Six in Paris – Icarus Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: France, 1965
Directors: Jean Douchet, Jean Rouch, Jean-Daniel Pollet, Eric Rohmer, Jean-Luc Godard, Claude Chabrol
Cast: Jean-Pierre Andréani, Jean-François Chappey, Barbara Wilkin, Nadine Ballot, Gilles Quéant, Barbet Schroeder, Micheline Dax, Claude Melki, Marcel Gallon, Jean-Michel Rouzière, Serge Davri, Philippe Hiquilly, Joanna Shimkus, Stéphane Audran, Claude Chabrol

Release Date: July 30th, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 96 Minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono French
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $41.98

"In 1965, young producer Barbet Schroeder supplied a 16mm camera, along with color film stock, to six friends and asked them to each make a short film about a Parisian neighborhood. The resulting films were shot quickly, with low budgets, improvised takes and live sound." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Gorgeously restored in 2K."

Six in Paris comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 23 GB

Feature: 21.9 GB

The source looks great; colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, and compression is very good.

Audio: 4/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in French with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clear, clear and balanced. Range-wise, the audio is limited.

Extras:

Extras for this release include archival interviews from 1965 that originally aired on Swiss TV; Barbet Schroeder and Patrick Bauchau (7 minutes 19 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French with removable English subtitles), Jean Rouch (5 minutes, Dolby Digital mono French with removable English subtitles) and Éric Rohmer (6 minutes 6 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French with removable English subtitles), and a slipcover (limited to 1,000 units).

Summary:

Six in Paris is the brainchild of Barbet Schroeder, who served as its producer and even appeared in a segment. The narrative consists of six stories about Paris: a French playboy and his American girlfriend; after arguing with her boyfriend, a woman wandering the streets meets a suicidal man; a prostitute who makes fun of her client; a man who avoids an area where he might have killed a man; two women who were sent love letters that were not intended for them; and a boy who wears earplugs to conceal his parents arguments. In total there are six stories, and each has their own director.

When one factors in the conditions in which each story was made, it's not surprising that none of the stories have depth. All of the stories are dialog-driven, and most of them are just two characters talking. Though there are an abundance of scenic shots of Paris, the visuals have no arresting or stylish moments. Another flaw in most stories is their lackluster conclusion. Jean Rouch's Gare du Nord and Claude Chabrol's La Muette are the best stories since they both have jarring endings. Ultimately, Six in Paris is best described as an avant-garde experiment, only recommended to fans of French New Wave cinema.

Six in Paris gets a first-rate release from Icarus Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a trio of extras.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Las Vegas Hillbillys - VCI Entertainment (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1966
Director: Arthur C. Pierce
Writer: Larry E. Jackson
Cast: Ferlin Husky, Don Bowman, Jayne Mansfield, Mamie Van Doren, Billie Bird, Richard Kiel

Release Date: December 10th, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 89 Minutes 47 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: G
Sound: LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $24.95

"In the backwoods of Tennessee, country singer Woody Weatherby receives word that he has inherited a casino in Las Vegas. Elated, Woody and his buddy Jeepers head for Nevada in their dilapidated jalopy Lightnin'. When they arrive, they find that their bonanza is nothing but a debt-ridden dive. Enlisting the aid of Jayne Mansfield and Mamie Van Doren, the boys are determined to make Woody's Golden Circle a success. Jayne is hired to manage the gambling concession while Mamie is supposed to be a singer, but most of the time they just hang around and look pretty (so what's wrong with that?). But it takes the shrewd business sense of Aunt Clem from back home to make the place really take off." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Hillbillys in a Haunted House comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.5 GB

Feature: 21.1 GB

The source looks great; cleaned up, free of any source damage. Flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity and black levels are strong, and compression is very good. That said, this one of VCI’s stronger transfers, there does not appear to be any egregious digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in English with removable English SDH. The audio is in great shape, dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and range-wise, this track sounds very good.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a photo gallery with music from the film playing in the background (poster/lobby cards/stills), a theatrical trailer for Hillbillys in a Haunted House (1 minute 42 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Robert Kelly.

