Gun Fury Blu-ray - Rock Hudson

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

directed by Raoul Walsh
USA 1953

Colorful Western (originally filmed in 3-D) starring Rock Hudson as a Ben Warren - a California-bound settler who has to undertake a 1,500-mile ride to the Mexican border. After a stagecoach holdup, by post-Civil War rebel Frank Slayton and his notorious gang where they leave Ben for dead and head off with his fiancée (Donna Reed). Warren follows, and although none of the townspeople he comes across are prepared to help, he recruits two others who have sworn revenge on the ruthless Slayton. As westerns go this is okay fodder. Rock is steady and Donna Reed wholesome. Those who enjoy the genre will be in their element.

***

Originally filmed and released in 3-D, Gun Fury (1953) is one of the better Westerns produced in that format and works just as well in a flat version as it does with all its gimmickry intact and various objects being hurled at the viewer. The story takes place in the post-Civil War years and opens with Jennifer Ballard (Donna Reed) traveling by stagecoach to meet her fiancé, Ben Warren (Rock Hudson). Accompanying Jennifer on her voyage is fellow coach rider Frank Slayton (Phil Carey), who is traveling under the name Mr. Hampton for a reason. He is actually an ex-Confederate turned outlaw who quickly takes a strong liking to Ms. Ballard and his true nature is revealed once Jennifer and Ben are reunited. Slayton and his gang rob the stagecoach carrying the soon-to-be-married couple, abduct Jennifer and leave Ben for dead after shooting him. What follows is a tale of revenge and retribution as the injured Ben follows in pursuit, using his cunning to eventually divide and undermine the quarreling gang members and rescue his fiancée.

Excerpt from TCM located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: October 30th, 1953

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Comparison:

Columbia Tri-Star - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC vs. Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray

1) Columbia - Region 1, 2, 3, 4 - NTSC LEFT

2) Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT

Box Covers
Distribution	Columbia Tri-Star Home Video - Region 1,2,3,4 - NTSC	Twilight Time Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:22:00	1:22:03.960
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.2 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 28,480,799,897 bytes Feature: 27,636,903,936 bytes Video Bitrate: 25.28 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1977 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1977 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Isolated Score: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1708 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1708 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit / DN -4dB)
Subtitles	English, Japanese, Spanish, None	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Columbia Tri-Star Home Video Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Previews DVD Release Date: May 31st, 2005 Keep Case Chapters: 12	Release Information: Studio: Twilight Time Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 28,480,799,897 bytes Feature: 27,636,903,936 bytes Video Bitrate: 25.28 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Original Theatrical Trailer (2:10) in both 2D and 3D • Isolated Score Track option • Julie Kirgo liner notes • Limited Edition of 3,000 Units Blu-ray Release Date: September, 2017 Transparent Blu-ray case Chapters 24

Other 3-D Blu-rays Reviewed at DVDBeaver:

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Twilight Time - Region FREE Blu-ray September 2017': Twilight Time's new Blu-ray is another 3-D film with the option of 2-D (forced if a 3-D system is not available). We are reviewing that 2D version. It is quite inconsistent - looking reasonable at times but them has that gauzy-dull look also found in the Miss Sadie Thompson (also 3-D Twilight Time Blu-ray transfer.) It doesn't simply look like normal grain to me - and the image looks horizontally stretched - uniformly across the frame - not like Cinemascope mumps. My guess is that this is the single-strip 2D version, originally in 1.75:1, and it has been stretched to 1.85:1. The DVD was in 1.33:1 and this widescreen ratio is preferable and more accurate but this looks odd to me. The 'fatter' faces seemed more prevalent in the middle to the end of the film than the beginning which actually looked quite pleasing. The visuals emphasize greens and blues and occasionally look dull for grays and other colors. It does not seem like both strips of the Technicolor are there at times. I'm not sure of anything except that I found the presentation exceptionally textured and had ratio-related issues. You can judge for yourself from the screen captures below. Just like Miss Sadie Thompson I'm sure this is related to it being shot in 3D.

A friend graciously let me view about 1/2 hour on his 3D system and the effects I saw looked decent but the image still had the, unnatural, stretched appearance.

DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel (24-bit) audio - from the aggressive effects gunfire to score by versatile and prolific Mischa Bakaleinikoff (The Guns of Fort Petticoat, 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) and Arthur Morton (his extensive music department work includes western TV series like Wagon Train, Black Saddle, 1959's Laramie etc.) This sounds pretty good - exceeding the image quality. It certainly emboldened the film's suspense and drama. There is an isolated score option for those who wish to indulge. The Twilight Time has optional English (SDH) subtitle and the Blu-ray disc is Region FREE.

Unfortunately, only a trailer in in both 2D and 3D options - along with the isolated score option and the package has liner notes with essay by Julie Kirgo. It is limited to 3,000 units.

Strangely, where I usually find that 1080P brings out the best of a film experience - this time it did not. Rock and Donna are great and I loved the revenge angle but I was less engaged - perhaps because of my reservations about the video presentation.

NOTE: The director, Raoul Walsh only had one eye, so he was never able to see the film in the 3-D process in which he shot it!

I would only suggest this to 3-D aficionados, and perhaps fans of Rock Hudson. It doesn't make our Greatest 100 Westerns (on Blu-ray) page. However, I LOVE the cover...

***

ON THE DVD: This looks like the source needs a darn good cleaning with lots of pleasing grain but unusual flickering contrast (mostly in the first 30 minutes). I'm unsure if being 3-D initially (see the poster above) contributed to its present condition. Portions of the transfer look quite acceptable while others are fraught with dirt and damage. It's an above average western film, and genre fans will appreciate it - certainly the price isn't too bad. No extras save some trailers.

Gary W. Tooze

Columbia - Region 1, 2, 3, 4 - NTSC

Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray