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

ADDITION: Paramount Blu-ray (April 2022): Paramount have come out with their own Blu-ray release of Joe Pytka's Let it Ride. It looks like the same D1 - and very similar 1080P transfer. The 1.78:1 image is the same with the Paramount being slightly more robust, offers French, Spanish and German DUB/subtitle options and has only a 4-minute 'Behind the Scenes' featurette as an extra. It's attraction is the very reasonable price. Suitable to those who just want the film and are indifferent to supplements. 

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ADDITION: Imprint Blu-ray (May 2021): Imprint have transferred Joe Pytka's Let it Ride to Blu-ray. It is cited as being a "1080p high definition presentation from Paramount Pictures". It is on a dual-layered disc with a high bitrate in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio. It looks modest, faithfully supporting an 80's look that is discussed in the Scott Harrison commentary. Colors can have a richness (Miss Tilly's red dress) but the overall looking can be more blotchy than smooth. I don't doubt this is a function of the 80's less-resilient stock utilized. There is infrequent depth and, while faithful, is not going to represent any 'demo' presentations for this format. It is consistent and seems to support the film with a reasonable degree of accuracy.    

NOTE: We have added 64 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Imprint offer the option of a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track or a linear PCM stereo track (24-bit) - both in the original English language. The surround is quite robust and exports pleasing depth and separations in the horse races, crowd noises etc. The score is by Giorgio Moroder (1982's Cat People, Top Gun, Midnight Express, Scarface etc. etc.) augmented by Castígala by Willy Chirino, Eddy Arnold's "Cattle Call", Huey "Piano" Smith's Don't You Just Know It, Don Gibson's Oh Lonesome Me and Johann Strauss' Perpetuum Mobile among other pieces. The tracks handle the film's requirement without issue. Imprint offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Imprint Blu-ray offers a new (2020) commentary by Scott Harrison. We've heard a number of his commentaries and he is quite good. He discusses ambivalence of director Joe Pytka's resume (this was his feature debut previously doing commercials and Michael Jackson music videos), quotes an interview with writer Jay Cronley (novel as based) and his disappointment with the screenwriter and director, plus a lot on Dreyfuss, Garr (their more famous previous pairing), minor appearances by Robbie Coltrane, Michelle Phillips etc. He reads review excerpts of the film making the case for it being more than a 'guilty favorite'. It's nicely paced and I enjoyed his observations. There is also a 16-minute interview with director Joe Pytka, deleted scenes and a trailer. This package offers a limited edition slipcase with unique artwork on the first 1500 copies.     

I remember watching Let it Ride on video some 30-odd years ago. It is memorable for the story, Dreyfuss, and Jennifer Tilly's... ummm... screen presence (I was much younger.) It's a fun film, that they don't often make these days; involving gambling, horse-racing and the eccentric characters that inhabit that space. There is an interesting comparison, by commentarist Scott, with the volatile Garr/Dreyfuss relationship and his obsession - both similar in Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind. I enjoyed Let it Ride and thought it was funny. The Imprint Blu-ray is not exceptional video-wise, but it does carry an authenticity for that 80's video expression 'looking good in a low-key way'. The addition of the new commentary and director interview add value. Recommended!

Gary Tooze