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A few words about...™ The Comancheros -- in Blu-ray

post #1 of 29
5/19/11 at 7:58am
Thread Starter 

What a difference a year makes.

 

The replacement of Kodak color negative 5248 with 5250 in 1961 plays a major role in film preservation, as 5250, properly stored, should be very printable.

 

And Fox's new Blu-ray of Michael Curtiz's The Comancheros, is a perfect example of what can be done with the film stock when everything is handled properly.

 

To view this new Blu-ray on a large screen is like being at a premiere screening of a new print struck from the camera original back in the fall of 1961.

 

Color is beautifully rendered, grain looks proper, shadow detail, along with blacks are letter perfect.  This is a magnificent job of taking a piece of film to Blu-ray via quality scanning and a well-produced HD master.

 

Audio, both via a new 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, as well as the original 4-track stereo in Dolby Surround are also perfectly rendered.

 

From a personal perspective, I visited the Fox lot (when it was the original Fox lot) in the summer of 1961.  Being given a grand tour, I was asked if there was anyone on the lot that I'd like to meet.  Knowing that The Comancheros was in production, my answer was easy.  I almost didn't recognize Mr. Wayne, as he wasn't wearing a hairpiece.  He seemed genuinely surprised that a kid would know his history going back to the '30s, and kindly gave me quality time.  I still recall shaking his hand, and getting a feeling that I had just stuck my hand in a mail box with a tight grip.

 

Those apologists out there, who feel that it's alright for a film to look less than stellar if it's old, ie. from the '50s or '60s can get the record straight by watching this new Blu-ray from Fox.

 

Here's a half century old production, that is perfect in every detail on Blu-ray.

 

Very Highly Recommended both as a piece of entertainment as well as software.

 

RAH

 

 

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

The Comancheros (50th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray]
post #2 of 29
5/19/11 at 8:03am

RAH,

 

John Wayne is my favorite actor of all-time and one of the my more enjoyable experiences from my youth that I like to recall was going to the local movie theater with my buddies and seeing his latest film. 

 

I'm really looking forward to this BRD and appreicate your positive comments about it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crawdaddy

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post #3 of 29
5/19/11 at 9:37am

Great review. You have a wonderful talent for saying a lot in a few words. And thanks for sharing that terrific story...Looks like one to buy.

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post #4 of 29
5/19/11 at 10:20am

Just for clarification, by "Dolby Surround" are you inferring that the original discrete 4-track mix has been encoded in Dolby Surround 2.0? Not a big deal, but I was just curious if the tracks are discrete or matrix for the original soundtrack.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris View Post

 

Audio, both via a new 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, as well as the original 4-track stereo in Dolby Surround are also perfectly rendered.

 

 

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post #5 of 29
5/19/11 at 10:47am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark-P View Post

Just for clarification, by "Dolby Surround" are you inferring that the original discrete 4-track mix has been encoded in Dolby Surround 2.0? Not a big deal, but I was just curious if the tracks are discrete or matrix for the original soundtrack.
 


The original tracks were discreet.

 

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post #6 of 29
5/19/11 at 11:18am

Yes Robert, I know that. I was asking if the alternate original mix on the Blu-ray is presented in 4.0 discrete or 2.0 matrix, as you inferred by saying "in Dolby Surround."
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris View Post




The original tracks were discreet.

 



 

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post #7 of 29
5/19/11 at 3:25pm
Thread Starter 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark-P View Post

Yes Robert, I know that. I was asking if the alternate original mix on the Blu-ray is presented in 4.0 discrete or 2.0 matrix, as you inferred by saying "in Dolby Surround."
 



 


Appears to be matrix.

 

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post #8 of 29
5/22/11 at 8:49am

SOLD.  I haven't even seen this film.  Can't wait.

 

And what a great story.

 

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post #9 of 29
12/4/11 at 12:18pm
I've just got around to buying this BRD. Absolutely superb: a reference quality disc. Blu-ray done properly. Why on earth did I wait before buying it?
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post #10 of 29
12/5/11 at 9:34am
Great story, RAH. Thanks for sharing.
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post #11 of 29
12/5/11 at 3:59pm
475

700

The craftsmanship on display in The Comancheros deserves a Blu-ray like this.
The photography by outdoor and westerns specialist William H. Clothier deserves special mention. This cameraman was an artist and a true craftsman. He doesn't get enough credit, but he brought a special quality of light and color and composition to westerns for over thirty years.

I'll buy every John Wayne film all over again that they put on Blu-ray.
Edited by Richard--W - 12/6/11 at 8:25am
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post #12 of 29
12/5/11 at 6:26pm

I can't believe I've waited so long to order this title either. Time to make amends. I assume there's no difference in the film transfer between the 50th Anniversary Digibook release and the single disc Blu-ray?

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post #13 of 29
12/8/11 at 3:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard--W View Post

475
700
The craftsmanship on display in The Comancheros deserves a Blu-ray like this.
The photography by outdoor and westerns specialist William H. Clothier deserves special mention. This cameraman was an artist and a true craftsman. He doesn't get enough credit, but he brought a special quality of light and color and composition to westerns for over thirty years.
I'll buy every John Wayne film all over again that they put on Blu-ray.


In the second poster, Nehemiah Persoff looks exactly like Jason Alexander. laugh.gif
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post #14 of 29
12/8/11 at 3:29pm
I love this movie, I find it so enjoyable, not an "important" western, but so much fun, & that Elmer Bernstein music score! I'll wait a bit for the Amazon price to nudge down & then import it to the UK.
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post #15 of 29
12/8/11 at 6:44pm

Can anyone answer my question about the two Blu-ray offerings? Is the 50th Anniversary Digibook release the same transfer as the less expensive $16.99 disc?