Summary:

Las Vegas Hillbillys was directed by Arthur C. Pierce, who is most known for Women of the Prehistoric Planet.

A singer whose family makes moonshine inherits a casino in Las Vegas and turns it into a country western bar.

Over the years I have seen some wild films that left me scratching my head. And yet nothing could prepare me for Las Vegas Hillbillys, a film that would spawn a sequel titled Hillbillys in a Haunted House. The thing that went through my mind while watching Las Vegas Hillbillys was that this would be a good idea for a film. Despite down-home folks being in vogue at that time, a film like Las Vegas Hillbillys lacks the charm and wit of The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction.

Though Ferlin Husky got the aw-shucks, down-home persona down to a tee, Las Vegas Hillbillys feels more like a showcase for him singing than his non-acting abilities. When it comes to the rest of the cast, the only ones that fare well are Mamie Van Doren (Teacher’s Pet) and Jayne Mansfield (The Girl Can't Help It). An interesting side bar, both of these actresses were groomed to be Marilyn Monroe-like clones. Another cast member of note is Richard Kiel (The Spy Who Loved Me), who portrays Moose, an enforcer for a man who the protagonist owes a large sum of money.

It's very clear that Las Vegas Hillbillys is a film with limited resources. At just under 90 minutes, things are slow-moving; there are many lulls and not many bursts of momentum. The musical numbers excessively pad the narrative, the humor frequently fails to connect with the audience, and the premise comes across as silly. Ultimately, a pie fight finale perfectly sums up Las Vegas Hillbillys.

Las Vegas Hillbillys gets a good release from VCI Entertainment that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and an informative audio commentary.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Sword: Limited Edition – Eureka Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1980
Director: Patrick Tam
Writers: Lau Shing-hon, Clifford Choi, Wong Ying, Patrick Tam, Lo Chi-keung, Lau Tin-chi
Cast: Adam Cheng, Norman Chui, Jade Hsu, Bonnie Ngai, JoJo Chan, Tien Feng, Eddy Ko, Hoi Sang Lee 

Release Date: November 18th, 2024 (UK), November 19th, 2024 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 89 Minutes 8 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese, LPCM Mono English, LPCM Mono Mandarin
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £17.99 (UK), $39.95 (USA)

"Believing that he is in possession of a cursed blade, the legendary swordsman Hua Qian Shu (Tien Feng, King Boxer) has retreated from the martial arts world to live in peaceful seclusion. However, his retirement has done nothing to dampen his reputation; a young warrior, Li Mak-jan (Cheng), wishes to challenge the master in order to test his own sword-fighting skill. But as Li searches for the reclusive Hua Qian Shu so that he might face him in combat, he finds himself entangled with old lovers and new rivals. Soon, it becomes apparent that the old master’s sword really might be cursed – and will, perhaps, bring nothing but tragedy to those who seek to wield it." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray from a brand new 2K restoration."

The Sword comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 35.8 GB

Feature: 27.7 GB

The source looks great; it is a noticeable improvement over this film’s previous home media releases. Flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, and compression is solid. That said, there does appear to be some digital filtering of the image that fortunately minor enough that it is never intrusive.

Audio: 4.25/5 (All Audio Tracks)

This release comes with three audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese, a LPCM mono mix in English, and a LPCM mono mix in Mandarin. All three audio tracks are in great shape; dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and action sequences sound robust. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language track and removable English subtitles for Cantonese text when listening to the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 23 seconds, LPCM mono Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an interview with film critic Andrew Heskins (easternKicks) titled Andrew Heskins on The Sword (13 minutes 11 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with martial arts cinema expert Wayne Wong on The Sword and the wuxia genre titled Forging Ahead (17 minutes 58 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with East Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival), an audio commentary with action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema, O-card slipcase (limited to 2,000 copies), and a 28-page booklet (limited to 2,000 copies) with cast & crew information, an essay titled Fortune and Glory The Sword and the Hong Kong New Wave written by Leung Wing-Fai, an interview with director Patrick Tam titled A New Language Patrick Tam on The Sword conducted by Arnaud Lanuque, and information about the transfer titled Notes on Viewing.

