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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (March 2021): Kino have transferred Abner Biberman's Gun for a Coward to Blu-ray. It is part of Kino's Western Classics II Blu-ray with The Redhead from Wyoming and Pillars of the Sky. Western Classics 1 Blu-ray had When the Daltons Rode, The Virginian and Whispering Smith. The 2.35:1 aspect ratio image quality shows some CinemaScope 'Mumps' distortion - stretched horizontally. ("The CinemaScope lenses were optically flawed, however, by the fixed anamorphic element, which caused the anamorphic effect to gradually drop off as objects approached closer to the lens. The effect was that close-ups would slightly overstretch an actor's face, a problem that was soon referred to as "the mumps".) The colors are strong (notable greens and reds) but there is a pervasive softness and possible misalignment in spots. Generally the 1080P is consistent but the notable cattle-driving stock footage is apparent by ist disparity (see samples below.)  

NOTE: We have added 48 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (16-bit) in the original English language. There are typical western genre effects focusing on horses and some gunfire. The score is uncredited -by Irving Gertz (Curse of the Undead, The Leech Woman, It Came From Outer Space, Blonde Ice and Plunder Road, The Deadly Mantis among others), Henry Russell (Five) and Frank Skinner (The Sleeping City, The World in His Arms, Arabian Nights, The Lady Gambles, The Appaloosa, Madame X, Magnificent Obsession, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, All That Heaven Allows, Thunder Bay, and The Naked City) which sounds supportive but certainly not unique - an amalgamation of similar western film scores. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary by Lee Gambin. He discuss the theme of masculinity that runs through Gun for a Coward. He digs pretty deep and gives some refreshing analysis observing things that I definitely would not. Lee's always prepared and you certainly get your money's worth with his commentary. There is also a trailer for the film.

NOTE: All three westerns in this boxset offer commentary tracks.  

The director Abner Biberman has 50+ acting credits and directed quite a bit of TV including The Fugitive, The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits. Gun for a Coward has the always appealing Jeffrey Hunter, stalwart father-figure (older brother here) Fred MacMurray, reliable love-interest Janice Rule (Robert Altman's Three Women) and frequent 'young bad-boy' Dean Stockwell. I appreciated the family conflict and psychological themes (with thank to commentarist Gambin) of this solid, but not over-baked, western with some included romance and maturity but still having the showdown gunfight. The Kino Blu-ray is part of another desirable set for fans of the genre and impressive cast.

Gary Tooze