Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Buchanan Rides Alone 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 26, 2023

Budd Boetticher's "Buchanan Rides Alone" (1958) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include filmed introduction by filmmaker Taylor Hackford and vintage trailer for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

It is interesting to see that Budd Boetticher shot Buchanan Rides Alone at the exact same time Orson Welles did Touch of Evil and both are set in identical small Southern border towns with identical politics. Of course, these towns have different period identities, but their politics have made them equally corrupt and dangerous, permanently broken from within as well. It is just as interesting to see that neither Buchanan Rides Alone nor A Touch of Evil produces a serious social commentary that explains what has made their politics acceptable. But perhaps it is because one is not needed.

Tom Buchanan (Randolph Scott) is heading home to West Texas with $2,000 in his purse that will help him build his dream farm. While riding through California, he stops in Agry to grab a bite to eat and accidentally becomes involved in a very serious family feud. At the local saloon, witnesses how a young Mexican from out of town, Juan de la Vega (Manuel Rojas), kills a very drunk troublemaker, Roy Agry (William Leslie), who happens to be the son of Judge Simon Agry (Tol Avery). Moments later, when Sheriff Lew Agry (Barry Kelley) and a couple of regulars surround the killer and begin beating him up, Buchanan intervenes and instantly becomes a target, too. The two outsiders are then quickly overwhelmed, arrested, and thrown in jail. Sheriff Agry quietly confiscates the purse with the $2,000 as well.

Despite being placed in a very difficult position, Judge Agry quickly sets up a trial to determine the fate of the outsiders. Vega is found guilty and told that he will be hanged, but much to the annoyance of the two most powerful men in town Buchanan is freed.

While preparations are underway for Vega’s hanging, and Buchanan is trying to recover his stolen money, a messenger from out of town arrives with a lucrative offer. The man, who represents Vega’s very prominent father in Mexico, offers to buy the killer’s freedom from Judge Agry. Sensing the perfect opportunity to dramatically increase his wealth, Judge Agry requests a very large sum which is to be delivered in two days but decides to keep Sheriff Agry in the dark. When the secret offer is accidentally revealed to Sheriff Agry, Vega instantly becomes a hot commodity, and while he is secretly moved around to delay his seemingly inevitable death, Buchanan once again gets in trouble.

Despite its obvious sense of humor, Buchanan Rides Alone is not a funny western. It is a very casual eye-opener of the kind that perhaps only Boetticher could have shot because it reflects his philosophy of life. (Boetticher had a very difficult relationship with Hollywood and despite numerous setbacks that had a profound impact on his career and life never lost his sense of humor. He faced the bad head-on, much like the bulls he fought, and used humor to overcome it). In fact, the majority of what Buchanan says and does while trying to get out of the border town exactly as he entered it -- alive and with $2,000 in his purse -- sounds and looks unmistakably Boetticher-esque. The border town is not Buchanan’s place and he does not intend to play a hero to change it and be remembered there, so after its hypocrisy is casually exposed, he moves on with a smile.

In A Touch of Evil, the border town is a much darker, more dynamic place but its power structure is the same. It is run by corrupt people that can be easily bought with the right amount of money. Also, the most corrupt people are the ones that represent the law. In other words, neither A Touch of Evil nor Buchanan Rides Alone requires a serious social commentary to explain why the politics of the border towns that are revealed in them are acceptable.

A strong supporting cast leaves a lasting impression. For example, the great L.Q. Jones plays another Texan that makes a crucial decision. Craig Stevens is a local simpleton who spoils the judge’s secret deal with the messenger.

Buchanan Rides Alone 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Buchanan Rides Alone is presented on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray. The 4K Blu-ray release is Region-Free. The Blu-ray release is Region-A "locked".

Please note that some of the screencaptures that appear with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and are downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc, including the actual color values of this content.

Screencaptures #1-23 are taken from the Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #27-35 are from 4K Blu-ray.

