A Small Town in Texas Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

A Small Town in Texas Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 6, 2020

1976’s “A Small Town in Texas” is often listed as an action film, but director Jack Starrett only really gets to the heat of the moment on a few occasions. The feature is more of a southern melodrama with a few flashes of suspense, offering viewers a more character-based understanding of community upheaval and shady law enforcement business. Excitement is limited in “A Small Town in Texas,” which comes alive when arranging car chases, but falls a little flatter when attempting to conjure a battle of wills.

After a five-year stint in prison, Poke (Timothy Bottoms) has returned to his old life in a small Texas community. Ready to reunite with his former lover, Mary Lee (Susan George), and become a parent to his young son, Poke’s efforts to find normalcy again are blocked by Sheriff Duke (Bo Hopkins), who’s currently dating Mary Lee, eager to get Poke out of town. The plan is complicated by a crime committed by Sheriff Duke, which is witnessed by Poke, making him a target for silencing as the local boys rise up to collect the ex-con.

“A Small Town in Texas” retains a feel for local color, following Poke as he reenters society after being imprisoned as a teenager. He’s ready to cut loose with visits to the local bar, and there’s a political cookout that allows him time to mingle with those he left behind. The location is utilized well by Starrett, who uses such remoteness to help define a western-ish showdown between Poke and Sheriff Duke, a controlling man who’s involved with shady business, but is particularly bothered by the return of Mary Lee’s boyfriend, who’s looking to reclaim what he left behind. The screenplay can’t always find power in its dramatic offerings, but character motivations are understood, and Hopkins and Bottoms do well as adversaries.

A Small Town in Texas Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Listed as a "Brand new 2019 HD master," "A Small Town in Texas" arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Scorpion Releasing. The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation does reasonably well with cinematographic limits, and while softness is present, detail manages to survive, offering satisfactory facial surfaces and community tours, which provide dimensional looks at main street action and rural chases. Colors are acceptable, favoring period style interests in beige and yellow. Greenery provides a bit more punch, and skintones are natural. Delineation is acceptable.

A Small Town in Texas Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix presents a clear understanding of dialogue exchanges, which isn't an easy task, encountering accents and the acting style of Hopkins, who tends to swallow his line-readings. Intelligibility remains. Scoring favors a western flavor, and the acoustic mood is set, though the production tends to dial down music. Sound effects register comfortably, with crashing metal and gunshots.

A Small Town in Texas Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (14:00, HD) with Bo Hopkins opens with the state of his career in the mid-1970s, completing work on "Tentacles," where he was thrilled to work with Henry Fonda and Shelley Winters. Hopkins examines his relationship with "A Small Town in Texas" director Jack Starrett, who was open to a more improvisational acting style, allowing the performer to add scenes of surprise to keep co-star Susan George on her toes. The interviewee discusses his approach to character and his work with fellow actors, enjoying a special connection to Morgan Woodward, one of his longtime friends. Hopkins shares a story about finding a stray dog before filming began, and he goes into the changing times of the industry, lamenting a loss of story and character actors. He also provides an amusing anecdote about "American Graffiti," asking George Lucas what he's planning to direct next, offering little faith in the helmer's answer.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:25, SD) is included.

A Small Town in Texas Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Chases come out in the second half of "A Small Town in Texas," and there's energizing stunt work to savor, including a police car that smashes through a wall of ice. Starrett can't balance extremes of underwhelming dramatics and furious pursuits, but when it feels inspired, the cool breeze of drive-in cinema is most refreshing, bringing needed noise to an otherwise sedate endeavor.