ADDITION: Masters of Cinema - Region 'B' Blu-ray (August 2019) - This UK Blu-ray package contains the slightly longer Australian Version of The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (same version found on the Umbrella Blu-ray and the 5-minute shorter International Version from a brand new restoration completed in 2019 from the original film elements - on the same disc.

The Australian version on this Blu-ray starts with the Umbrella logo:

While the International version starts with the Shout! Factory logo:

Firstly, The Masters of Cinema Australian version looks very similar to the Umbrella 1080P (roughly the same technical transfer) and states that it is from a restoration completed by Umbrella Entertainment (see comments below). Contrast might lean to the UK, but the overall differences, even in-motion, are minute. Now the, approximately 5-minute shorter, 'International version' looks significantly different - colors are richer and deeper but there is a slight distortion in the ratio as compared to the Aussie-version presentation. It shows more information on all 4 sides of the frame. It looks decent if a bit saturated and has a far less-robust HD transfer - sharing the disc with the other version and all the supplements. It's hard to know what is correct but colors are bolder and this provides the viewer with a different representation of the film. I think it was a good addition to the package but may have required its own disc to advance the bitrate.

For the audio, Masters of Cinema use DTS-HD Master mono tracks at 24-bit and this is sounds superior, a bit richer and deeper, to the 16-bit Umbrella Blu-ray. There is violence with screams, gunshots etc. that carry depth in the lossless.  The film's score is by Bruce Smeaton (Roxanne, The Cars That Ate Paris, Circle of Iron). He is an Australian composer who is well known for a many different Australian film and television scores in multiple genres; features, shorts, television, documentaries and TV and radio advertisements. His main theme is haunting and memorable sounding great in the uncompressed. Masters of Cinema also add optional English subtitles - see samples below - on their Region 'B' Blu-ray disc.

In the supplements, Masters of Cinema also include the audio commentary by director Fred Schepisi (Australian Version), hour long conversation with director Fred Schepisi and cinematographer Ian Baker, 36-minute Celluloid Gypsies: Making The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith featurette, the 34-minute Q&A session with Fred Schepisi and Geoffrey Rush, from the 2008 Melbourne International Film Festival, the 10-minute Making us Blacksmiths Documentary on the casting of Aboriginal lead actors Tom E. Lewis and Freddy Reynolds, the 25-minute The Chant of Tom Lewis interview with Tom E. Lewis and theatrical trailer (all discussed below and found on the Umbrella Blu-ray). What is new is Brand new and exclusive audio commentary by film critic and writer Alexandra Heller-Nicholas on the Australian Version. She respectfully acknowledges the aboriginal Woiwurrung and Boonwurrung people (I hope I got that right) of the eastern Kulin nation and she goes on to give a delightful and informative discussion of the production with insightfully analysis on the European influences in costume and architecture - among many other topics. I enjoyed it and found it very educational. There is also a 40-minute interview with Fred Schepisi that I don't recall on the Umbrella and the package has a collector's booklet reprint of Pauline Kael s original review of the film and progressive DVD of the Australian version. For the first 2000 buyers there is a limited edition O-CARD featuring newly commissioned artwork by Nathanael Marsh.

The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith is idiosyncratic - providing racial perspective in unusual ways and from both sides. It's a truly fascinating film. One highly touted by Quentin Tarantino. Not qualifying for true 'Ozploitation' status although it is shockingly violent. Wonderful to see this less-exposed Aussie gem and inclusion of the distinctly different (visually) restored International version in 1080P on one Blu-ray with all the bells and whistles (new commentary, booklet etc.). Strongly recommended!     

***

Umbrella use DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel mono track (16-bit). There is violence with screams, gunshots etc. that carry some depth in the lossless.  Umbrella add optional English subtitles - see samples below - on their Region FREE Blu-ray disc.

Gary Tooze