I viewed the new 4K makeover of Buchanan Rides Alone in native 4K and did quite a few comparisons with the 1080p presentation. The native 4K presentation is gorgeous. However, this film has several areas where small yet noticeable density fluctuations actually affect delineation as well. (One such example is right around the 0:28.02 mark). I think that they are more obvious in 1080p because the lower resolution 'loosens up' the visuals a tad more as well. I thought that the color balance is superior in native 4K, too. However, I still think that occasionally the blues come too close to being light turquoise. Darker areas look great. Darker nuances and shadow definition are very strong. The 1080p presentation handles darker areas very nicely too, but the dynamic range of the viruses is slightly different on it, as it should be. Image stability is outstanding. The entire film looks spotless as well. I viewed the entire film with Dolby Vision. My score is 4.75/5.00.

Buchanan Rides Alone 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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

I did not encounter any technical issues to report in our review. The dialog sounded great on my system, which is definitely helpful because there are several areas featuring fast exchanges with rather thick accents. Some minor balance fluctuations are present but they are inherited. Dynamic intensity is good. However, only the final confrontation has some truly fine dynamic contrasts.

Buchanan Rides Alone 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Introduction - presented here is an archival introduction to Decision at Sundown recorded by filmmaker Taylor Hackford (An Officer and a Gentleman, Against All Odds). In English, not subtitled. (10 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage trailer for Decision at Sundown. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Booklet - 34-page illustrated booklet featuring Tom Gunning's "Some Things A Man Can't Ride Around: Budd Boetticher's Ranown Westerns", Glenn Kenny's The Outlaw Variations: The Ranown Westerns' Finely Drawn Antagonists", and technical credits.

BONUS BLU-RAY DISC

• Budd Boetticher: A Man Can Do That - this archival documentary examines the life and legacy of Budd Boetticher. Included in it are clips from interviews with Clint Eastwood, Peter Bogdanovich, Taylor Hackford, Robert Stack, Robert Towner, and Boetticher, amongst others. The documentary was produced in 2005. In English, not subtitled. (85 min).

• Cinema, de Notre Temps: "Boetticher Rides Again" - presented here is an archival episode of the French TV program Cinema, de Notre Temps in which Budd Boetticher discusses his transformation into a "western director" and career in Hollywood. The episode was first broadcast on September 13, 1995. In English and French, with imposed French subtitles and English subtitles where necessary. (60 min).

• Budd Boetticher: A Stury in Self-Determination - in this archival documentary, Taylor Hackford interviews Budd Boetticher about his experiences as a bullfighter in Mexico, which were eventually recreated in Bullfighter and the Lady. The documentary was produced in 1971. In English, not subtitled. (61 min).

• Visiting Budd Boetticher - in this archival program, Budd Boetticher recalls various experiences he had with Randolph Scott and Burt Kennedy while working on the Ranown westerns and discusses the evolution of the American western. The program was produced in 1999 by Fiction Factory. In English, not subtitled. (38 min).

• Visiting Budd Boetticher - in this archival program, Budd Boetticher recalls various experiences he had with Randolph Scott and Burt Kennedy while working on the Ranown westerns and discusses the evolution of the American western and his decision to exit Hollywood. The program was produced in 1999 by Fiction Factory. In English, not subtitled. (38 min).

• Budd Boetticher and Jim Kitses - in this archival audio interview, film scholar Jim Kitses questions Budd Boetticher about the various westerns he made with Randolph Scott. The interview was conducted in 1969. In English, not subtitled. (63 min).

• Farran Smith Nehme on Randolph Scott - this new visual essay was created by critic Farran Smith Nehme. In English, not subtitled. (26 min).

Buchanan Rides Alone 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Taylor Hackford correctly points out that Randolph Scott plays a slightly different character in Buchanan Rides Alone. I would go a step further and declare that he is not even the main character, the small border town is. As Scott passes through it while heading home to West Texas, the town unexpectedly chooses to reveal its true identity to him and this is what makes Buchanan Rides Alone interesting. In the rest of the westerns Scott and Budd Boetticher made together, the spotlight is firmly on the former and his actions. This release is included in Criterion's The Ranown Westerns: Five Films Directed by Budd Boetticher, a six-disc 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray box set. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.