Farewell, Friend Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Farewell, Friend Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov January 15, 2020

Jean Herman's " Farewell, Friend" (1968) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the disc include a vintage French trailer for the film; archival interview with the director; and exclusive new audio commentary by critics Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

I cannot agree that Jean Herman’s thriller Farewell, Friend permanently placed Charles Bronson on the radar of European filmgoers. (This speculation emerges in the new audio commentary that you will find on Kino Lorber’s release). Perhaps it significantly helped Bronson’s popularity in France, but the film was most definitely not the massive box office hit that it needed to be to have that kind of a transformational impact on his career, especially elsewhere in Europe. Once Upon a Time in the West, which was also released in 1968, accomplished precisely that -- it became a massive international hit and then permanently altered the careers of many actors that contributed to it. This is how a lot of Europeans discovered and fell in love with Bronson. It is also worth pointing out that Bronson’s European image was different. While working overseas, Bronson appeared in films that significantly changed the rugged macho image he had crafted for himself in America, and quite a few of these films eventually made him look a lot like an import replica of Jean-Paul Belmondo. (The commentators rightfully point out that Bronson was not a very handsome guy but had a charming personality that the Europeans embraced. They liked Belmondo for the exact same reason. He was an ordinary guy with ‘normal’ appearance that everyone could relate to. In other words, Belmondo was everything that Alain Delon wasn’t). So, if one day you sit down to view Jacques Deray’s Borsalino, which came out two years later, and you realize that it treats its main protagonists a lot like Farewell, Friend does, it is because the basic concept behind these films is the same -- the handsome star and the ordinary looking guy get in a whole lot of trouble in the city of Marseille; the only aspect of it that differs is the era.

Herman’s film is set after the end of the Algerian Revolution and in it Bronson and Delon play discharged legionnaires who ‘accidentally’ team up to empty the safe of a large corporation with hundreds of employees. Each has plenty of valid reasons not to trust the other, so before they become partners there is quite a bit of hilarious dueling where they try hard to establish their superiority. On Christmas Eve the two enter the corporation and go to work, but a series of gaffes leave them trapped inside the heavily guarded building and struggling to figure out how not to get caught by the guards. While improvising, the partners then make a number of surprising discoveries that leave them pondering whether their misery may actually be part of a much bigger and more sophisticated plan.

The script gives Bronson and Delon plenty of time to make their characters appear legit and then build the all-important chemistry that ought to make their union authentic. The entire midsection of the film, for instance, is like an elaborate act from a theater play where the interactions between the two actors essentially highlight their greatest strengths. However, even though there is plenty of quality material here the powerplay also temporarily shifts the focus of attention away from the robbery attempt. As a result, the change of pace and character creates the impression that the film is having a difficult time choosing a proper direction.

The film’s sense of humor also could have been polished quite a bit better. Bronson’s character is typically the catalyst behind the looser material where the best laughs are and unfortunately his attitude rarely feels organic. Oddly, the seriousness of Delon’s character is also exaggerated a lot, which is why the ongoing rivalry between the two looks seriously uneven.

Brigitte Fossey and Olga Georges-Picot look lovely but there is a similar problem with the dynamics between their characters. The former in particular plays the supposedly naive medical student with an unquestionably inappropriate intensity that very quickly destroys her credibility.

Farewell, Friend Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 and granted a 1080p transfer, Farewell, Friend arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release is sourced from a dated master that was provided by StudioCanal. There is nothing particularly wrong with it -- and by this I mean that there are no traces of questionable digital corrections that might have introduced disastrous anomalies -- but from time to time its limitations are quite easy to spot. For example, with a few minor exceptions density levels are very good, plus most well-lit close-ups boast very fine delineation (see screencaptures #1 and 8). Clarity is consistently pleasing as well. However, in some of the wider shots with different layers of light and background nuances it is easy to see that delineation and depth begin to struggle (see screencaptures #3 and 19). Trained eyes will also notice that various highlights are clipped, causing small anomalies that may even affect color balance (see screencapture #6). In the darkest footage shadow definition also isn't optimal, especially where there are supposed to be wider range of blacks. Even with the above mentioned limitations, however, the master has enough decent organic qualities that ensure a trouble-free viewing experience. My score is 3.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Farewell, Friend Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature. (However, the the electronic French text from the tabloids that appears in one particular sequence isn't translated).

The audio is clean, clear, and stable. Balance is also good. I viewed the film with volume turned up quite a bit and I was quite pleased to hear that the upper register was rock solid and without a whiff of age-related anomalies. Some of the Alain Delon's English dubbing is a bit uneven, but it is quite easy to tell that this is how it was finalized.

Farewell, Friend Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - a vintage French trailer for Farewell, Friend. In French, with imposed English subtitles. (4 min, 480/60i).

• Interview with Director Jean Herman - in this archival interview, Jean Herman recalls how he was given the opportunity to direct Farewell, Friend and what it was like to direct Alain Delon and Charles Bronson. (Apparently, when he was initially given the script for the film, Delon requested Richard Widmark for the role of the American legionnaire). In French, with imposed English subtitles. (34 min, 480/60i).

• Commentary - this new commentary was recorded by critics Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson.

• Additional Trailers - additional trailers for the following releases from Kino Lorber's catalog:
  
  1. Diabolically Yours
  2. The Sicilian Clan
  3. Un flic
  4. Rider on the Rain
  5. Cold Sweat
  6. Someone Behind the Door
  7. Mr. Majestyk
  8. Breakheart Pass
  9. From Noon Till Three
  10. The White Buffalo
  11. Cabo Blanco
  12. Assassination

Farewell, Friend Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I don't dislike this film but I am not convinced that it is the minor gem many people have argued it is. Charles Bronson apparently disliked its director quite a bit and I wonder if this might have been the reason why so much in it simply isn't balanced right, including the crucial chemistry between its two stars. If you decide to see it do so late at night, when it would be easier for you to ignore some of its obvious flaws. Kino Lorber's recent release is sourced from an older but rather decent master that was supplied by StudioCanal. RECOMMENDED.