Quantez Blu-ray - Fred MacMurray / Dorothy Malone

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

Directed by Harry Keller
USA 1957

Screen legend Fred MacMurray (Gun for a Coward, Double Indemnity) stars as John Coventry, the leader of a gang of robbers trying to escape across the Mexican border. The outlaws manage to elude the law and navigate the rough terrain, but the flight comes to a dangerous halt in the mysterious abandoned town of Quantez. As their enemies get closer, tempers flare, betrayals set in and lines are drawn between the men. Ruthless criminals end up as heroes and villains plunge further into despair in this suspenseful, action-packed western. Wonderfully directed by Harry Keller (The Female Animal) and co-starring Dorothy Malone (Written on the Wind), James Barton (The Shepherd of the Hills), Sydney Chaplin (Limelight), John Gavin (Midnight Lace), John Larch (Play Misty for Me) and Michael Ansara (Texas Across the River).

***

A gang of bank robbers with a posse in hot pursuit. Riding into the desert, they take refuge in Quantez, a small town they find deserted. Their horses tired and near death, they're forced to stay the night with the plan to cross the border into Mexico the next day.

Posters

Theatrical Release: September 6th, 1957

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Review: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:20:43.839
Video	2.35:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 21,584,882,861 bytes Feature: 20,879,960,064 bytes Video Bitrate: 30.92 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	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1556 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1556 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Kino 2.35:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 21,584,882,861 bytes Feature: 20,879,960,064 bytes Video Bitrate: 30.92 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Toby Roan • Theatrical Trailer (02:13) Blu-ray Release Date: May 11th, 2021 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 9

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (May 2021): Kino Lorber presents Harry Keller's 1957 "Quantez" on an all-new single-layer Blu-ray disc. The HD image exhibits the 2.35:1 Cinemascope picture in 1080P. There are sequences that lack sharpness, most likely due to the "single-strip color" process involved in the filmmaking. Despite a high bitrate, contrast levels are slight, enveloping the multiple dark sequences in a conspicuous and singular grey/black. This only adds to the splotchy look of the film. Colors also seem to suffer from the lack of robust contrast, resulting in tepid skintones, and generally muted palette. The overall Blu-ray image is very dark and muddy.

"Quantez" is presented in a 16-bit DTS-HD Master audio track that gets the job done. Typical Western noises abound, from horses to gunfire, this track for the most part it sounds clear and clean thankfully lacking any audible damage, hissing or pops. Appearing are two Arnold Hughes musical numbers (The Lonely One sung by James Barton behind the credits and, True Love sung by Dorothy Malone), with a score from Herman Stein (Horizons West, Six Bridges to Cross, Son of Ali Baba, Man in the Shadow, Female on the Beach, This Island Earth, It Came From Outer Space, War Arrow, Tarantula, There's Always Tomorrow, The Incredible Shrinking Man.) There are optional English subtitles on this Region 'A' Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.

Kino Lorber's Blu-ray of "Quantez" features an all new audio commentary by film historian Toby Roan. Roan is always a welcome voice, here discussing not just the particulars of this rather grim 50's western, but also the context of where "Quantez" fits into the Western genre. Other topics covered in this commentary include the Cinemascope process (as well as Eastmancolor), filming locations (the film was partially shot around Apple Valley in Victorville, CA) along with the typical cast and crew information. The film's theatrical trailer, and a handful of other trailers, are the only other extras to be found on this Kino Blu-ray.

"Quantez" is a pleasant surprise. Even among the hundreds (if not thousands) of Westerns that seemed to dominate the cinemas at the time, here is a rather dark and romantic stand-out. Kino Lorber's Blu-ray may feature some rather lackluster visuals, but without a full-fledged restoration from original materials, this is probably the best the film will look for now. Toby Roan's commentary is well worth listening to, especially for fellow oater fans.