Wagon Master
Directed By: John Ford
Starring: Ben Johnson, Joanned Dru, Harry Carey, Jr., Ward Bond, Charles Kemper, Alan Mowbray, and Jane Darwell
Studio: Warner Bros.
Year: 1950
Rated: Not Rated
Film Length: 86 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Release Date: September 15, 2009
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The Film ****½
The Video ****
The film's beautiful cinematography is done justice by this highly detailed black and white transfer that is presented in a 4:3 aspect ratio appropriate to its original theatrical presentation. Light film damage is present but minimal. Compression is solid and free of significant artifacts. Very thin high contrast edge ringing is noticeable in a few specific shots, but is not pervasive. Shadow detail and contrast are very well handled, with few if any crushed blacks or blown out highlights.
The Audio ***½
The Dolby Digital 1.0 mono English track is nearly as good as the visuals, with solid fidelity with a surprising amount of low frequency information. High frequencies are somewhat rolled off. Noise reduction is handled judiciously with few artifacts save for a slightly rolled off high end (which could also be an artifact of the audio source used. I have no way of knowing for sure). This solid audio presentation serves teh frequent musical interludes especially well. There is also plenty of dynamic headroom which becomes all too evident every time Jane Darwell's character blows that dang horn! An alternate Spanish Dolby Digital mono audio track is also available.The Extras ***½
There is only one extra in this set, but it is an excellent one: A Commentary by Harry Carey, Jr. and Peter Bogdonavich with John Ford. This commentary has Carey and Bogdonavich sitting together for a discussion that is usually screen specific with Bogdonavich periodically inserting audio excerpts from a series of interviews he conducted with John Ford in 1966. Carey has an amazing memory and a treasure trove of anecdotes about the production of this and other films he made. Bogdonavich is clearly a knowledgeable proponent of Ford and this film in particular, and he and Carey have an easy chemistry which makes for a pleasant listen. There are only a few dead spots in the commentary, and even though Carey has a tendency to over praise, he sounds like such a genuinely nice guy that you never for a second doubt his sincerity. The Ford interview excerpts are an invaluable resource for those looking to understand more about the director. Only one of the vintage interview exchanges directly addresses Wagon Master, and the rest cover various aspects of Ford's career as a motion picture director.Packaging
The DVD comes packaged in an Amaray-sized "Ecobox" with holes in the hard case to reduce plastic use. The cover and disc art are derived from original theatrical promotional art, and there are no interiors inserts.
Summary ****½
Warner's retail SD DVD catalog output may have slowed lately, but they have done full justice to this title. This western tale of horse traders escorting a Mormon wagon train across the American west is a bona fide classic that sits comfortable alongside many of John Ford's better-known directorial achievements. It is presented on DVD with outstanding video quality which does justice to John Ford and Bert Glennon's breathtaking black and white cinematography. A newly recorded audio commentary by star Harry Carey, Jr. and Peter Bogdonavich features excerpts from vintage interview clips between Bogdonavich and Ford and is a treasure trove of interesting information about the director and this film.
