objecting, Hewitt is placed under arrest and confined to quarters.

 

 

The Film:

Set during the Civil War in Texas in the 1860s. Indians break the treaty by going off the reservation and the narrow-minded Army Colonel Chivington orders their massacre to teach them a lesson. Lt. Frank Hewitt (Audie Murphy) deserts the fort to warn his fellow Texans of the Indians going on the warpath to seek revenge for the unprovoked attack at Sand Creek. At first not trusting Hewitt because of his Yankee uniform and calling him a turncoat, they soon learn it's too late to run from the revenge seeking Comanches and realize to survive the attack the all women homesteaders, whose men are away fighting in the Confederate Army, must learn how to shoot. They take refuge in an abandoned mission, where Hewitt trains them to fight. While drilling his soldiers, Hewitt romances the sassy Anne Martin (Kathryn Grant). The women are given up by the snarky lone male remaining, a miner who talks his way out of being robbed by telling three bandits there's gold in the mission.

Excerpt from Dennis Schwartz of Ozu's World located HERE

After allowing some Cheyenne to return to the reservation after they had broken treaty Lt. Frank Hewitt (Audie Murphy - Destry) is less than happy when Colonel Chivington (Ainslie Pryor) says they must be taught a lesson and goes on the attack. Frank is also less than happy because he knows in his hometown of Jonesville the men are all at war leaving just women and children who have no hope if the Indians attack them. Forced to desert the fort Frank heads back home to try and persuade the women to do the right thing and whilst initially opposed to him when his prediction of Indian attack comes true they rally together to create a women's army under his authority.

Excerpt from TheMovieScene located HERE

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

The Guns of Fort Petticoat looks excellent on Blu-ray from Explosive-Media out of Germany. The image quality shows is exceptionally sharp with bright colors and strong detail. I would guess the 1.85:1 aspect ratio and 1080P transfer is a strong replication of the theatrical appearance some 60-years hence. This Blu-ray looks impressive. Visually this gets a big thumbs up.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audio :

Audio goes lossless - linear PCM (16-bit) in both original English and a German DUB - and sounds quite good if not overly dynamic. The score by versatile and prolific Mischa Bakaleinikoff (Comanche Station, It Came from Beneath the Sea, The Crooked Web, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, The 27th Day, 20 Million Miles to Earth, Lady for a Day) sounds subtle and supportive. There are optional English and German subtitle options and the Blu-ray disc is region FREE.

 

 

Extras :

Only a gallery of images related to the film and a 15-minute Explosive-Media trailer reel!

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
The Guns of Fort Petticoat is a very entertaining pioneer adventure. I think this was a wonderful western to bring to Blu-ray. I loved seeing Hope Emerson (Westward the Women, Cry of the City) and Audio Murphy is grand and realistic. Yes, we can easily recommend this to fans of late 50's genre dramas. Will revisit! 

Gary Tooze

February 16th, 2017

 

 

   

  


 

About the Reviewer: Hello, fellow Beavers! I have been interested in film since I viewed a Chaplin festival on PBS when I was around 9 years old. I credit DVD with expanding my horizons to fill an almost ravenous desire to seek out new film experiences. I currently own approximately 9500 DVDs and have reviewed over 3500 myself. I appreciate my discussion Listserv for furthering my film education and inspiring me to continue running DVDBeaver. Plus a healthy thanks to those who donate and use our Amazon links.

Although I never wanted to become one of those guys who focused 'too much' on image and sound quality - I find HD is swiftly pushing me in that direction.

Gary's Home Theatre:

60-Inch Class (59.58” Diagonal) 1080p Pioneer KURO Plasma Flat Panel HDTV PDP6020-FD

Oppo Digital BDP-83 Universal Region FREE Blu-ray/SACD Player
Momitsu - BDP-899 Region FREE Blu-ray player
Marantz SA8001 Super Audio CD Player
Marantz SR7002 THX Select2 Surround Receiver
Tannoy DC6-T (fronts) + Energy (centre, rear, subwoofer) speakers (5.1)

APC AV 1.5 kVA H Type Power Conditioner 120V

Gary W. Tooze

 

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