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

ADDITION: 88 Films Blu-ray (September 2025): 88 Films have transferred Peter Collinson's The Man Called Noon to Blu-ray. Shot primarily in Spain's arid landscapes, the film features breathtaking panoramic shots of deserts, jagged terrains, and abandoned train stations, evoking the epic scope of classics like "Once Upon a Time in the West." The film showcases a distinctive visual aesthetic that blends the rugged grandeur of spaghetti Westerns with experimental thriller elements, largely thanks to cinematographer John Cabrera's (The Call of the Wild) dynamic and poetic approach. The 1080P image showcases excellent detail in period costumes, expansive Spanish landscapes, and facial textures, with natural flesh tones, vibrant colors like deep blues in the skies, and inky blacks that enhance the film's atmospheric depth. Though occasional posterization or delineation issues may arise in darker scenes, the overall clarity and color fidelity is realistic, balanced and pleasing. Overall a reasonably consistent HD presentation.

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On their Blu-ray, 88 Films use a linear PCM dual-mono track (24-bit) in the English language. Dialogue is intelligible and well-balanced, handling dubbed performances without distortion, while sound effects like gunshots and environmental atmospherics come through sharply. Argentinean Luis Bacalov's (Django, The Seduction, Il Postino, A Bullet for the General, Shoot First, Die Later, Django Unchained, City of Women) evocative score retains its instrumentation and positioning, adding emotional weight to suspenseful and action-oriented moments. At its core is a wistful main theme for strings, sweetened by the ethereal, wordless vocals of Edda dell’Orso, which serves as the emotional anchor and is reprised in tracks like "Quietness." Some minor damage results in occasional warbling, but overall, the mix is robust providing a satisfying auditory experience that complements the film's hybrid Western-thriller tone without overwhelming it. 88 Films offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

This 88 Films Blu-ray edition significantly enhances the value with supplements, addressing the bare-bones nature of previous US releases. Highlights include two audio commentaries: one by Western expert Lee Broughton (Critical Perspectives on the Western: From A Fistful of Dollars to Django Unchained,) offering insights into the genre and production, and another by film historians Troy Howarth (Human Beasts: The Films of Paul Naschy) and Eugenio Ercolani (The Spaghetti Western Digest,) delving into the film's spaghetti Western influences and historical context. Additional features encompass an image gallery showcasing promotional materials, an original and newly commissioned O-Ring slipcase with artwork by Sean Longmore, and a booklet featuring an essay by Broughton, providing scholarly depth on the adaptation from Louis L'Amour's novel and director Peter Collinson's style.

Peter Collinson's The Man Called Noon has historically been overlooked but gained renewed accessibility through a, now out-of-print, 2016 Kino Lorber Blu-ray edition, highlighting its Euro-cult appeal. The story follows an amnesiac gunslinger, played by Richard Crenna (Midas Run, The Sand Pebbles, Stone Cold Dead, Death Ship) who awakens with no memory of his past but soon finds himself entangled in a web of intrigue involving stolen gold, ruthless outlaws, and a quest for redemption in the rugged American frontier. Collinson (Fright, Straight on Till Morning, The Earthling, Up the Junction, Innocent Bystanders, Ten Little Indians,) known for his eclectic directorial style blending thriller elements with genre tropes, infuses the film with tense action sequences and atmospheric cinematography. Featuring a supporting cast including Stephen Boyd (The Oscar, The Third Secret, The Caper of the Golden Bulls, Fantastic Voyage) and Rosanna Schiaffino (Ro.Go.Pa.G., The Rover, The Witch,) the movie explores themes of identity, memory and vengeance, standing as a lesser-known entry in the spaghetti Western subgenre shot primarily in Spain. Trust and deception are central, particularly in Noon's uneasy partnership with Rimes, who embodies opportunistic loyalty, and the femme fatale dynamics with characters like Peg (Patty Shepard - Crypt of the Living Dead, The Werewolf Versus the Vampire Woman, Assignment Terror,) who manipulate through seduction and villainy. "The Man Called Noon" is an intriguing, if flawed, Western that innovates through its amnesia-driven mystery and atmospheric direction, bolstered by strong visuals and a capable cast. While pacing and plot intricacies hinder its flow, it remains a worthwhile entry for enthusiasts of Euro-Westerns, offering a thoughtful take on identity amid frontier chaos. The 88 Films Blu-ray of "The Man Called Noon" stands as the definitive home video release for this underappreciated 1973 genre effort, combining a strong HD presentation, reliable audio, and meaningful extras that elevate it beyond earlier editions making it a worthwhile addition for cult cinema enthusiasts and spaghetti Western collectors. Recommended. 

Gary Tooze