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

ADDITION: Arrow - Region FREE Blu-ray (February 2020): Arrow have transferred Robert Altman's "Kansas City" to Region FREE Blu-ray. The image quality matches the Koch from 2019 - dual-layered with a very high bitrate, invariably from the same source. "Where most Altman's films can look intentionally gritty and unpolished - Kansas City isn't too different. It does have some impressive art direction supporting the Depression-era drabness and darker pastels. There is a thickness, and occasional softness, to the visuals - no gloss, and it does appear dark overall. It is in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio and looks appealing in-motion."

Audio advances on the German release with the option of 24-bit tracks (in the original English) in a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround or a liner PCM 2.0 channel. A strong attribute of the film is the jazz music of Count Basie, Lester Young, Duke Ellington and others that sounds richer and deeper than the Koch - and looks impressive while being performed. The audio is clean with only a few instances of aggressive separation (gunfire). Dialogue is clear and discernable. Arrow have offered optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray available in the UK/Europe and North America.

Extras seem to have everything that is on the, stacked, Koch, with a few more supplements. The Altman commentary is still here as are the EPK interviews, luckily the 1/4 hour Gare, Trains et Déraillement, 2007 visual essay by French critic Luc Lagier plus short introduction to the film narrated by Lagier is here with English subtitles. What is also very notable is a newly filmed, 25-minute, appreciation by critic Geoff Andrew (author of Directors A-Z: A Concise Guide to the Art of the Great Film-makers) that adds significant value to fans of the director and those wishing to explore Kansas City on a deeper level. The package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Jennifer Dionisio (see bottom of review) and for the first pressing purchasers, an illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing by Dr Nicolas Pillai, original press kit notes and an excerpt from Altman on Altman.

Arrow's Blu-ray advances in audio, supplements and package. Great production again and absolutely recommended to visit or re-visit this, neglected and misunderstood Altman work.

***

ADDITION: Koch Media Blu-ray (September 2019): Koch Media have transferred Robert Altman's Kansas City to Blu-ray. It is on a dual-layered disc with a very high bitrate.  

On their Blu-ray, Koch Media transfer a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track (16-bit) in the original English language with an optional German DUB.  Koch Media offer optional English (see sample) or German subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

The Koch Media Blu-ray have added extras. First off we get a fascinating audio commentary by Robert Altman (from the previous DVD) where he discusses the French company that approached him about producing his next film, Jennifer Jason Leigh trying to represent Jean Harlow or how she was made-up from movie magazines of the era, kidnapping back in the Depression, how no one at the Academy looked at Kansas City, David Lean's Brief Encounter - how it changed his whole perception of film, second viewings of films, real influences of his own films that he didn't like, how Three Women was influenced by Persona etc.. I loved when he says that "I never try to make a film that the audience wants - it's none of my business what the audience wants." It is filled with interesting information about himself and Kansas City. There are both German and original trailers, a 1/4 hour video essay, in French with German subtitles, 14-minutes of interviews with Altman, Leigh, Belafonte and others, behind the scenes B-roll footage and a gallery of posters and stills. The case is a 'Media-book' with German text and photos.

Kansas City is a kind of forgotten Robert Altman film, often criticized for Jennifer Jason Leigh's characterizational portrayal of Blondie O'Hara which may remind you of her screwball-comedy-like 'Amy Archer' in the Coen's The Hudsucker Proxy. There is both a good crime-drama element to the film as well as the jazz music (in lossless) with themes involving racial overtones. The commentary is invaluable to those who appreciate Altman's cinema.  Great to have this clandestine film reach Blu-ray. Recommended to all Altman fans.

Gary Tooze