Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

3 Bad Men Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 5, 2016

Near the end of his career in silent cinema, director John Ford crafted “3 Bad Men,” a western with all the emotionality and sweep that would come to define his career. A tale of moral choices and Wild West antagonisms, the picture plays to Ford’s filmmaking interests, adding a sense of gravity to a routine of restless cowboys, fiendish villainy, and open expanse aching to be explored. It’s a simple feature in design, but there are human textures presented here that keep it away from routine, with Ford interested in contrasting intimate moments with big screen chaos.

The title refers to a trio of outlaws suddenly in the presence of a woman who needs their help, finding herself alone in the middle of nowhere, drawn to their kindness. Characters are broadly designed, keeping with silent film standards, but performances showcase subtle feelings and reactions, helping viewers to understand shifting temperaments as threats arrive and land is opened to public claim, adding to pressures. Ford indulges grand imagery, with a mid-movie land rush sequence stunning in its enormity and kinda-sorta choreography (Ron Howard would later recycle the chase in his underrated 1992 western, “Far and Away”), but he’s also attentive to the story, capturing the development of trust amongst the characters, also mixing in bits of comedy to sustain entertainment value.

3 Bad Men Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation isn't the result of an exhaustive, expensive restoration, but the 90 year old movie looks acceptable on Blu-ray. Damage is unavoidable, and the viewing experience encounters constant scratches, warping, and skipped frames. However, it's not a deal-breaker, as detail manages to emerge despite softness, adequate with facial reactions and expansive locations. Delineation is also acceptable. Grain is patchy but filmic.

3 Bad Men Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 LPCM sound mix comes through crystal clear, also showing a little extra heft in the volume department to secure mood. Leading with acoustic guitars and piano, the score (recorded in 2007) sounds very modern, but it's also never disrupted, carrying through confidently from start to finish. Instrumentation is precise.

3 Bad Men Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian Joseph McBride.

3 Bad Men Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"3 Bad Men" works its way to a sincere finale, though one peppered with a few surprises and tragedy. Ford has all the opportunity to make something cold-blooded, emphasizing lawlessness and betrayal, but he always returns to character soulfulness, finding heart inside these leathered men. It's unexpected tenderness, and it works superbly, allowing "3 Bad Men" to engage on a more humane level. The bigness of cinema remains, but don't be surprised if Ford extracts a few tears along the way.