Ride the High Country, is in many ways an old-fashioned “buddy” picture, with Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea in the leads. They’d both been at it awhile by the time the film was shot in 1961 — Mr. Scott was 63, and Mr. McCrea, a bit younger, at 56. Both began their careers in film in the 1920s.
It was to be Mr. Scott’s final performance.
So when you watch this one, you’re seeing a couple of consummate veteran actors going through their paces.
I’ve always loved this film, but it’s an odd one, in some ways, as the more serious attributes of the western. are continuously mixed with comedy.
What’s not odd is the cinematography by Lucien Ballard (Rio Grande, The Killing, Buchanan Rides Alone, Will Penny, True Grit, The Wild Bunch), which is majestically reproduced in this Warner Archive released. Grain structure, black levels, and resolution come to fore here, making this a prime experience toward seeing the film.
I’d love to report that it’s a perfect Blu-ray, but because of one small mastering error, I can’t. For some reason, even though this is a brand new image harvest, someone decided to retain the window-boxed main title sequence, used on prior releases.
Did I mention that this was directed by Sam Peckinpah? Beyond the appearance of the two leads, it’s his work here, that lifts it above what might be considered standard fare.
Image – 4.8
Audio – 5
4k Up-rez – 5
Pass / Fail – Pass
Recommended
RAH
Robert has been known in the film industry for his unmatched skill and passion in film preservation. Growing up around photography, his first home theater experience began at age ten with 16mm. Years later he was running 35 and 70mm at home.
His restoration projects have breathed new life into classic films like Lawrence of Arabia, Vertigo, My Fair Lady, Spartacus, and The Godfather series. Beyond his restoration work, he has also shared his expertise through publications, contributing to the academic discourse on film restoration. The Academy Film Archive houses the Robert A. Harris Collection, a testament to his significant contributions to film preservation.
Post Disclaimer
Some of our content may contain marketing links, which means we will receive a commission for purchases made via those links. In our editorial content, these affiliate links appear automatically, and our editorial teams are not influenced by our affiliate partnerships. We work with several providers (currently Skimlinks and Amazon) to manage our affiliate relationships. You can find out more about their services by visiting their sites.
Similar threads