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 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

directed by John Sturges
USA 1967

 

Ten years after he made "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral," producer-director John Sturges is back with the sequel, in case you've been wondering ever since what happened then. A lot happened. Wyatt Earp changed from Burt Lancaster into James Garner, grew a mustache and set out to avenge his brothers. Doc Holliday kept hitting the bottle and wound up playing gin rummy in a Colorado sanitarium. The Clanton gang got theirs. And Wyatt decided not to take the job in Tombstone after all.

About the only thing that didn't change was the Hollywood Western, which remains blessedly itself. Sturges has made some good ones ("Gunfight," "Bad Day at Black Rock," "The Magnificent Seven"), and "Hour of the Gun" belongs in the same company but slightly lower on the guest list.

It is, first of all, beautiful to look at. All but the interiors were shot on location in Arizona, and Sturges evokes the land more realistically than, say, all those panoramic wagon train shots in "The Way West" did. There are stereotyped landscapes with tumbleweeds and mountains in the background, sure, and you expect them. But there are also lovely little ponds at the bends of rivers, and horse paths with trees meeting overhead. Some of the towns and villages are probably stage sets, but others are obviously real and have the unmistakable feel of the old West to them.

...


Garner turns in one of his best performances. Sturges must have tamed him. He doesn't shout or swagger; he's quiet and squint-eyed, and in 20 more years when he works up some wrinkles he'll make a good indestructible cowboy. Robert Ryan, who has worked up the wrinkles, doesn't have much of a role -- but he handles it, as always, with authority. The memory of the Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster performances in "Gunfight" haunts the sequel like a ghost, but "Hour of the Gun" pretty much manages to stand on its own.

Excerpt from Roger Ebert's review located at the Chicago Sun-Times HERE.

Posters etc.

Theatrical Release: November 1st, 1967

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Comparison:

MGM - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT

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

 
Box Covers

   

   

Coming to Blu-ray from MGM in March 2023:
Distribution MGM Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC Twilight Time
Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:41:15  1:41:28.332 
Video 2.32:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.45 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 27,949,226,688 bytes

Feature: 27,323,166,720 bytes

Video Bitrate: 29.99 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 1910 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1910 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Isolated score:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1932 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1932 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles English, French Spanish, None English (SDH), None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: MGM Home Video

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 2.32:1

Edition Details:

• Trailer (2:15)

 

NOTE: Full screen version on opposite side

DVD Release Date: May 17th, 2005
Keep Case
Chapters: 16

Release Information:
Studio: Twilight Time

 

Aspect Ratio: 

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 27,949,226,688 bytes

Feature: 27,323,166,720 bytes

Video Bitrate: 29.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• Original Theatrical Trailer (2:18)

• Isolated Score Track option

• Julie Kirgo liner notes

• Limited Edition of 3,000 Units
 

Blu-ray Release Date: September, 2017
Black-Standard Blu-ray case

Chapters 24

 

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 looks notably superior beside the, interlaced SD. The 1080P has a high bitrate and ratchets up the detail and sharpness beside MGM's weak DVD, although it is not without issue. There is a bit of gloss and I noticed some edge enhancement (see sample below) but didn't find it impinging too heavily in-motion.

DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel (24-bit) accentuates the film's audio - from the gunfire to Jerry Goldsmith's (The Burbs, Seconds, Hoosiers, The Blue Max, Breakheart Pass) subtle score seething beneath the surface of the narrative. It certainly adds to the viewing experience via the lossless. There is an isolated score option for those who wish to indulge. The Twilight Time has optional English (SDH) subtitle and the BD disc is Region FREE.

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

This is a strong western with great performances - Garner is at his best, and Robards at his usual high level. Fans of the genre love a retelling of this historically-based story. I really enjoyed watching this last night... and will do so again when the mood strike me. I can throw-out the DVD now. Recommended!

***

ON THE DVD (2005): If not for a communication from a fellow film buff, JFinkelste, this little gem would have passed me by. Great re-telling of the fabled legend. James Garner is at his best with support from Robards and Ryan - we have a classic western tale.

Unfortunately, the DVD is sub-par again from lackluster MGM - now the worst major DVD production in the world (and this includes Alliance Atlantis) . Non-progressive transfer is fraught with bad combing - see last large capture. Tube owners won't notice, but when you upgrade your system (and you will one day), you may as well chuck this DVD in the garbage. Aside from, that it is a little saturated and thick, which tends to make it dark at times obscuring certain information or subtleties in black backgrounds. It is also a little soft, subtitles are very large (this is a negative - they should be non-intrusive in the viewing experience). Finally - no extras save a poor quality trailer. This film deserves better ! Western fans may want to buy but a word to MGM - get on the ball ! out of

P.S. While I'm on at MGM again - what is the purpose of their tripled seam sealed DVDs. They sell their product for peanuts but take great pains to make it impossible to open quickly. If they spent less time on security seals and more on their image quality, they might get a few more satisfied customers.

Gary W. Tooze

 

 

 

DVD Menus


 

Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray


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

 

Subtitle Sample

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

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

 

Screen Captures

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

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

 

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

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

 

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC TOP

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

 

 

Edge Enhancement Halos

 

More Blu-ray Capture

 

Recommended Reading for Western Genre Fans (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)

 

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Box Covers

   

   

Coming to Blu-ray from MGM in March 2023:
Distribution MGM Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC Twilight Time
Region FREE - Blu-ray

 




 

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John Sturges' Hour of the Gun - MGM Region 1- NTSC - John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges' Hour of the Gun - MGM Region 1- NTSC - John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges' Hour of the Gun - MGM Region 1- NTSC - John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges' Hour of the Gun - MGM Region 1- NTSC - John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges' Hour of the Gun - MGM Region 1- NTSC - John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges' Hour of the Gun - MGM Region 1- NTSC - John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges' Hour of the Gun - MGM Region 1- NTSC - John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges' Hour of the Gun - MGM Region 1- NTSC - John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun John Sturges Hour of the Gun DVD Review James Garner Robards Ryan Hour of the Gun