7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
An Arizona motorcycle cop gets his wish and is promoted to the homicide unit following the mysterious murder of a hermit. He is forced to confront his illusions about himself and those around him in order to solve the case.
Starring: Robert Blake, Billy Green Bush, Mitchell Ryan, Jeannine Riley, Elisha Cook Jr.Thriller | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.34:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
None
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
If your mind’s eye can only see the name James William Guercio scrawled in quasi-cursive writing, two things are immediately evident: you’re a fan of the band Chicago and you actually read the credits on albums, where Guercio’s name appeared on a string of Chicago releases (always in that quasi-cursive font) as producer. Guercio was arguably one of the hottest producers in American music in 1973, which is probably at least one reason he easily matriculated into both the producer’s and director’s chair for Electra Glide in Blue, a film which was absolutely pilloried at the time of its release but which has gone on to achieve a certain cult status, whether deserved or not. The film now has the added “baggage”, which may in fact only increase its cult potential, for starring erstwhile Our Gang kid actor Robert Blake, who has of course gone on to greater fame as the “star” of a sordid murder drama featuring his second wife Bonnie Lee Bakley. If Blake presaged the huge scandal which enveloped him late in life with his turn as a ruthless killer in the film adaptation of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, he proved his versatility by essaying a character on the “right” side of the law in Electra Glide in Blue, a film that may have come just a bit too late in the still burgeoning independent film explosion of the late sixties and early seventies to really connect with a mainstream audience. There’s little doubt that the iconic Easy Rider informed at least parts of screenwriter Robert Boris’ tale of a cop with dreams of—well, something better than what he already has. Not only is there is omnipresent romance of the motorcycle culture at work in Electra Glide in Blue, there’s an obvious nod toward the counterculture movement (it might be a bit too past the heyday of the “hippie” movement to classify it as such), not to mention a climax that bears more than a little in common with the Dennis Hopper film.
Electra Glide in Blue glides onto Blu-ray with a frequently stunning AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.34:1. The source elements are in generally pristine shape here, and the image is well detailed, with colors nicely saturated and very accurate looking. Now, make no mistake—cinematographer Hall frequently shifts between shallow and deep focus, and this has a typically seventies' film stock appearance, both of which may lead some to accuse this transfer of looking "soft", but a cursory examination of the screenshots accompanying this review should at least help to establish what a nicely filmic and natural presentation this really is. The depth of field on the highway footage is awesome, balanced by exceptional fine detail when Guercio and Hall opt for close-ups. As Guercio mentions on the supplemental featurette, Hall frequently pushed interior scenes, but rather surprisingly shadow detail remains consistent and the image lacks little in detail in these dim sequences. This is easily one of the nicer looking catalog releases we've had from Shout! Factory lately.
Electra Glide in Blue features a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 that ably supports the film's dialogue and the evocative score by Guercio. There are one or two moments of slight distortion, including the first "dressing down" of the troops by the police sergeant early in the film. Otherwise, though, fidelity is excellent and dynamic range is quite wide. The stereo separation is most noticeable in some widely splayed foley effects as well as the score.
Not to wallow too much in irony, but there's no accounting for some critics' tastes. This film was lambasted upon its release, but I have to say I was more struck by it watching it again on Blu-ray than I initially was when I first saw it in a so-called Art House probably back in the 1980s. This is one of the more tightly controlled directorial debuts that I personally can remember, even if the disturbing final moments seem tonally at odds with the rest of the film. Blake has one of his best roles here, easily making Wintergreen believable and sympathetic, and the supporting cast is uniformly excellent (despite what some have averred). Conrad Hall's cinematography is immensely evocative and is resplendent in this new high definition presentation. Highly recommended.
1990
1996
1975
1981
1967
Warner Archive Collection
1946
1944
Includes They Call Me MISTER Tibbs! and The Organization on standard BD
1967
Reissue
1983
1975
Warner Archive Collection
1947
Encore Edition | Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
1953
1956
1947
1980
1946
Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
1950
Warner Archive Collection
1953
1955
Fox Studio Classics
1944