Circle of Iron 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Circle of Iron 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 31, 2026

Richard Moore's "Circle of Iron" (1978) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Blue Underground. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by critics Frank Djeng and Chris Poggiali; new program with actor Anthony De Longis; archival program with producer Paul Maslansky; archival program with martial arts coordinator Joe Lewis; vintage promotional materials for the film; and more. In English, with optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

No one disputes that Circle of Iron should have been a vastly superior film. In the late 1960s, when it was conceived to transform Bruce Lee into a mainstream star, several big-timers, such as James Coburn, Steve McQueen, and Roman Polanski, were attached to it, and expectations of what it could be were rather impressive. However, a series of creative disagreements collapsed all efforts to launch its production, and the big-timers lost interest. Several old stories supposedly explain precisely why Circle of Iron was abandoned and, contrary to what has been written about them, it is pretty difficult to determine which has the most complete version of the truth. The only bit in these stories everyone knows that is one hundred percent accurate is that Circle of Iron exists because of David Carradine and producer Sandy Howard, who, sometime in the early 1970s, acquired the rights to Lee and Coburn’s screenplay for the original version of the film, titled The Silent Flute. Following a substantial revision of the screenplay, Richard Moore was hired to direct Circle of Iron in the late 1970s. Then, according to different reports, in 1978, Circle of Iron had its North American and European premieres in Canada and France, respectively, and eventually, in 1979, began screening in the United States.

Circle of Iron is easiest to describe as an inspired reimagination of The Silent Flute, and most everyone who has seen it agrees. However, most everyone who has seen Circle of Iron also has an opinion on whether the inspired bit of this reimagination is good or bad. These opinions are all over the place, which is why Circle of Iron has a pretty wild reputation. It has been described as a cinematic disaster, a so-bad-it-is-good film, an underappreciated cult gem, a thought-provoking mind-bender ahead of its time, etc.

The different opinions exist for several legitimate reasons. Here are a few:

As directed by Moore, Circle of Iron juggles exotic action footage and grand ideas about the nature of human existence that are largely incompatible. In an exotic world, Cord (Jeff Cooper), a gifted fighter, embarks on an illuminating journey to a mythical place, where he is supposed to grasp the big picture -- how the human mind and soul are connected to the universe, the essence of knowledge, what comes after death -- from a notorious book guarded by Zetan (Christopher Lee). However, along the way, Cord bumps into the Blind Man (Carradine), a drifter carrying a giant flute, who begins playing with his mind and thoughts. A substantial portion of this material is, to put it mildly, amusing, and the rest is legitimately bizarre.

On top of this, several stars, such as Eli Wallach and Christopher Lee, emerge playing characters who are either completely random or visibly struggling to tune in on the same wavelength with everyone else. Admittedly, this isn't as easy as it sounds, because other characters also seem unsure of their roles. However, for obvious reasons, the stars stick out the most. Then there are the visuals. Circle of Iron is a large-scale project, shot to impress in ways that would make it easy to compare with Hollywood’s grand spectacles. There is a lot of beauty in these visuals, but it looks oddly managed, creating plenty of kitsch rather than elegance and supreme quality.

Circle of Iron deserves its wild reputation. It is the kind of ambitious abstract film Alejandro Jodorowsky and Lech Majewski would have been passionate about, worked on, and left a very rough version of after its production was unexpectedly shut down by its producers.

Moore's director of photography was Ronnie Taylor, whose credits include Ken Russell's rock opera Tommy and Richard Attenborough's Oscar winner Gandhi.

Circle of Iron 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Blue Underground's release of Circle of Iron is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray and the Blu-ray are both Region-Free.

Please note that all screencaptures included with this article are taken from the Blu-ray. We have not provided downscaled screencaptures from the 4K Blu-ray.

The release presents an exclusive new 4K 16-bit restoration of Circle of Iron, sourced from the original camera negative. In native 4K, the 4K restoration can be viewed with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. I chose to view it with Dolby Vision. Also, I spent plenty of time with its 10870p presentation on the Blu-ray.

The 4K restoration is one of the best I have seen since 4K Blu-ray was launched. It is incredible, producing visuals that are perfect to use as 'reference material'. Delineation, clarity, and depth are spectacular, and the dynamic range of the visuals, in native 4K and 1080p, is one of the best I have come across. The 4K restoration is expertly graded as well. Plenty of the screencaptures that are included in our review make this rather obvious, too. All primaries and all supporting nuances, in daylight and darker footage, look exceptionally healthy, lush, and perfectly balanced. Needless to say, the entire film has a breathtakingly beautiful, very faithful period appearance. I compared several segments to see what the discrepancies are between the native 4K and 1080p presentations. The Dolby Vision grade helps some of the outdoor footage look even more striking, with blue, brown, and yellow nuances looking most impressive. However, the 4K restoration is so well done, so strong in multiple different ways, I think that the discrepancies between the native 4K and 1080p presentations are mostly minimal at best. On a large screen, some of the bigger density fluctuations appear more pronounced in the native 4K presentation as well. In summary, the new 4K restoration is an-all-around tremendous upgrade in quality.

Circle of Iron 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are three standard audio tracks on this release: English Dolby Atmos, English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, and English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0. Optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I sampled the new Atmos track in several areas. During the fight in the cave, its overall dynamic strength was rather impressive. However, I chose to stay with the Mono track, which is excellent. I feel that the Mono track is more in sync with the film's period aesthetics. The action material, music, and all exchanges are excellent on it.

Circle of Iron 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - in this archival audio commentary, director Richard Moore reveals how he became involved with Circle of Iron after the passing of Bruce Lee and comments on some of the locations in Israel where memorable sequences were shot. Moore also shares plenty of interesting information about his interactions with cinematographer Ronnie Taylor, who apparently impressed him a lot with his working methods, and specifically understanding and management of light and movement in unique areas. Later, Moore also comments the various action material that was staged and shot, with David Carradine doing all of its fights/stunt work. The mixed reception Circle of Iron received is addressed as well.

• Commentary Two - this exclusive hew audio commentary was recorded by critics Frank Djeng and Chris Poggiali. This commentary features significantly more information about Bruce Lee's involvement with The Silent Flute, as well as James Coburn's connection to the project, its evolution into Circle of Iron, and more prominent strengths and weaknesses of the film Richard Moore directed.

• Alternate Opening - presented restored. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Trailers - in English, not subtitled.
  
  1. U.S. Trailer. Fully restored. (2 min).
  2. International Trailer. Remastered. (4 min).

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - in this archival audio commentary, director Richard Moore reveals how he became involved with Circle of Iron after the passing of Bruce Lee and comments on some of the locations in Israel where memorable sequences were shot. Moore also shares plenty of interesting information about his interactions with cinematographer Ronnie Taylor, who apparently impressed him a lot with his working methods, and specifically understanding and management of light and movement in unique areas. Later, Moore also comments the various action material that was staged and shot, with David Carradine doing all of its fights/stunt work. The mixed reception Circle of Iron received is addressed as well.

• Commentary Two - this exclusive hew audio commentary was recorded by critics Frank Djeng and Chris Poggiali. This commentary features significantly more information about Bruce Lee's involvement with The Silent Flute, as well as James Coburn's connection to the project, its evolution into Circle of Iron, and more prominent strengths and weaknesses of the film Richard Moore directed.

• Featurettes -
  
  Playing The Silent Flute - in this archival program, David Carradine explains how the original screenplay for The Silent Flute reached him in the early 1970s, and reveals why Bruce Lee turned down the opportunity to turn it into a film. Carradine also discusses his involvement with Circle or Iron and explains what he wanted the film to be. In English, not subtitled. (14 min).
  
  Circle of Success - in this new program, co-star Anthony De Longis discusses his background and career and experience with bladed weapons, and remembers his contribution to Circle of Iron. De Longis also states that pretty much every martial artist he had heard of in the 1970s was present during the pre-production process, and comments on his interactions with David Carradine. In English, not subtitled. (19 min).
  
  The Producer - in this archival program, co-producer Paul Maslansky discusses his background and the years he spent in Europe, where, as a trumpet player, he entered the film business. Maslansky's first job was with producer Charlie Schneer (Mysterious Island). Later in the program, Maslansky comments on his relationship with producer Sandy Howard, and explains how he became involved with Circle of Iron and what it was like to shoot it in Israel. In English, not subtitled. (29 min).
  
  Karate Master - in this archival program, martial arts coordinator Joe Lewis explains what it took for him to get a black belt in karate, and discusses his work with Bruce Lee. Lewis also recalls his first meeting with producer Sandy Howard and contribution to Circle of Iron. Apparently, Lewis did not want to work with David Carradine, and Carradine did not want to work with him. In English, not subtitled. (32 min).
  
  Stirling Silliphant - in 1980, journalist John Corcoran interviewed Academy Award winning screenwriter Stirling Silliphant for Kick magazine about his experiences training with Bruce Lee. After the recorded interview was over, Silliphant followed up with his written recollections of working with Lee and James Coburn on The Silent Flute. Presented here are the recorded interview and written recollections. In English, not subtitle. (26 min).

• Alternate Opening - presented restored. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Trailers - in English, not subtitled.
  
  1. U.S. Trailer. Fully restored. (2 min).
  2. International Trailer. Remastered. (4 min).

• TV Spots - presented restored. In English, not subtitled.
  
  1. TV Spot One (1 min).
  2. TV Spot Two (1 min).
  3. TV Spot Three (1 min).

• Publicity Materials - presented here is a large collection of domestic and international posters, advertising materials, color stills, black-and-white stills, and home video and miscellaneous printed promotional materials. The collection was created by Gregory Chick.

Circle of Iron 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Alejandro Jodorowsky and Lech Majewski have made far stranger, more surreal films, where plenty is impossible to accurately describe with simple words. But Jodorowsky and Majewski wanted them to be such films. Circle of Iron is strangely surreal because it blends wildly incompatible material, and its characters cannot acquire clear identities. As a result, viewing Circle of Iron is an unusual experience. I enjoy such films, especially when they come from the 1960s and 1970s, but they are definitely an acquired taste. Blue Underground's combo pack presents an incredible 4K restoration of Circle of Iron. It is one of the very best I have seen since 4K Blu-ray was launched. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.