6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
McLord is a wanted criminal. He frequently suffers with fits which hinder him to defend himself. His condition seems to deteriorate continuously. Seeking shelter he enters the lawless town Escondido although it is currently under siege by a high-ranked law enforcement officer. There he gets to know the young Laurinda and finds a doctor who discovers the reason for his fits. Unlike he feared he's not epileptic and can be cured for good. Yet he's still an outlaw and that is in the end his downfall.
Starring: Alex Cord, Arthur Kennedy, Robert Ryan (I), Nicoletta MachiavelliWestern | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Franco Giraldi's "A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die" (1967) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the disc include exclusive new audio commentary by filmmaker Alex Cox and extended international finale with optional commentary. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".
The quickest gun in the West
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.
The film was remastered in 4K and I think that it looks very nice on Blu-ray. However, the key word here is 'remastered', which would mean that it was not fully restored. It is why there are still some white specks and blemishes popping up here and there, and in one particular area even a thin white line that splits the screen for a second. But the basics are still quite nice. Indeed, depth ranges from good to very good, while delineation remains strong throughout the entire film. Clarity is really, really good, too. The color grading job is excellent. The primaries look healthy and appropriately lush, while the current ranges of existing nuances are terrific. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. However, the encoding is a bit shaky, so from time to time grain exposure becomes a bit too loose. Image stability is good. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.
I did not encounter any anomalies to report in our review. The dialog was clear and very easy to follow. Dynamic intensity was good, too. However, like most Euro westerns, A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die features some overdubbing, so from time to time balance could be a bit off. The upper register, where older films usually reveal signs of ageing, is healthy.
If the extended international finale was made to be the original finale of A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die, I think that this film would have enjoyed a very different reputation on both sides of the Atlantic. It has a very fine noirish atmosphere and the extended international finale would have effectively legitimized it. The 4K master that was prepared for it is very good, but the encode on the Blu-ray could have been optimized better. Regardless, if you enjoy Euro westerns, consider picking up a copy for your collection. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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