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post #16 of 29
12/8/11 at 9:58pm
This is a wonderful film. Again it demonstrates how brilliant Wayne was with comedy! Anyone who says he was a lousy actor doesn't know what they are talking about. I too was a fan of Wayne, but I was a child in the early 70s, and was seeing films like True Grit and The Shootist. It seemed to me that the man had just always been around.

This film is also the last hurrah of Michael Curtiz. Even though he may have had some help finishing this film, you can clearly see that its a Michael Curtiz film!

Can't wait to get my hands on this one.

Doug
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post #17 of 29
12/9/11 at 5:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dpippel View Post

Can anyone answer my question about the two Blu-ray offerings? Is the 50th Anniversary Digibook release the same transfer as the less expensive $16.99 disc?



That's right!

 

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post #18 of 29
12/9/11 at 5:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas Monce View Post

This is a wonderful film. Again it demonstrates how brilliant Wayne was with comedy! Anyone who says he was a lousy actor doesn't know what they are talking about. I too was a fan of Wayne, but I was a child in the early 70s, and was seeing films like True Grit and The Shootist. It seemed to me that the man had just always been around.
This film is also the last hurrah of Michael Curtiz. Even though he may have had some help finishing this film, you can clearly see that its a Michael Curtiz film!
Can't wait to get my hands on this one.
Doug



The Duke has always been my favorite actor.  He was always underrated as an actor, how he was never nominated for The Searchers is beyond me.  His performance in that film is one of the true iconic ones and is similar to Robert Mitchum getting passed up for The Night of the Hunter.  Anyhow, I agree with you about Wayne being a very good comedic actor.  One of my favorite comedies of all-time is Dononvan's Reef with him and Lee Marvin having a grand time on an island of paradise.

 

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post #19 of 29
12/9/11 at 8:44am

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford View Post

That's right!

 

Gracias Robert!

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post #20 of 29
12/9/11 at 9:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford View Post




The Duke has always been my favorite actor.  He was always underrated as an actor, how he was never nominated for The Searchers is beyond me.  His performance in that film is one of the true iconic ones and is similar to Robert Mitchum getting passed up for The Night of the Hunter.  Anyhow, I agree with you about Wayne being a very good comedic actor.  One of my favorite comedies of all-time is Dononvan's Reef with him and Lee Marvin having a grand time on an island of paradise.

Many of Duke's 1960s films have good comedic moments, like McClintock, Hatari, North To Alaska, and The Sons of Katie Elder. His interaction with Robert Mitchum in El Dorado, Kirk Douglas in The War Wagon, and Ben Johnson in Chisum are also great. I sure hope the studios will get with it and get all these films (and others) out on Blu-ray soon. I'm glad others are discovering Wayne's talents and taking a look at The Comancheros.
Edited by John Hermes - 12/9/11 at 7:56pm
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post #21 of 29
12/9/11 at 10:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford View Post




The Duke has always been my favorite actor.  He was always underrated as an actor, how he was never nominated for The Searchers is beyond me.  His performance in that film is one of the true iconic ones and is similar to Robert Mitchum getting passed up for The Night of the Hunter.  Anyhow, I agree with you about Wayne being a very good comedic actor.  One of my favorite comedies of all-time is Dononvan's Reef with him and Lee Marvin having a grand time on an island of paradise.

Donovan's Reef . . . A wonderful film from start to finish. It really doesn't get the credit it deserves.
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post #22 of 29
12/9/11 at 7:39pm
473

Nor does Hatari get the credit it deserves.

700

Try watching one after the other.
They are like bookends.
Edited by Richard--W - 12/9/11 at 8:11pm
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post #23 of 29
12/9/11 at 8:03pm

Oh man.  I want those.  NOW.

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post #24 of 29
12/9/11 at 8:25pm
The location photography in Hatari! and Donovan's Reef would be particularly spectacular on blu-ray.

Doug
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post #25 of 29
12/10/11 at 4:22am

Two John Wayne films I always watch at this time of the year are Donovan's Reef and Three Godfathers...probably make some time for them this weekend.

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post #26 of 29
12/10/11 at 6:42am
I think Paramount is getting the message; a lot more Duke on Blu-ray please. And with Warner releasing Fort Apache, that augurs well for, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon in 2012.
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post #27 of 29
12/10/11 at 7:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jim_falconer View Post

Two John Wayne films I always watch at this time of the year are Donovan's Reef and Three Godfathers...probably make some time for them this weekend.



For the last 40 years, I always try to catch 3 Godfathers during these holidays either on television or now watch the DVD that I have of it.  You're right, Donovan's Reef is also a good Holiday film with it's setting around Christmas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crawdaddy

 

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post #28 of 29
12/10/11 at 7:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy Batson View Post

I think Paramount is getting the message; a lot more Duke on Blu-ray please. And with Warner releasing Fort Apache, that augurs well for, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon in 2012.



Wayne has always sold well on video and probably moreso than most classic film stars.

 

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post #29 of 29
2/19/12 at 6:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy Batson View Post

I love this movie, I find it so enjoyable, not an "important" western, but so much fun, & that Elmer Bernstein music score! I'll wait a bit for the Amazon price to nudge down & then import it to the UK.

Now $11.99 for the digibook, now ordered!
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The Comancheros (50th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray]
Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming Video and Digital Downloads › Blu-ray › A Few Words About By Robert Harris › A few words about...™ The Comancheros -- in Blu-ray