Summary:

Patrick Tam directed The sword. He is also known for directing Love Massacre, After this our Exile and My Heart Is That Eternal Rose. Besides directing, he worked as an editor on these films: Days of Being Wild, Ashes of Time, and Election.

Swordsmen from all around search for a retired master swordsman wanting to challenge him to a duel.

Wuxia is Chinese cinema’s most celebrated genre; its roots are in literature and date back thousands of years. Though all film genres tend to evolve over the years, Wuxia, like all genres, has its core elements. One of these moments of evolution was Patrick Tam’s The Sword, a film that clearly breaks away from the Wuxia films of the 1960s and 70s. Where most first-time filmmakers working in a specific genre would stay within the already established blueprint, Patrick Tam with The Sword goes against the grain.

Where most first-time filmmakers working in a specific genre would stay within the already established blueprint, Patrick Tam with The Sword goes against the grain. The best comparison for how vastly different The Sword was upon its initial release would be to compare it to Zhang Yimou's Hero, a film that came 22 years later. That said, when it comes to the core elements of Wuxia, The Sword remains true.

There are several moving parts in The Sword. Though the main driving force of the narrative is the quest of a swordsman who wants to be the one who defeats a master swordsman, there are several other subplots. Besides defeating the master swordsman, there are those who want to possess two coveted swords, one of which is cursed. And the other main subplot is a love triangle. All of these intersect throughout and come together in a finale that provides resolution.

Performance-wise, the entire cast is great in their respective roles, especially Jade Hsu’s (To Hell with the Devil) portrayal of Fa Ying-chi, the daughter of the retired master swordsman. Though her character is not the protagonist, Fa Ying-chi is the link that brings all of the subplots together. She delivers an excellent performance where she not only delivers in dramatic moments but also more than holds her own in action sequences. Another performance of note is Eddy Ko (Heroes Shed No Tears), who portrays a skilled assassin whose stealth movements make him formidable.

Anyone familiar with Wuxia films knows what to expect: impressive wire work and characters whose movements defy gravity. That said, the action sequences are phenomenal; their precision is flawless. Though no action sequences are lacking, it is the two duel sequences that stand out as the most memorable moments, especially the latter, a blood-soaked finale where one character is split in half.

From a production standpoint, The Sword is a film where everything falls into place perfectly. Characters are well-defined, and the narrative does a superb job building momentum towards the aforementioned finale. Another strength of the narrative is how it finds a pleasing balance between exposition and action sequences. Also, striking visuals and a lush romantic score reinforce the mood. Ultimately, The Sword is an extraordinary Wuxia where fate and destiny collide.

The Sword gets a solid release from Eureka Video that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and insightful extras, highly recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

La Cérémonie – The Criterion Collection (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: France/Germany, 1995
Director: Claude Chabrol
Writers: Claude Chabrol, Caroline Eliacheff
Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Sandrine Bonnaire, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Jacqueline Bisset, Virginie Ledoyen, Valentin Merlet, Julien Rochefort

Release Date: November 21st, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 112 Minutes 11 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Stereo French
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $39.95

"a small-town postal worker and a maid to a wealthy family, a pair of outsiders who form a mysterious alliance that gradually, almost imperceptibly, goes haywire." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, “This new digital master was created from the 35mm original camera negative, which was scanned in 4K resolution by MK2 at Eclair Classics.”

La Cérémonie comes on a 50 GBdual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 42.6 GB

