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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (November 2020): Kino have transferred Don Siegel's The Beguiled to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "Brand New 2K Master". Like the other 'Special Edition' Clint Eastwood films being released on Blu-ray by Kino (Play Misty For Me, Joe Kidd, Two Mules for Sister Sara, High Plains Drifter, The Eiger Sanction) the image quality is very strong with authentic colors, tight lines, depth and grain support. There was an earlier Blu-ray of The Beguiled but I don't own it to compare. This is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate and the resulting image is highly pleasing.

NOTE: We have added 56 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (16-bit) in the original English language. It exports the film's audio effectively. The score is by Argentinean Lalo Schifrin (famous as the guy behind the original Mission: Impossible theme as well as Joe Kidd, Rollercoaster, Charley Varrick, The Nude Bomb, Day of the Animals, Hit!, Man on a Swing, The Manitou, Tango and many other films) suitably supporting the film. Kino offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary by Kat Ellinger. Kat discusses The Beguiled as a 'gothic masterpiece in the perverse', occupying some space in the anti-western sub-genre, citing quotes from Don Siegel's biography (A Siegel Film: An Autobiography), identifying this as an atypical Siegel (and Eastwood) film; not macho but one of his most interesting films, how the director as unhappy with the advertising for the film, more The Beguiled has more dialogue for Clint than in his many of his other films as well as talking about sexual threats, the charge of misogyny against the film and much more. I thought it was one of her best commentaries. There is an 18-minute interview with Melody Thomas Scott (Abigail) who recalls her young contribution and memories of Clint in The Beguiled. Also included is the older, 6-minute, The Beguiled, Misty, Don and Clint featurette which has brief input from Richard Schickel and others. There is a John Landis led Trailers From Hell video, a theatrical trailer and the package sports reversible art and a limited edition O-Card slipcase. I would have liked to see a new interview with Jo Ann Harris, who was reported to have a long term affair with Clint.

Don Siegel's The Beguiled has become a significant part of the cinema conversation in the years since its initial release... for it's sexual repression undercurrent and Clint in a less-typical role... in a less typical Siegel film. It has an unusually dark side as well and, as a whole, being a fascinating film experience. Here we get the riveting Kat Ellinger commentary, interviews and a stellar a/v presentation.  These new Kino Eastwood Blu-rays (Play Misty For Me, Joe Kidd, Two Mules for Sister Sara, High Plains Drifter, The Eiger Sanction) have all been top-shelf so far. This is a keeper. Strongly recommended!

Gary Tooze