Cisco Pike Blu-ray - Kris Kristofferson

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

Directed by Bill Norton
USA 1971

Starring Kris Kristofferson (The Last Movie) in his first leading role, and boasting an impressive supporting cast – including Gene Hackman (The Conversation), Karen Black (Five Easy Pieces), Harry Dean Stanton (Christine) and Warhol superstar Viva (Necropolis) – Cisco Pike follows the fortunes of a musician who turns to drug dealing to make ends meet.

***

Cisco is an ex-rock star who has become a drug dealer. A corrupt cop blackmails Cisco to sell marijuana for him. Cisco has one weekend to sell it to his friends.

Posters

Theatrical Release: November 2nd, 1971

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Review: Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Reissued by Indicator in August 2022: or buy directly from Indicator / Powerhouse:
Distribution	Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:34:23.616
Video	1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 37,184,759,381 bytes Feature: 27,847,450,176 bytes Video Bitrate: 35.01 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:
Audio	LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Indicator 1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 37,184,759,381 bytes Feature: 27,847,450,176 bytes Video Bitrate: 35.01 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Audio commentary with writer-director Bill L Norton and film historian Elijah Drenner (2020) • Ode to Joy (2020): film programmer and writer Kier-La Janisse explores the life and career of actor Joy Bang (42:45) • 'Cisco Pike': Then and Now (2020): documentary revisiting the film's Los Angeles locations (9:53) • Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography • Original theatrical trailer (2:51) • TV spot (0:30) Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Christina Newland, the original soundtrack EP liner notes, an archival interview with Kris Kristofferson, Stephen Farber's 1972 article on Cisco Pike, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits Blu-ray Release Date: May 25th, 2020 Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters 10

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (May 2020): Indicator have transferred Bill Norton's Cisco Pike to Blu-ray. It is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. There is heavy grain - notable in the night scenes and the overall 1080P is thick and film-like. Day-lit sequences show impressive detail and the HD image is, at Indicator's usual, high standard - essentially flawless and a fine representation of a theatrical presentation.

On their Blu-ray, Indicator use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. Aside from some latter gunfire there aren't an abundance of effects. The soundtrack utilizes the soulful music of Kristofferson including Loving Her Was Easier, I'd Rather Be Sorry, The Pilgrim: Chapter 33, and Breakdown sounding clean and flat in the uncompressed. Indicator offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

The Indicator Blu-ray includes a new audio commentary with writer-director Bill Norton and film historian Elijah Drenner who discuss the actors considered for the lead role - Don Johnson, Harrison Ford and Seymour Cassel, or Peter Falk for the Officer Leo Holland role that went to Gene Hackman, how he wrote in the Karen Black part (Sue) initially as an Asian woman, Pike as an outlaw hero, Wavy Gravy, he comments on his rookie mistakes, they both comment on how the Venice Beach and West Hollywood locations have changed... and more. He is honest and doesn't remember every detail as it is almost 50-years ago. Ode to Joy is a new 3/4 hour video piece by film programmer and writer Kier-La Janisse who explores the life and career of actor Joy Bang (Night of the Cobra Woman). Really nice - I appreciated the passionate detail she went into about Joy. 'Cisco Pike': Then and Now is a new 10-minute documentary revisiting the film's Los Angeles locations with Elijah Drenner who knows some of the location as he used to live there. There is an image gallery of on-set and promotional photography, an original theatrical trailer and a TV spot. The package has a limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Christina Newland, the original soundtrack EP liner notes, an archival interview with Kris Kristofferson, Stephen Farber's 1972 article on Cisco Pike, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits.

I agree with Drenner in the commentary when he states that Cisco Pike is severely underrated and unjustly forgotten. It's a excellent film and a fabulous choice for Indicator to bring to Blu-ray. The commentary and extras (including booklet) add further value. We strongly recommend this package to film fans.