Feature: 28.7 GB

Though the colors look different when compared to this film’s previous home media releases, it is not as off-putting as some on the internet have suggested. That said, I prefer how they look on this release. Flesh tones look healthy, imager clarity and black levels are strong, compression is very good, and grain remains intact.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM stereo mix in French with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds excellent; dialog is clear, everything sounds balanced, and, range-wise, ambient sounds are well represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (1 minute 1 second, Dolby Digital mono French with non-removable English subtitles), an episode of the Criterion Channel series Observations on Film Art about the use of offscreen sound that focuses on La Cérémonie (9 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English with non-removable English subtitles for French film clips), an archival interview with screenwriter Caroline Eliacheff (9 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French with non-removable English subtitles), an archival extra titled Isabelle Huppert and Claude Chabrol: Crossed Portraits featuring actress Isabelle Huppert and director Claude Chabrol who discuss their collaborative process (22 minutes 5 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French with non-removable English subtitles), an archival featurette titled The Making of “La Cérémonie” featuring Claude Chabrol, Isabelle Huppert, and Sandrine Bonaire (18 minutes 35 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French with non-removable English subtitles), an interview with actress Sandrine Bonnaire (12 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French with removable English subtitles), an archival selected-scene audio commentary with Claude Chabrol (29 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French with non-removable English subtitles), an interview with filmmaker Bong Jong Ho who discusses the cinema of Claude Chabrol (12 minutes 59 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Korean with removable English subtitles), and a leaflet with an essay titled Domestic Disturbances written by Sarah Weinman and information about the restoration.

Summary:

Claude Chabrol, like Alfred Hitchcock, is one of the few filmmakers who truly mastered suspense films. When it came to the way they crafted a narrative, they were both meticulous. They knew how to create peaks and valleys that never disrupted momentum. And their ability to guide the viewer to what they wanted them to pay attention to is second to none. That said, nothing in a Claude Chabrol or Alfred Hitchcock film ever feels forced.

An affluent family who lives in an isolated mansion in the countryside hires a new maid. Despite fitting in with the family, things start to unravel as she tries to conceal a dark secret from her past. Everything comes to a head when she forms a strong bond with a troublemaker postal clerk who encourages her to rebel against her employers.

The art of deception is an integral part of the cinema of Claude Chabrol, and La Cérémonie is a film overflowing with it. Though most of the characters are well-defined and it's clear where they stand, when it comes to the protagonist Sophie, the new maid, she is an enigma. The uncertainty about who Sophie really is does not come about because of the secrets she hides; she's a chameleon who effortlessly shifts her persona to fit the situation.

Performance-wise, the entire cast is excellent, especially Sandrine Bonnaire (Vagabond) in the role of Sophie and Isabelle Huppert (Story of Women) in the role of the troublemaking postal worker. They have a tremendous amount of chemistry, and the scenes they share are the most riveting. Another performance of note is Virginie Ledoyen’s (The Beach) portrayal of Melinda, the daughter with her own secret that she’s trying to conceal.

Most of Claude Chabrol’s films are in the suspense genre, and yet these films were often more than just standard fare mysteries. He was a filmmaker who often interjected social commentary in the story that was unfolding. La Cérémonie explores themes like family, good vs. evil, loneliness, and classism. In the case of the latter, classism is a theme that Claude Chabrol would often return to throughout his career.

From a production standpoint, La Cérémonie is a film where everything falls into place. The perfectly constructed narrative moves at a deliberate pace, and a double twist finale provides an exemplary coda to the events that have unfolded. Though there are a few striking moments visually, Claude Chabrol’s direction lets the characters take center stage. Ultimately, La Cérémonie is an extraordinary film that slowly draws you in, makes you think it's going one way, only to climax with a moment of truth that hits you like a sledgehammer.

La Cérémonie gets a solid release from The Criterion Collection that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Hitcher: Limited Edition – Second Sight Films (UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1986
Director: Robert Harmon
Writer: Eric Red
Cast: Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell, Jennifer Jason Leigh

Release Date: September 30th, 2024
Approximate running times: 97 Minutes 26 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10
Rating: 15 (UK)
Sound: Dolby Atmos English, DTS-HD Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free (UHD)/Region B (Blu-Ray)
Retail Price: £49.99 (UK)

"A would-be samaritan picks up a hitchhiker and soon discovers the man is a relentless serial killer. Framed by the cold-blooded murderer for a string of slayings, his only help comes from a caring waitress as they attempt to flee from both the law and the hitcher." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (4K UHD), 4.5/5 (Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "A new 4k restoration by Second Sight Films from the original camera negative supervised and approved by Director Robert Harmon."

The Hitcher comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 91.1 GB

Feature: 70.5 GB

This new transfer of The Hitcher film is a revelation, improving its previous home media treatments. Second Sight Films has done a phenomenal job; the source looks exceptional, and this is yet another solid encode from Fidelity in Motion. Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image always looks organic. That said, there are many moments that take place in the dark—almost pitch black—and this transfer does a superb job handling them.

