Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Death of a Gunfighter Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov April 12, 2023

Don Siegel and Robert Totten's "Death of a Gunfighter" (1969) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by critics C. Courtney Joyner and Henri Pike; new program with critic Neil Sinyard; short film; vintage promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles fo the main feature. Region-B "locked".

The legendary Allen Smithee made his directorial debut with Death of a Gunfighter in 1969 and he has been going strong ever since. Believe it or not, earlier this year, Smithee delivered yet another gem, Anatar, while vowing to keep a famous Italian practice alive forever. During the grand premiere of Anatar in Rome, Smithee even revealed how he intends to do it. “Age is nothing but a number,” he reportedly said. “Though I turn 156 this summer, I will be around a long time to keep giving my fans what they desire”. Just hours later, Smithee then jumped on a plane bound for Sri Lanka, where he is apparently set to begin working on a brand new James Fong film, funded entirely by Krispy Kreme and Ace Hardware.

Let’s get serious now. Death of a Gunfighter did launch the career of a very unusual fictitious character that is credited to have made some notorious turkeys. However, the two men that made it, Robert Totten and Don Siegel, did quite well with it. Totten was the original director of Death of a Gunfighter but was replaced by Siegel after Richard Widmark repeatedly clashed with him and then effectively forced him out. Film scholars tell different stories about how much Totten and Siegel shot and why the latter refused to have his name attached to the final version of Death of a Gunfighter, but ultimately it is irrelevant which of these stories is the most accurate one. Death of a Gunfighter is a good film with some very fine performances.

In a small town somewhere in rural Texas, the veteran Sheriff Frank Patch (Widmark) is forced to shoot a drunkard who accuses him of having an affair with his wife and attempts to kill him. When shortly after the drunkard dies, the community leaders convene and agree to fire Patch while using the shaky pretext that it is time to modernize the town. But Patch refuses to walk away and instantly becomes a target that annoys and then angers his critics. In a desperate move to get rid of him, the community leaders reach out to another Marshall (John Saxon) from a nearby town with a request for help, but the outsider’s amateurish diplomatic efforts only further solidify Patch’s decision to keep his badge and emerge victorious. Soon after, all hell breaks loose.

The politics of Death of a Gunfighter are very interesting and most definitely not as simplistic as they have been made in the past. For example, nearly three-thirds of the story that is told in it seems to suggest that Patch has evolved in a bad way and is not any different than the troublemakers he faces. However, as a man representing the law, Patch is routinely the law too, so he is effectively above the townsfolk and untouchable. Needless to say, there is an obvious attempt to frame Patch at least as an old-fashioned brute with a badge whose time has run out.

However, the actions and reactions of the community leaders do plenty of very good work to improve Patch’s image and rationalize his resistance. Indeed, they are badly compromised too, though unlike Patch they lack the courage to openly face their opponent and defend their beliefs. The group meetings they conduct are particularly damaging to their ‘good’ image because they are not that different from the shady gatherings that corrupt union bosses and mafia leaders will legitimize in the twentieth century.

A very careful examination of Patch’s profile will undoubtedly uncover several characteristics that make it possible to link him to Will Kane (High Noon) and Dirty Harry (Dirty Harry). However, Patch’s profile is compromised by the presence of destructive nihilism that collapses his system of beliefs. Kaine and Harry are strikingly stubborn and perhaps comparatively destructive characters wearing a badge too, but they judge their realities and dilemmas with a different type of clarity.

While not a visual stunner, Death of a Gunfighter is a very fine-looking western. It was lensed by Andrew Jackson (TV’s The Rockford Files: The Complete Series).

Death of a Gunfighter Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Death of a Gunfighter arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

The release is sourced from a master that was supplied by Universal Pictures. I would describe this master as decent, which could have been quite good because it has limitations that could have been avoided. For example, most of the film looks a little harsher than I would have preferred, so on a larger screen some of its visuals do not have a solid organic appearance. Contrast levels could have been managed better as well. Desnility levels tend to fluctuate a bit, so this is another area where improvements can be made. However, delineation, clarity, and depth are usually pleasing. Color balance is convincing as well. Some supporting nuances could be slightly more convincing, but the color temperature of the visuals is quite good. Image stability is very good. I did not notice any distracting age-related imperfections. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Death of a Gunfighter 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.

The lossless track sounded great on my system. Clarity, sharpness, and balance were excellent. Dynamic variety was pretty impressive too, especially considering the fact that the film does not have any mass footage with stampedes or impressive shootouts. So, at the moment, I do not think that there is any room for meaningful improvements. I could be proven wrong, but this lossless track is very, very solid.

Death of a Gunfighter Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - this new audio commentary was recorded by critics C. Courtney Joyner and Henri Pike. It is a predictably wonderful commentary with plenty of very good and interesting information about the complicated production history of Death of a Gunflighter, the unique characterizations and themes of the film, the personality clash between Robert Totten and Richard Widmark, the trend of having John Saxon playing Hispanic characters at the same time, and many observations about the careers of the different cast members and the evolution of the western genre.

• Exercise No. One (1962) - a short film directed by ten students and starring Richard Widmark and Whit Bissell. Based on a story by Ira Wolfert. Remastered. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. (10 min).

• Neil Sinyard: Man Out of Time - in this new program, critic Neil Sinyard discusses the production of Death of a Gunflighter, its odd critical reception, and some of its unique qualities and flaws. In English, not subtitled. (22 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage theatrical teaser trailer for Death of a Gunflighter. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Image Gallery - a collection of original promotional materials for Death of a Gunflighter.

• Siren Song: Richard Dyer on Lena Horne - in this new program, critic Richard Dyer discusses Lena Horne's involvement with Death of a Gunflighter. In English, not subtitled. (24 min).

• Booklet - an illustrated booklet featuring a new essay by Paul Duane, an archival interview with Lena Horne, a contemporary article on â€کAllen Smitheeâ€, an extract from Don Siegelâ€s autobiography, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and technical credits.

Death of a Gunfighter Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

While it is interesting to speculate what might have happened if Don Siegel was the first choice to direct Death of a Gunflighter, I do not think I would like to trade the current version of the film for a different one. A very careful examination of Richard Widmark's sheriff, for instance, can reveal several characteristics that make it possible to link him to iconic characters like Will Kane and Dirty Harry, which is quite extraordinary. Indicator/Powerhouse Films' release is sourced from a pretty decent master that was supplied by Universal Pictures and features another outstanding audio commentary by C. Courtney Joyner and Henri Pike. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.