- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,271
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
I'm joining two of Twilight Time's new Blu-rays, the 1959 Warlock, with Richard Widmark, Henry Fonda, and Anthony Quinn, directed by Edward Dmytryk, with Bandolero! (Andrew McLaglen) (1968), with James Stewart and Dean Martin, for no other reason than the ability to compare and contrast the appearance of the two westerns, which have presumably spent time in the same vaults, albeit produced nine years apart.
Warlock came toward the end of the Kodak 5248 era, which means that stock had certain fade characteristics. Bandolero!, most like shot on 5254, which skipped two generations, 5250 and 5251, both of which had far better fade strength, than 48.
If you look at Warlock, which I personally favor over Bandolero!, you'll be able to note a bit of fade, which is nicely covered by the dust and dirt of Warlock, the town in which it all takes place.
Bandolero! appears more like a modern film, with no discernible fade, and just an overall more viable look.
What one receives from these two films, is the continuity, especially for those who collect specific actors, as one gives us another performance from Mr. Fonda and Mr. Widmark, while the other adds another notch to belts for those collecting Mr. Stewart. There may be those who collect Dean Martin films, but I've never personally met any in the wild.
Both films sport their original stereo mixes.
But it's the overall appearance of the two films that might be instructive to some viewers, trying to understand film stocks and their aging characteristics.
As these are Twilight Time releases, one should make note of the music scores. Warlock has a score by Leigh Harline, which is interesting, as he's best known (or not), for his scores for Walt Disney films, inclusive of his work on Pinocchio and Snow White, in addition to a library of earlier shorts. He went on to score many features, primarily for Fox - Susan Slept Here, Broken Lance, Good Morning, Miss Dove, 23 Paces to Baker Street, Ten North Frederick, et al)
Bandolero! is the work of Jerry Goldsmith.
Image - 4 (Warlock)
5 (Bandolero!)
Audio - 5
Pass / Fail - Pass
Both are Recommended
RAH
Warlock came toward the end of the Kodak 5248 era, which means that stock had certain fade characteristics. Bandolero!, most like shot on 5254, which skipped two generations, 5250 and 5251, both of which had far better fade strength, than 48.
If you look at Warlock, which I personally favor over Bandolero!, you'll be able to note a bit of fade, which is nicely covered by the dust and dirt of Warlock, the town in which it all takes place.
Bandolero! appears more like a modern film, with no discernible fade, and just an overall more viable look.
What one receives from these two films, is the continuity, especially for those who collect specific actors, as one gives us another performance from Mr. Fonda and Mr. Widmark, while the other adds another notch to belts for those collecting Mr. Stewart. There may be those who collect Dean Martin films, but I've never personally met any in the wild.
Both films sport their original stereo mixes.
But it's the overall appearance of the two films that might be instructive to some viewers, trying to understand film stocks and their aging characteristics.
As these are Twilight Time releases, one should make note of the music scores. Warlock has a score by Leigh Harline, which is interesting, as he's best known (or not), for his scores for Walt Disney films, inclusive of his work on Pinocchio and Snow White, in addition to a library of earlier shorts. He went on to score many features, primarily for Fox - Susan Slept Here, Broken Lance, Good Morning, Miss Dove, 23 Paces to Baker Street, Ten North Frederick, et al)
Bandolero! is the work of Jerry Goldsmith.
Image - 4 (Warlock)
5 (Bandolero!)
Audio - 5
Pass / Fail - Pass
Both are Recommended
RAH