The Hitcher comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.9 GB

Feature: 27.4 GB

The Blu-ray included as part of this release uses the same source that was used for the 4K UHD’s transfer.

Audio: 5/5 (Dolby Atmos English, DTS-HD Stereo English)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD stereo mix in English and a Dolby Atmos track in English. The audio tracks sound excellent with clear dialog, balanced sounds, well-presented ambient sounds, and robust delivery when required. That said, you can’t go wrong with either audio track. Included are removable English SDH.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include three theatrical trailers (5 minutes 14 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an archival documentary titled The Hitcher: How do these movies get made? (38 minutes 6 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a short film directed by Eric Red titled Telephone (26 minutes 25 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with director Robert Harmon titled The Calling Card, he discusses his short film China Lake and its connection to The Hitcher (15 minutes 15 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a short film directed by Robert Harmon titled China Lake (34 minutes 48 seconds, 2.39:1 aspect ratio, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), a video essay by Leigh Singer titled Duel Runner, he discusses the evolution of The Hitcher and Rutger Hauer (19 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with composer Mark Isham titled A Very Formative Score (15 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with cinematographer John Seale titled The Man from Oz (9 minutes 40 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with C. Thomas Howell titled Doomed to Live (28 minutes 19 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with screenwriter Eric Red titled Penning the Ripper (41 minutes 9 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Robert Harmon titled Bullseye (41 minutes 29 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), The Projection Booth Podcast: featuring Robert Harmon and Rutger Hauer, this extra plays out like an audio commentary track, a scene specific audio commentary with Robert Harmon, Eric Red, Executive Producer Edward S Feldman, Mark Isham, John Seale and Actors Rutger Hauer and C. Thomas Howell (51 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, and an audio commentary with Robert Harmon and Eric Red.

The Blu-ray disc has all of the same extras that are on the 4K UHD disc.

Other extras include a rigid slipcase, 6 collectors' art cards, a book with Eric Red’s original screenplay, and a 200-page hardback book with cast & crew information, an exclusive interview with director Robert Harmon conducted by Lou Thomas, as essay titled The Devil Thumbs a Ride written by Jon Towlson, as essay titled Tall Dark Stranger: Robert Harmon’s The Hitcher, an essay titled I Want You to Stop Me: Masculinity in the Films of Eric Red written by Craig Ian Mann, an exclusive interview with writer Eric Red conducted by Matthew Thrift, Behind the Scenes Stills, an essay titled Dangerous Intimacy: The Queerness of The Hitcher written by David Kittredge, an essay titled The Immovable Object Meets the Unstoppable Force: Ambiguity, Duality and the Silent Landscape in The Hitcher written by Rebecca McCallum, an essay titled Road to Ruin: Traversing an Allegorical Nightmare Through Violence and Genre written by Meagan Navarro, an essay titled On the Highway to Hell with The Hitcher written by Marc Weinberg, and acknowledgments & Production Credits.

Summary:

Robert Harmon directed The Hitcher. He is also known for directing Nowhere to Run, Gotti, and Highwaymen.

A psychopath hitchhiker stalks a young man driving across America, framing him for crimes he didn't commit.

The Hitcher is a film that could have gone in a myriad of directions with a different director or casting changes. This is especially clear when it comes to director Robert Harmon, who was making his feature film debut with The Hitcher. His choices when it comes to the visuals and how he saw the story greatly enhance what in lesser hands could have been a by-the-numbers body count film.

The Hitcher begins in pitch black, before a single match brings some light into the frame. In these opening moments a young man picks up a hitchhiker, and things quickly spiral out of control. In such a short time, the narrative does a phenomenal job establishing the two main players in the story that unfolds. That said, the narrative jumps right in with an intensity that’s relentless.

All around, everyone involved with The Hitcher is at the top of their game. When it comes to casting, The Hitcher is a textbook example of how important it is to find the right actor. Performance-wise, the entire cast is excellent, especially the three leads. That said, Rutger Hauer’s (Blade Runner) towering portrayal of the psychopath hitchhiker overshadows all the other performances.

