Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Eagle's Wing Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 7, 2019

From Anthony Harvey, the director of “The Lion in Winter,” 1979’s “Eagle’s Wing” hopes to give viewers a taste of the True West, going beyond simple frontier conflicts to delve into complex situations of deep psychology. It’s a meditation on survival and connection, but Harvey also orders up chases and stunts, while cinematography by Billy Williams protects the glory of wide open spaces in their purest, untouched form.

“Eagle’s Wing” has an impressive cast, with Martin Sheen, Sam Waterston (portraying a Native American character), and Harvey Keitel a few of the names presented here. Performances go for gut-rot stages of fear and intimidation, but the push of the picture is much softer, watching characters deal with isolated incidents before the community is gradually united for the final act. Harvey has no interest in a ripping pace, and “Eagle’s Wing” is as slow as can be, but there’s texture here that’s intriguing, with Harvey creating a sense of need and curiosity to go with a few violent entanglements.

Eagle's Wing Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

A fairly obscure title with major stars, "Eagle's Wing" makes the leap to Blu-ray with an AVC encoded image (2.34:1 aspect ratio) presentation. While it doesn't appear to be a fresh scan (softness remains), the essentials of the original cinematography are acceptable, offering viewer open spaces to explore and costuming to survey. Facial surfaces are adequate, capturing makeup achievements. Colors aren't spectacular, but hues remain consistent, supplying compelling greenery and bolder tribal hues. Skintones are natural. Delineation is stable. Source is in reasonable shape, without overt damage. Grain is appreciable, but periodically slips into blockiness.

Eagle's Wing Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix comes through with appealing clarity, picking up on performance nuances, though dialogue exchanges are actually quite minimal as the feature unfolds. Scoring supports as intended, with appealing surges of intensity to bring out the western mood. Instrumentation is stable. Atmospherics deliver blowing winds and trickling water, also securing expanse. Mild hiss is detected.

Eagle's Wing Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (19:51, HD) with Caroline Langrishe is a highly amusing chat with the actress, who as a 19-year-old dancer before being pushed into the "Eagle's Wing" audition process, ending up on her first feature film set. Traveling to Durango, Colorado, Langrishe was left with little comfort, struggling with costumes and filth, but she speaks kindly about her co-stars, admitting she ended up taking care of a 9-year-old Charlie Sheen, buying him forbidden pellets for a toy gun. With a lifelong fear of horses, the actress was tasked with riding lessons, and her casting encouraged some cattiness from Katherine Hepburn, who was pushing a family member for the part. Langrishe is candid about her time with director Anthony Harvey, describing him as "temperamental," with the possibility of an undiagnosed bipolar disorder driving his terrible behavior. And she speaks glowingly of cinematographer Billy Williams, celebrating his creative achievements.

• And a Trailer (:47, SD) is included.

Eagle's Wing Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Eagle's Wing" is best suited for those who appreciate their westerns with minimal dialogue (Spanish exchanges aren't subtitled for reasons unknown), with concentration on behavior more interesting to Harvey than traditional dramatics.