Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Good Guys Wear Black Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 18, 2022

Ted Post's "Good Guys Wear Black" (1978) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include archival programs with the director; exclusive new audio commentary by critics Mike Leeder and Arne Venema; and vintage promotional materials for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

In the early 1970s, Charles Bronson made a couple of very different films for European producers that were supposed to transform him into a sophisticated international star. In these films, Bronson was still a tough guy, but he spent more time talking to his female partners and engaging his male opponents in conventional ways. I think that the best of these films is Rene Clement’s Rider on the Rain.

Chuck Norris made Good Guys Wear Black with director Ted Post in America in 1978 and this film was supposed to accomplish something very similar for him. Before it, Norris had successfully established himself as a reliable action actor, so now it was time for him to begin his transformation into a serious leading actor. According to Post, the plan was for Norris to retain his macho personality and, while surrounded by more experienced and even classic character actors, reveal a stronger dramatic personality. (In a very good archival program that is included on this release, Post has some pretty interesting comments about this transformational plan).

But Norris’ performance and Good Guys Wear Black are very difficult to compare to any of Bronson’s performances in the different European films he made. Instead, it is much easier to draw parallels between Norris’ performance in Good Guys Wear Black and Robert Redford’s performance in Sidney Pollack’s 3 Days of the Condor. Indeed, both films are about complex political games and America’s power structures; in both films, knowledgeable outsiders with valuable inside information become targets after they accidentally expose the identities of the puppet masters that control these structures as well. Obviously, the quality of Redford and Pollack’s work was superior, but virtually everything else these films do, including their crucial messaging, is more or less the same.

In Good Guys Wear Black, the fireworks begin after John T. Booker (Norris), leader of The Black Tigers, an ultra-secret unit of CIA commandos, is ordered to return to Vietnam and rescue a group of POWs. The man overseeing the operation is top foreign envoy Conrad Morgan (James Franciscus), who has big ambitions and powerful allies in the party that is expected to produce the next President. Booker and his men go into the jungle and reach the camp where the POWs are kept, but face fierce opposition and are forced to retreat. Later on, they miss the helicopter that is supposed to pick them up too, so Booker leads the survivors through the jungle and back to safety.

Five years later, while teaching at a college in Southern California, Booker is approached by Margaret (Anne Archer), who immediately reveals that she knows plenty about his past work for the CIA and has some very particular questions for him. Initially, Booker concludes that she is simply an overly ambitious reporter fishing for a good story, but when someone begins eliminating his former comrades and it begins to look like he is next on the kill list, he begins digging for answers with Margaret next to him.

The paranoia that permeates Good Guys Wear Black lacks the intensity of the one that defines 3 Days of the Condor, plus the rabbit hole Norris and his trusted pal Lloyd Haynes enter isn’t as deep. But Norris’ transformation, which is broken into two parts, is quite good, so the political machinations and action come together very well. On top of this, there is a very heavy ‘70s atmosphere that easily turns the dated material into attractive material because it effectively reminds how these types of paranoid political thrillers found ways to appeal to mature audiences while still utilizing plenty of fireworks. (This entire concept became something of a lost art a long time ago, which is why the modern paranoid political thrillers, like the Jason Bourne films, are impossible to take seriously).

The action footage where Norris deals with his opponents is first-class. He looks great and obviously does all of his stunts.

Post relied on the services of cinematographer Robert Steadman, who a decade later lensed Steven Seagal’s first feature film, Above the Law.

Good Guys Wear Black 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, Good Guys Wear Black arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release is sourced from a very nice new 2K master. Despite some minor density fluctuations, all of which are introduced by the original cinematography, delineation, clarity, and depth usually range from very good to excellent. Even in darker areas, where sometimes on new masters balance isn't too convincing, here virtually all visuals look very nice. There are no traces of problematic digital adjustments. Gran could be slightly tighter and more even, but I still think that it is very nicely exposed and resolved. The color balance is wonderful. The primaries and the supporting nuances look nicely saturated, healthy, and managed just right to retain the film's attractive '70s appearance. Is there any room for improvement? Ideally, the dynamic range of some visuals could be better (you can see examples in screencaptures #3 and 22). Also, some minor surface imperfections remain, such as tiny nicks and blemishes. But the entire film has a rock solid organic appearance and on my system it looks lovely, so I am very happy with the 2K makeover. (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).

Good Guys Wear Black Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The dialog is always clear, stable, and easy to follow. In select parts, dynamic intensity is a bit uneven, but it appears that the fluctuations are on the original soundtrack. Craig Safan's score is often very intense, so there are some pretty good dynamic contrasts. However, you should keep in mind that Good Guys Wear Black was not a big-budget '70s film, so the score and the sound design have pretty obvious limitations.

Good Guys Wear Black Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview with Director Ted Post - in this archival program, director Ted Post discusses the production of Good Guys Wear Black and Go Tell the Spartans, Chuck Norris' involvement with the former, some of the overlapping themes between the two films (and the anti-establishment element in the former), etc. There are some very funny comments about James Franciscus and his relationship with Mr. Post as well. In English, not subtitled. (20 min).

• The Making of Good Guys Wear Black - in this archival program, Ted Post discusses the casting of Chuck Norris and what Good Guys Wear Black meant for his career as well as the film's production. In English, not subtitled. (9 min).

• Trailer - a remastered vintage trailer for Good Guys Wear Black. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• TV Spot - a remastered vintage TV spot for Good Guys Wear Black. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

• Radio Spots - a couple of vintage U.S. radio spots for Good Guys Wear Black. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by action film critics Mike Leeder and Arne Venema.

• Cover - reversible cover with vintage poster art for Good Guys Wear Black.

Good Guys Wear Black Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Good Guys Wear Black was supposed to do some very particular things for Chuck Norris and his career and I think that it accomplished its goal. It did great business at the box office for the folks that produced it, too. It looks dated now, but its paranoia and very heavy '70s atmosphere are almost as good as those of 3 Days of the Condor. In an archival program, director Ted Post mentions that the screenplay he was handed was unfinished and he and the cast did the best they could, but I think that the unpolished material actually strengthens the authenticity of the drama. So, while imperfect, Good Guys Wear Black is a very fine film that can be a great fix for anyone that loves '70s American Cinema. Kino Lorber's Blu-ray release is sourced from a very solid new 2K master. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.