The Last Picture Show Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

The Last Picture Show Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 20, 2023

Peter Bogdanovich's The Last Picture Show (1971) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include two versions of its sequel, Texasville (1990); archival cast and crew interviews; multiple documentaries; screen tests; archival promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

The Last Picture Show entered the Criterion Collection with America Lost and Found: The BBS Story, a six-disc box set, in 2010.

Peter Bogdanovich’s film is about a small West Texas town in which a beloved movie theater is dying -- as is the entire town. Duane Jackson (Jeff Bridges, The Fisher King) and Sonny Crawford (Timothy Bottoms, Johnny Got His Gun) are best friends who have rather similar interests and desires. Jacy (Cybill Shepherd, Taxi Driver) is Duane’s girlfriend. She is rich and beautiful, a girl every boy wants -- and she knows it. Mostly unaware of the issues many of the town folks have to deal with, Duane, Sonny, and Jacy are happy with their lives. But when the town begins to disintegrate, so do various relationships.

The Last Picture Show Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Last Picture Show arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The Last Picture Show entered the Criterion Collection with America Lost and Found: The BBS Story, a six-disc box set, in 2010. This release introduces the same presentation of the film that was made available in 2010. However, there is an excellent new 4K makeover of the film that is offered on Criterion's 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack, which streets at the same time. This 4K makeover can be viewed only in native 4K -- it is not available on standard Blu-ray -- so you will need to have a 4K system/player to enjoy it.

If you click on the link above that redirects to our review of the 4K Blu-ray release, you can read detailed comments on how the 4K makeover compares to the previous presentation of the film. I think that the 4K makeover is unquestionably superior, but not only because it can be viewed in native 4K. The overall quality of the 4K makeover is better. On the 4K Blu-ray, the film looks fresher, sharper, and more natural. This being said, the older presentation is still very good, but if you decide to pick up this two-disc Blu-ray set, for you the main attraction on it will be the inclusion of Texasville.

There are two versions of Texasville on this release, Director's Cut (in black-and-white) and Theatrical Cut. Both look good but somewhat dated. For example, there are some small traces of surface work, which is why grain exposure is not optimal. In some areas, the dynamic range of the visuals is average, too. I think that most viewers will find delineation and depth pleasing, but on a large screen the limitations of the two presentations become easy to identity. On the Theatrical Cut, color balance is good. However, all primaries and supporting nuances can be a little healthier and even better balanced. On the Director's Cut, the grayscale is convincing. Image stability is good. Some dirt spots and blemishes can be seen, but there are no large cuts, warped or torn frames to report. (Note: The two Blu-ray discs are Region-A "locked").

The Last Picture Show Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I only tested several areas of the film and did not encounter any issues to report in our review. The dialog was very clear, clean, and stable. Even though there is plenty of music throughout the film, I do not think that there are any memorable dynamic contrasts. The original soundtrack incorporates plenty of organic sounds and noises, so dynamic intensity remains modest.

The Last Picture Show Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

BLU-RAY DISC ONE

• Commentaries - two audio commentaries, one with director Peter Bogdanovich and actors Cybill Shepherd, Randy Quaid, Cloris Leachman, and Frank Marshall, recorded exclusively for Criterion in 1991; and a second commentary with director Peter Bogdanovich, recorded in 2009.

• "The Last Picture Show": A Look Back - a documentary film, directed by Laurent Bouzereau in 1999, featuring interviews with director Peter Bogdanovich, actors Cybill Shephred, Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, Ellen Burstyn, Cloris Leachman, Frank Marshall, and author Larry McMurtry. In English, not subtitled. (65 min).
  
  1. Time, Place, and language
  2. Confidence in his cast
  3. McMurtry's own hometown
  4. Controversies and difficulties
  5. Emotional moments
  6. Last look back

• A Discussion with Filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich - a Q&A session with director Peter Bogdanovich conducted in 2009, during he recalls how The Last Picture Show came to exist, some of the directors that had a major influence on him, his casting choices during the years, etc. In English, not subtitled. (13 min).

• Picture This - a wonderful documentary, directed by George Hickenlooper, in which the director and cast of The Last Picture Show reunite in Archer City for the filming of Texasville. The documentary contains interviews with actors Jeff Bridges, Cybill Shepherd, Timothy Bottoms, director Peter Bogdanovich, and writer Larry McMurtry. In English, not subtitled. (42 min).

• Screen Tests - a collection of 16mm screen tests of various actors featured in The Last Picture Show. Music only. (3 min).

• Locations Footage - archival testing footage which director Peter Bogdanovich shot in Archer City before production of The Last Picture Show began. Without sound. (7 min).

• Truffaut on the New Hollywood - an excerpt from Vive le cinema, a French TV program, in which legendary director Francois Truffaut discusses America's underground directors and the end of the "happy endings" in American cinema. Aired on February 13, 1972. In French, with optional English subtitled. (5 min).

• Trailers - in English, not subtitled.
  
  1. Original Theatrical Trailer (4 min).
  2. Rerelease trailer (2 min).

BLU-RAY DISC TWO

• Texasville Director's Cut - presented here is the Director's Cut of Texasville. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. Black-and-white. LPCM 1.0. 1080p. (131 min).

• Texasville Theatrical Cut - presented here is the Director's Cut of Texasville. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. Color. LPCM 1.0. 1080p. (126 min).

• Introduction - presented here is an archival introduction to the Director's Cut of Texasville, filmed by Peter Bogdanovich, Jeff Bridges, and Cybill Shepherd in 1992, for a laserdisc release of the film. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Picture This - in 2007, George Hickenlooper edited a version of his 1991 film Picture This: The Times of Peter Bogdanovich in Archer City, Texas for the Criterion Collection's DVD and Blu-ray releases of The Last Picture Show. Included here is the final chapter of his original documentary, which focuses on Bongdanovich's Texasville. In English, not subtitled. (17 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage trailer for Texasville. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Booklet - a 22-page illustrated booklet featuring an essay by film critic Graham Fuller and excerpts from an interview with Bogdanovich about Texasville, with a new introduction by Bogdanovich biographer Peter Tonguette, as well as technical credits.

The Last Picture Show Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you are looking to acquire The Last Picture Show for your collection, you should consider the 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack that streets tomorrow. Why? It has all of the content that is present on this Blu-ray release, plus a brand new 4K makeover of the film. Yes, the 4K makeover can be viewed only in native 4K, which means that you must have a 4K Blu-ray player/4K system to enjoy it, but everything else that you would get from this Blu-ray release is there, including the two versions of Texasville. At some point in the future, you will likely have a 4K system, so until then use the two Blu-ray discs -- one of which still gives you a lovely presentation of The Last Picture Show -- and when you upgrade, you can continue to enjoy what will remain the definitive presentation of the film in native 4K. If you are absolutely certain that you will never have a 4K system, and you already have the America Lost and Found: The BBS Story box set, then for you the main attraction on this release will be Texasville. RECOMMENDED.