A Long Ride from Hell – Code Red (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy/Spain, 1968
Director: Camillo Bazzoni
Writers: Gordon D. Shirreffs, Roberto Natale, Steve Reeves
Cast: Steve Reeves, Wayde Preston, Guido Lollobrigida, Mimmo Palmara, Silvana Venturelli, Nello Pazzafini, Franco Fantasia, Enzo Fiermonte, Aldo Sambrell, Rosalba Neri

Release Date: September 13th, 2016
Approximate Running Time: 90 Minutes 38 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: R
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: N/A
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: OOP

"When some badly dubbed bad guys rob a shipment of gold from a railroad company, Mike Sturges (Steve Reeves of Hercules fame) and his brother are framed for the crime. Thrown into the hellish Yuma State Prison, the brothers are  to work hard labor. The is so intense that Mike’s brother ends up dead, nailed to a cross! Mike escapes from prison and goes after the bad guys who framed him, and to also settle the score against the prison guard (Nello Pazzafini) who was responsible for his brother’s death. It’s hot times in Yumatowntonight!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Brand new 2k scan from the original inter negatives."

A Long Ride from Hell comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.9 GB

Feature: 20.1 GB

The source used for this transfer is in excellent shape. Flesh tones look correct, color saturation, image clarity, and black levels are solid, compression is very good, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 3.75/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Though there are some instances of background hiss, it’s never intrusive; dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced. Range-wise, things sound satisfactory.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (1 minute 4 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a featurette titled At Home with Steve Reeves! (13 minutes 47 seconds, in English and Italian with non-removable English subtitles), and a career spanning interview with actor Mimmo Palmara (57 minutes 56 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with non-removable English subtitles).  

Summary:

A Long Ride From Hell was directed by Camillo Bazzoni (Mafia Connection). The screenplay for A Long Ride From Hell was co-written by Steve Reeves, his first and only screenwriting credit. The screenplay was adapted from a novel written by Gordon D. Shirreffs titled Judas Gun. The cinematographer on A Long Ride From Hell was Enzo Barboni, who would go on to become a director in his own right. Directing Spaghetti Western comedies like They Call Me Trinity... and Trinity Is Still My Name! The composer on A Long Ride From Hell was Carlo Savina, whose other notable scores include Naked You Die, The Legend of Blood Castle, Lisa and the Devil, and The Killer Reserved Nine Seats.

The narrative revolves around two brothers who are framed for a robbery that they did not commit. Mike Sturges and his brother get sent to Yuma Penitentiary. While in prison, his brother dies at the hands of the sadistic prison guards. With nothing left to lose, he agrees to take part in a prison break. After regaining his freedom, he then tracks down those responsible for framing him for a crime he did not commit.

After solidifying his place as one of the most in-demand American actors working in Italy during the late 1950s and early 1960s, Steve Reeves, who for the bulk of his career worked in the peplum genre, notably in the role of Hercules. For his swan song as an actor, he would make a spaghetti western, which around the same time was also reaching its apex. And though appearing in a spaghetti western might seem like an odd choice for Steve Reeves, It is not difficult to imagine him as the lead in a spaghetti western. Since most of his earlier roles were cut from a similar mold. And just like those characters, Mike Sturges would have to overcome insurmountable odds in his quest for vengeance.

Though the narrative revolves around a heist where robbers steal gold from a train, Ultimately, A Long Ride From Hell is a tale about revenge. Though A Long Ride From Hell has many elements that have become synonymous with spaghetii westerns, Setting the film at Yuma Penitentiary, where the prisoners are often at the mercy of the sadistic prison guards, is one area where A Long Ride From Hell stands out from most of its contemporaries.

From an action standpoint, A Long Ride From Hell does not disappoint. There are plenty of shootouts, fist fights, and even a barroom brawl thrown in for good measure. Visually, A Long Ride From Hell goes for a more stark style than the more typical operatic style that’s become the hallmark of spaghetti westerns.

Performance-wise, the entire cast is very good in their respective roles, especially Spartaco Conversi (The Great Silence) in the role of a sadistic prison guard. Other notable cast members include Aldo Sambrell (Face to Face) in the role of a Mexican bounty hunter, Rosalba Neri (Amuck!) in the role of a prostitute named Encarnation, and Silvana Venturelli (Camille 2000) in the role of Ruth Harper. Ultimately, A Long Ride From Hell is a middle-of-the-road spaghetti Western that would have remained in obscurity if it were not for Steve Reeves presence in the title role.

A Long Ride from Hell gets a solid release from Code Red that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a pair of informative extras, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer