Convoy 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		3.5

Convoy 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 24, 2025

Sam Peckinpah's "Convoy" (1978) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include multiple audio commentaries; archival documentaries; rare promotional and behind-the-scenes material; U.S. theatrical trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Somewhere in Arizona, truck driver Martin 'Rubber Duck' (Kris Kristofferson) and his two buddies Bobby 'Love Machine' (Burt Young) and Spider Mike (Franklyn Ajaye) are pulled over by shady Sheriff Lyle 'Cottonmouth' Wallace (Ernest Borgnine), who demands that they pay him cash if they wish to drive through his town without visiting his jailhouse. The boys pay their dues and shortly after end up in a roadside cafe to celebrate Duck’s birthday.

While Duck is getting ready to enjoy his birthday present -- one of the cafe's naive waitresses -- in the back of his truck, Sheriff Lyle appears and begins harassing the bubbly Spider Mike. Duck is quickly informed, and moments later, he and the rest of the truckers inside the cafe give Sheriff Lyle a good beating. The boys then quickly jump in their trucks and head west. Duck is joined by the beautiful Melissa (Ali MacGraw), who has played a nasty trick on another cop after being pulled over in the desert.

Duck, Love Machine, and Spider Mike are soon joined by other truckers who have had enough of the area’s shady cops. Sheriff Lyle and a few of his boys go after them, but by the time Duck’s group reaches New Mexico, there are so many trucks that the local news stations send their people to get a good look at the convoy. The National Guard is also mobilized.

After Sheriff Lyle repeatedly fails to stop the convoy, Duck becomes a star. There are people supporting him and his cause (though it is unclear what his cause is) all over the great state of New Mexico. This forces the governor (Seymour Cassel) to join the festivities and meet Duck, hoping that by endorsing his cause, he will also secure his reelection. But when Duck refuses to play nice with him, and Spider Mike gets a good beating in a small jailhouse in Texas, all hell breaks loose.

This legendary bad film from director Sam Peckinpah needs more time to join the rest of the it-is-so-bad-it-is-actually-good outcasts from the late ‘70s. Maybe twenty years from now, the lines its characters utter will sound just as cool as those of many of the bad guys in various early film noirs do, but right now they feel as sloppy as they did when the film was first released in theaters across America.

Two things make Convoy somewhat attractive. First, the big trucks the rebels drive. Kristofferson’s stylish monster, in particular, looks spectacular in the desert. (According to a short interview included on this new release of Convoy, the truck has achieved cult status amongst real truckers in Scandinavia). The second is the outstanding soundtrack. The title song by C.W. McCall a.k.a. Bill Fries still sounds great. Also heard throughout the film are Billie Jo Spears’ upbeat “Blanket on the Ground”, Kenny Rogers’ top ballad “Lucile”, Gene Watson’s “Cowboys Don't Get Lucky All the Time”, and Glen Campbell’s classic “Southern Nights”.

Peckinpah has a small cameo in Convoy. Halfway through the film, he appears as a sound engineer next to the bold news reporter who interviews Kristofferson’s character.

Kino Lorber's combo pack presents the longer uncut version of Convoy, which is approximately 111 minutes. This version was recently restored in 4K on behalf of StudioCanal.

Convoy 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Kino Lorber's release of Convoy is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. However, the two Blu-rays are Region-A "locked".

Please note that some of the screencaptures included with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and 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 Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #27-33 are taken from the 4K Blu-ray.

The release introduces the recent 4K restoration of the longer uncut version of Convoy, prepared on behalf of StudioCanal. In native 4K, the 4K restoration can be viewed with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. I chose to view it with HDR.

If you have seen our review of Australian label Imprint Films' recent combo pack release of Convoy, you already know that I do not like the 4K restoration. While the 4K restoration is sourced from a predictably healthy scan that produces predictably healthy visuals, it is oddly graded, replacing the film's period appearance with an unconvincing contemporary appearance. How is this done exactly? Primary blue and blue nuances are frequently destabilized and/or replaced by turquoise/teal. While the strength of the shifts varies, the anomalies that emerge because of them are virtually impossible to miss. Most of these anomalies are quite similar to the ones observed on the recent 4K restoration of The Hitcher, but there are several areas with unique ones as well. The most prominent anomalies are during daylight footage, like the one seen here, but even during indoor footage, there is a lot that does not look right. This is most unfortunate because the 4K restoration has a very healthy, very even grain field, and maintains density levels that are significantly better than those observed on previous presentations of the film. On the Australian release referenced above, there is an even longer, reconstructed version of the film, sourced from 35mm elements. This version retains the original color values of the film. (On it, primary blue is neither destabilized nor wiped out by teal). Examples from the reconstructed version with the proper color values can be seen here, here, and here. Image stability is excellent. The entire film looks spotless as well.

Convoy 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

I revisited the film with the 2.0 track. During action sequences, dynamic intensity is quite wonderful, at times even impressive. In our review of the Imprint Films' combo pack release of Convoy, I speculated that the audio may have been fully remastered, and at this point, I must say it is pretty difficult to argue that it is not. It is very healthy and active in ways that older tracks are not.

Convoy 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critic Steve Mitchell.

• Commentary Two - this recent audio commentary was recorded by Mike Siegel. There is a lot of interesting information here, but as Seigel rightfully points out, some of it is also present in the other bonus features that are included on this release. Siegel explains where different parts of Convoy were shot, why a lot of it did not turn out as it should, and what Sam Peckinpah's cut of the film may have looked like. Also, there are some interesting comments about the historical context in which Convoy was made and the various songs that are used in it. The commentary was originally recorded for Imprint Films' combo pack release of Convoy.

• Commentary Three - this archival audio commentary was recorded by film historians Paul Seydor, Garner Simmons, and Nick Redman. The bulk of the comments address Sam Peckinpah's personal life and legacy, the film's problematic production history, its visual style and unevenness.

BLU-RAY DISC ONE

• Commentary One - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critic Steve Mitchell.

• Commentary Two - this recent audio commentary was recorded by Mike Siegel. There is a lot of interesting information here, but as Seigel rightfully points out, some of it is also present in the other bonus features that are included on this release. Siegel explains where different parts of Convoy were shot, why a lot of it did not turn out as it should, and what Sam Peckinpah's cut of the film may have looked like. Also, there are some interesting comments about the historical context in which Convoy was made and the various songs that are used in it. The commentary was originally recorded for Imprint Films' combo pack release of Convoy.

• Commentary Three - this archival audio commentary was recorded by film historians Paul Seydor, Garner Simmons, and Nick Redman. The bulk of the comments address Sam Peckinpah's personal life and legacy, the film's problematic production history, its visual style and unevenness.

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage trailer for Convoy. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

BLU-RAY DISC TWO

• Passion & Poetry - Sam's Trucker Movie - the footage in this very informative archival program is from Mike Siegel's outstanding documentary film Passion and Poetry: The Ballad of Sam Peckinpah. Included in it are various interviews with Kris Kristofferson, Ernest Borgnine, Ali MacGraw, EMI executive Michael Deeley (1977-1979), and Peckinpah biographer Garner Simmons, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (71 min).

• The Lost Convoy - in this archival program, Mike Siegel discusses the trouble production history of Convoy, some discrepancies between the original screenplay for the film and its final version, and the reconstructed extended version, which features some recently discovered footage. In English, not subtitled. (22 min).

• Three Lost Scenes - a collection of rare production stills with original text descriptions from the shooting script. These stills are from scenes that did not make it into Sam Peckinpah's final version of Convoy. In English, not subtitled. (6 min).

• In-Jokes, Friends, Cameos - footage and stills highlighting various jokes and showing cameo performances by members of Sam Peckinpah's crew. In English, not subtitled. (6 min).

• Trucker Notes from Norway - in this archival program, Anders Lofaldli, Convoy fan from Norway, explains why the film has achieved cult status in Scandinavia. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• The Duck Trucks - presented here are photos of the various trucks that were damaged/destroyed during the filming of Convoy, as well as the ones that were later restored. One of these restored trucks is owned by Gerd Albrecht, Germany's greatest Convoy fan, who is interviewed as well. Presented with music and English text. (9 min).

• Promoting Convoy - presented here are posters, lobby cards, promo stills, CD jackets, magazine covers, and photographs from the U.S., Germany, Hungary, Finland, England, France, Italy, Spain, Czechoslovakia, Belgium, Australia, Thailand, and Japan. With music. (10 min).

• Convoy in Color - presented here is a large collection of color photos from Convoy. With music. (12 min).

• Filming Convoy - presented here is a large collection of behind-the-scenes images. With music.
  
  Part One: White Sands & The Truck Stop. (11 min).
  Part Two: The Trucks are Rolling. (12 min).
  Part Three: Showdown in Alvarez. (12 min).

• U.S. TV Spot - presented here is a remastered U.S. TV spot for Convoy. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• U.S. Radio Spots - four original U.S. radio spots. With stills from the film. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

Convoy 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The main attraction in this three-disc combo pack is the bonus content, most of which comes from Mike Siegel's archives. The 4K restoration of Convoy that is included with it is unconvincing. While not flawless, StudioCanal's original Blu-ray release from 2013 still has the most convincing presentation of Convoy. RECOMMENDED only to folks who want the bonus content.