Blu-ray Review A Few Words About A few words about…™ Last Train from Gun Hill – in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

As noted, I need to go back, take another look, and possibly adjust the review.

I now have three opinions from people that I trust, that the problem does appear to be over-zealous auto clean-up, which we sometimes refer to as “fuller brush.”

On top of that, there may also be authoring problems unless they come from the frame capture software.

See what appear to be blocks below:

 

[dpippel]

Great.

 

[Robert Harris]

For the record, as I initially made an error in my review of Paramount’s 4k of Wonderful Life, I try to be as studio-centric as possible.

I still need to confirm these frames, but will do so forthwith - always liked that word.

 

[Robert Crawford]

As noted, I need to go back, take another look, and possibly adjust the review.

I now have three opinions from people that I trust, that the problem does appear to be over-zealous auto clean-up, which we sometimes refer to as “fuller brush.”

On top of that, there may also be authoring problems unless they come from the frame capture software.

See what appear to be blocks below:

View attachment 100529

Yeah, but how many of us noticed this issue when it was playing back in motion? I watched the movie in its entirety twice in the last week as well as re-watched several scenes without noticing it until today and then it really didn't stick out to me. Perhaps it's more noticeable on a projector screen than an OLED?

 

[jim_falconer]

From what I’m reading most people are quite happy with the transfer done on this film.

How I wish the transfer of “The Sons Of Katie Elder” only had a few seconds of questionable authoring, instead of using a older dull looking master to put out on on high definition

 

[smithbrad]

Yeah, but how many of us noticed this issue when it was playing back in motion? I watched the movie in its entirety twice in the last week as well as re-watched several scenes without noticing it until today and then it really didn't stick out to me. Perhaps it's more noticeable on a projector screen than an OLED?

Could simply be that some are more sensitive to certain types of anomalies then others. I remember in the early days with DLP, some saw rainbows immediately, some had to force the issue, while others never saw them under any circumstances. I know the person that first reported it here and the other forum saw similar issues throughout the second half of the film whenever more extensive motion was involved.

 

[Robert Harris]

I just re-checked the disc via both an Oppo outputting to 4k, as well as Panasonic 4k, both feeding a 4k JVC projector, and I’m unable to duplicate the problem.

I’m not suggesting that there may be some odd motion artifacts during fast motion, but I’m seeing NOTHING akin to the image posted.

I believe fans will be more than happy with this release.

 

[RICK BOND]

Getting mine Today ! Watching this Double Feature also.

 

[RICK BOND]

Bluray.com has posted Review for Gun Hill.

 

[Colin Jacobson]

Seems I’m the only one who doesn’t feel this holds up.

Fans will love the presentation.

I never saw the movie until the BD landed on my door.

I enjoyed it. It offered more depth and nuance than the average Western, and it creates solid entertainment.

Might not be Sturges' best, but it's very good.

And the BD looks phenomenal!

 

[Colin Jacobson]

I saw the film a couple of years ago (for the first time in decades), & what got me about it, was the guy who killed & maybe raped (not sure about that, but it was a fifties film, so they couldn't be too explicit) the Indian woman, wasn't blamed for doing that to an Indian woman: who cared, but because she was married to the Kirk Douglas character. You do get the impression that if she'd just been just an Indian, then no one would have given a monkeys. But the film is getting on for 70 years old, & if we sidelined every western that was unfair to the Indians (Native Americans), then that's three quarters of westerns gone (including many of my favourites). I have the new transfer recorded off TV, but I will get around to buying the Blu-ray.

I think "Train" offers a progressive POV. The movie clearly frowns on the "she's just an Indian" POV and makes those who opine that way look like bigots.

I don't get the sense Catherine's death is viewed as significant just because she's married to white Matt.

The movie actively battles against the notion that her death was less significant because she was a Native American...

 

[dpippel]

The Blu-ray is beautiful, and to my eyes anyway looks noticeably better than the streaming HD version. Glad I sprung for it!

 

[Robert Crawford]

Bluray.com has posted Review for Gun Hill.

A positive review!

 

[Robert Crawford]

The Blu-ray is beautiful, and to my eyes anyway looks noticeably better than the streaming HD version. Glad I sprung for it!

Thanks Doug for confirming my thoughts. I thought the Blu-ray looked more vivid and the audio was more robust than iTunes usually lacking audio track for movies from that film era.

 

[dpippel]

Thanks Doug for confirming my thoughts. I thought the Blu-ray looked more vivid and the audio was more robust than iTunes usually lacking audio track for movies from that film era.

I'm seeing more fine detail on the Blu-ray as well, which isn't surprising as I'd assume the compression is more aggressive, and the bit-rate lower, on the stream.

 

[OliverK]

Well, I'm not with you regarding the story being mediocre at best. I do agree with you about "Lonely are the Brave" as I will be watching it once again in the near future because it's also part of my "all-time favorite 100 westerns" list.

Even if it was not the greatest ever it stars Kirk and Anthony and was shot in VistaVision and directed by John Sturges. I enjoy variety and I would rather watch a few other lesser movies from time to time than always the same old best of the best genre titles. It gets old fast and even movies like The Searchers or The Wild Bunch I can only watch so often before it gets very very boring.

 

[OliverK]

I'm seeing more fine detail on the Blu-ray as well, which isn't surprising as I'd assume the compression is more aggressive, and the bit-rate lower, on the stream.

Typically very fine detail and film grain suffer the most - it can make streaming versions of a movie look very different.

 

[RICK BOND]

The Bluray is Simply Gorgeous ! I did NOT see anything wrong when Anthony Quinn throws the metal bucket at Kirk in the Hotel room. I am Very Happy to have this VistaVision Western in my collection with two of my Favorite actors. Goodbye old DVD. Glad to see you go.

 

[Gerani53]

Interesting that no one has mentioned Sturges' BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK, a modern-day 'western' (like LONELY ARE THE BRAVE) that is fresher and bolder than GUNFIGHT and LAST TRAIN, and more grown-up than the director's massive crowdpleasers THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN and THE GREAT ESCAPE.

 

[DukeTogo84]

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Mentions the ghosting as well.