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

ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (July 2020): Indicator have also transferred Guy Hamilton's Force 10 From Navarone to Blu-ray. Their package offers both the longer "European" version and the shorter 'Theatrical Cut' on a second Blu-ray. We have made come comparisons below (and above for the title captures) - and you can see the disparity in the 1080P video. The Indicator image has far richer colors and generally Indicator's two cuts support the same palette in each cut, with a few differences - ex. see background of the plane explosion comparison below. The UK image has warmer skin tones and even can look sharper despite a slightly lower bitrate for the European cut and a more modest one for the theatrical which is on a single-layered disc. The US looks a bit overly green in direct comparison. I thought it was going to be, relatively, the same, but there is even a slight difference in framing between the UK and US Blu-ray presentations.

For audio on the longer cut, Indicator best Kino here as well, offering original mono, alternative stereo and 5.1 surround options - all in 24-bit DTS-HD Master tracks. The Theatrical cut has a linear PCM mono track at 16-bits. The score by Ron Goodwin (Village of the Damned, Hitchcock's Frenzy, The Day of the Triffids, Operation Crossbow) has depth exporting an adventurous tone and both serious and occasionally light. Indicator offer optional English (SDH) subtitles (see samples below) on both cuts and each Blu-ray is their Region 'B'-locked. 

Extras, Indicator do their usual complete job stacking the limited edition package. First off is the same Steve Mitchell and Steven Jay Rubin commentary as found on the Kino. After that is the 22-minute This Is a Giant Movie from 1978 - an archival location report by Channel Television featuring interviews with producer Oliver A Unger, and actors Edward Fox and Carl Weathers. Tour de Force is a new 24-minute interview with actor Angus MacInnes recalling his early film role. From Žabljak with Love is also new running almost a 1/2 hour. It documents the making of the film as told by construction manager Terry Apsey, stuntman Jim Dowdall, grip Dennis Fraser, chief hairdresser Colin Jamison, and chief make-up artist Peter Robb-King. A Life Behind the Lens is, likewise, new and runs over 30-minutes. It is a tribute to the acclaimed cinematographer Christopher Challis, featuring interviews with fellow directors of photography and camera crew Dennis Fraser, Oswald Morris, John Palmer and Sydney Samuelson, as well as archival footage of Challis. We get a video BEHP Interview with Ron Goodwin from 1999. It was made as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring the celebrated composer in conversation with Linda Wood running almost a full 1.5 hours. A Show of Force is a new 25-minute look at the two different versions of Force 10 from Navarone. Indicator include a 17-minute Super 8 cut-down home cinema presentation version as a curiosity as well as original trailers TV and radio spot plus an image gallery of publicity and promotional material. The package has a limited edition (5,000 copies) exclusive 80-page book with a new essay by Sheldon Hall, archival production reports including interviews with cast and crew members, an interview with actor Robert Shaw, recollections of the film’s Yugoslavia shoot excerpted from the memoirs of cinematographer Christopher Challis and screenwriter George MacDonald Fraser, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits. It includes a limited edition exclusive set of five replica production stills.

Well, there is no doubt as to Indicator's superiority regarding a Blu-ray package for Force 10 From Navarone. It looks better, includes the alternate cut, advancement in the audio transfer (also with more options) and extensive supplements including a booklet. This is one of the biggest, most complete, packages of the entire year to date. Fans will definitely want this keepsake. Bravo!       

***

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (March 2020): Kino have transferred Guy Hamilton's Force 10 From Navarone to Blu-ray. It is described as being from a "New 2K Master". Despite being on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate the image is as modest as reflected by the source. It doesn't look poor, but is far from dynamic with a frequently green cast. There is little depth exported and some, usually frame-specific, damage marks (see samples below). It looks passable in-motion and the 1080P is fairly consistent with nice texture.

On their Blu-ray, Kino give the option of DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround or 2.0 tracks (both 16-bit) in the original English language. There are plenty of aggressive war-related effects from loud guns explosions to fires etc. and some separations in the surround. Depth is exported with some intensity and formidable bass. Kino offer optional English subtitles (see sample below) on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray includes a new audio commentary by filmmaker/historian Steve Mitchell and Combat Films: American Realism author Steven Jay Rubin. The two Steves are friends and share a good rapport discussing many other related films making comparisons, the cast, director Hamilton etc. Nice to hear so many relevant details. There is also a trailer for the film and a few other trailers. There is a reversible cover sleeve (see below.) 

Force 10 From Navarone has a machismo cast with Shaw, Ford, Edward Fox, Franco Nero, Carl Weathers and others. Guy Hamilton's direction is adept... but the film always seemed like it was thrown together without the sum achieving the value of the parts. Some great moments but overall somewhat hollow - love Robert Shaw and Franco Nero though and Barbara Bach is always pleasant to look at. It's a film I wasn't overly keen to revisit but the Blu-ray does have the value of the commentary and there are some impressive action sequences. Fans may wish to indulge.

Gary Tooze