As mentioned before, the visuals are outstanding, and they play a significant role in the story that unfolds. Some standout moments include a shot where the hitchhiker gets up from a pavement after being thrown from a car, Jennifer Jason Leigh’s character's death scene, and a scene where the hitchhiker jumps through a moving car's window. Every moment is filled with striking imagery; not a single inch of any frame is wasted.

For such a violent, bloody film, The Hitcher is filled with beautiful compositions. So much of The Hitcher takes place in wide-open scenic landscapes that reinforce characters' isolation. And though the carnage is front and center, there are a few exemplary action set pieces. Ultimately, The Hitcher is an unsettling thriller that is rich in subtext and never loses its potency no matter how many times you watch it.

The Hitcher gets a definitive release from Second Sight Films, highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a MPC-HC player and lossless PNGs.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Story of G.I. Joe – Ignite Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1945
Director: William A. Wellman
Writers: Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder
Cast: Burgess Meredith, Robert Mitchum, Freddie Steele, Wally Cassell, Jimmy Lloyd, John R. Reilly, William Murphy

Release Date: December 10th, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 109 Minutes 31 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $34.95

"Embark on an unforgettable journey through the harrowing yet heartwarming landscapes of WWII with The Story of G.I. Joe. Directed by William A. Wellman and based on the true-life experiences of renowned war correspondent and columnist Ernie Pyle, this cinematic masterpiece immerses you in the camaraderie, courage, and sacrifices of the brave soldiers of the Company C, 18th Infantry.." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "The Story of G.I. Joe (1945) was photochemically restored in 1999 by the Academy Film Archive with funding provided by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the Golden Globe Foundation and The Film Foundation. A 2K scane was created from the photochemically restored element."

The Story of G.I. Joe comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 37.1 GB

Feature: 29.9 GB

Though the bulk of this transfer looks great, the last reel uses a lesser 16mm source. Image clarity is solid, contrast and black levels are strong, there are no issues with compression, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 3.75/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in English with removable English SDH. Though dialog comes through clearly and everything sounds balanced, range-wise, things sound limited.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery (34 images - stills/lobby cards/posters/other promotional materials), original nitrate trailer (2 minutes 32 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), a re-construction of the original 1945 trailer (2 minutes 55 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), a new featurette on the restoration by film restoration supervisor Greg Kimble titled The Story of The Story of G.I. Joe (7 minutes, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Bill Wellman Jr. (16 minutes 20 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and a video essay by author and filmmaker Scout Tafoya 'Here he lies where he longed to be...' Wild Bill's Dog Face Blues (16 minutes 15 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

Summary:

William A. Wellman directed The Story of G.I. Joe. He is also known for directing Wings, The Public Enemy, Nothing Scared, and The Ox-Bow Incident.

The Story of G.I. Joe is based on journalist and war correspondent Ernie Pyle’s reports from North Africa and Italy. The Story of G.I. Joe is a tribute to the American infantryman (aka G.I. Joe) of C Company, 18th Infantry, who saw combat in Tunisia and Italy. Though some of the cast are made-up actors, 150 actual soldiers appeared in The Story of G.I. Joe. Besides helping actors prepare for their roles, many of the soldiers were given dialog.

The Story of G.I. Joe has a documentary-in-the moment vibe, which greatly enhances its realism. The characters are the focal point, and the performances are all outstanding. Though Burgess Meredith (Rocky) is perfect in the role of Ernie Pyle, it is Robert Mitchum’s (The Night of the Hunter) portrayal of Lt. Walker that steals the show. This would be a breakout role for Robert Mitchum in which he would receive his one and only Oscar nomination.

From a production standpoint, there is no area where The Story of G.I. Joe does not excel. The solid production design, blown-out buildings, enhances authenticity, and the battle sequences are exemplary. Also, William A. Wellman's direction is never showy; he lets the characters take center stage. Ultimately, The Story of G.I. Joe is a powerful and unflinching portrayal of war.

The Story of G.I. Joe gets an excellent release from Ignite Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer