Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 18, 2026

Mark L. Lester's "Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw" (1976) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by critic John Harrison; archival program with Mark L. Lester; archival program with actress Merrie Lynn Ross; archival program with actress Belinda Balaski; vintage promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

The outlaw

If you choose to add Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw to your library, pair it with Carolina Caroline, one of the best recent films, released on Blu-ray earlier this year. The two share no real connection, but the latter is an almost flawless homage to the former.

At a gas station somewhere in rural New Mexico, quick-draw gun expert-turned-conman Lyle Wheeler (Marjoe Gortner) steals a souped-up Ford Mustang, then embarrasses a highway trooper and reaches a sleepy town, where at a busy dust-blown drive-in restaurant the sexy carhop Bobbie Jo Baker (Lynda Carter) pops up on his radar. Several hours later, while Wheeler is asleep in his new car, Baker jumps in the empty seat next to him, and the two begin a sizzling romantic relationship.

After revealing his obsession with Billy the Kid and confessing that he has modeled his life and identity after him, Wheeler teaches Baker how to properly use a gun. Then, the two visit a striptease joint in another town, where Baker’s sister, Pearl (Merrie Lynn Ross), introduces them to her two-bit boyfriend, Slick Callahan (Jesse Vint), itching to make a bundle in an improvised robbery. Wheeler, not realizing what Callahan plans to do, agrees to drive to the robbery spot and, while fired at, kills a guard. Now fugitives, both men, their girlfriends, and Baker’s best friend, Essie Beaumont (Belinda Balaski), hit the road. Following several more successful bank robberies across New Mexico, the gang gets drunk on success and sets up an inevitable duel with Lady Luck.

Films like Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw, best described as Americanas of the purest kind, can no longer be made for a couple of different reasons. The main reason is that they require a special breed of character actors who can fit perfectly into a unique environment, as well as a director who can see both through the camera in a way modern filming equipment makes impossible. This is why the last of these genre films were made in the 1980s. Another reason is that America looks dramatically different now. In the internet era, even the most isolated small towns in New Mexico have plenty in common with the country’s megacities. In other words, true pockets whose beauty, charm, and imperfect reality can surprise and mesmerize no longer exist. The demand for Americanas of the purest kind is all but gone too.

A big chunk of the material is also flexible enough to describe Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw as a neo-noir gem. This is one of several reasons Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw looks like an old relative of Carolina Caroline. It has rough edges and the attitude that all legitimate neo-noir films require.

Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw was directed by Mark L. Lester, whose diverse body of work includes several other equally special genre films. Arguably the most authentic and most dangerous is Steel Arena, a borderline documentary about a gang of daredevils traveling across rural America.

Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in it its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw made its high-definition debut with this release, produced by Scorpion Releasing in association with Kino Lorber in 2015. I have it in my library and used it to do a few quick comparisons.

Although Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw is framed slightly differently on this recent release, both releases are sourced from the same master, which is quite nice. This master produces visuals with good, often even very good, delineation, clarity, and depth. In select areas, some visuals can have better density levels, but even there everything looks good. Grain exposure isn't affected by any problematic digital corrections, but ideally it could be more even, giving the film an even more attractive organic appearance. Color reproduction and balance are good. In a couple of areas, select primaries and supporting nuances could be strengthened, but there are no anomalies. The entire film can look cleaner. The current master retains plenty of nicks and small blemishes. However, none become distracting. My score is 4.25/5.00. (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).

Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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 didn't encounter any distracting anomalies to report in our review. However, the original soundtrack has limitations, creating small but unmissable unevenness in multiple areas of Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw. (This is true for all of Mark L. Lester's films from the 1970s). I think the car chases, crashes, and shootouts sound great. The dialogue is clear and easy to follow, even in the areas with plenty of random sounds and noises. The original Blu-ray release of Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw didn't have optional English SDH subtitles, so folks who need them should be happy to see that they are available on this release.

Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary One - in this archival audio commentary, director Mark L. Lester discusses in great detail how Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw came to exist and reveals that Marjoe Gortner committed to it at the very last minute, after not being impressed with the $10,000 he was offered for his part. (Apparently, Silvester Stallone was the next actor in line). Later, there are some great and also hilarious comments about the breasts of the female leads -- which the distributors apparently demanded to be shown -- the peyote sequence, and the troubles of filming in the Indian reservations in New Mexico.

• Commentary Two - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by Australian film historian John Harrison. The more interesting comments address the production history of Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw, the identities of its protagonists, and its stylistic appearance.

• Mark L. Lester - in this archival program, Mark L. Lester reveals how The Eagles' hit "Desperado", Floyd Mutrux's film Aloha, Bobby and Rose, and John D. Hancock's film Baby Blue Marine inspired him to direct Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw, which was also supposed to be part of an Americana trilogy (together with Steel Arena and Truck Stop Women. Lester also reveals how Marjoe Gortner was cast to play the outlaw and explains what it was like to work with Lynda Carter and comments on all the drama her nude scenes created at the time. In English, not subtitled. (12 min).

• Merrie Lynn Ross - in this archival program, Merrie Lynn Ross explains how she became one of the producers of Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw and what it was like to play Lynda Carter's sister, Pearl. Ross reveals that she also helped writer Vernon Zimmerman the screenplay for Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw and comments on Mark Lester's working methods. In English, not subtitled. (17 min).

• Belinda Balaski - in this archival program, actress Belinda Balaski, who played Lynda Carter's best friend, Essie, reveals how Mark Lester selected her for her part and comments on the work she did to prepare for it. Balaski also comments on Marjoe Gortner's tremendous presence before the camera and her relationship with Lynda Carter during the production of Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw. In English, not subtitled. (12 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a remastered vintage trailer for Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Radio Spots - presented here are a couple of vintage radio spots for Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Cover - a reversible cover with alternate art for Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw.

Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It shouldn't be a shocker that Mark L. Lester credits Floyd Mutrux's Aloha, Bobby and Rose as a major inspiration for Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw. Mutrux's film is pure Americana, too. These are special films whose qualities will only become more attractive as the film industry continues to evolve. If you choose to add Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw to your library, pair it with Carolina Caroline, a small but terrific recent film mimicking its personality and style. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.