Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Hannie Caulder Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 12, 2016

Burt Kennedy's "Hannie Caulder" (1971) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of independent distributors Olive Films. The supplemental features on the disc include an exclusive new audio commentary by director Alex Cox; new featurette with film scholar Ben Raphael; and new featurette with cultural historian Christopher Frayling. The release also arrives with an illustrated booklet featuring critic Kim Morgan's essay "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance". In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Hannie

Olive Films' new Blu-ray release of Burt Kennedy's Hannie Caulder is part of the label's recently announced Signature Line. The film was first released on Blu-ray in 2011. This upcoming Blu-ray release is sourced from a new digital restoration of the film and offers various exclusive supplemental features. For a complete analysis of the film, please see Jeffrey Kauffman's review of the first release here.

Hannie Caulder Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Burt Kennedy's Hannie Caulder arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Olive Films.

The film was first released on Blu-ray in 2011. It was part of Olive Films' first batch of Blu-ray releases, together with Sands of the Kalahari and Crack in the World. This upcoming release is sourced from a new digital restoration of the film and the technical presentation is indeed superior. However, while there are significant improvements in terms of depth, clarity, and to a certain extent color reproduction, I must say that there is still room for important optimizations. For example, while grain is better exposed, a new scan of the OCN would have ensured that it is even better resolved. The color scheme is a lot more convincing, but some nuances could be further expanded. Contrast and sharpness levels appear slightly elevated and even though there are no serious anomalies at times it is easy to tell that the film looks a bit harsher than it should (see screencaptures #9 and 12). Image stability is very good. Lastly, there are no big cuts, scratches, damage marks, cuts, stains, or warped/torn frames to report. All in all, while there is still room for important improvements, currently this Blu-ray release offers the best technical presentation of Hannie Caulder on the market. 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).

Hannie Caulder 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 white English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

There are some major improvements in the audio department. Balance is much better and, more importantly, there is depth in the mid/low register that was missing on the lossless track that was included with the previous release. During the action sequences dynamic intensity is also more convincing. Clarity is very good. There are no audio dropouts, pops, background hiss, or digital distortions.

Hannie Caulder Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - in this new audio commentary, dierctor Alex Cox (Repo Man, Sid & Nancy) discusses the stylistic identity of Hannie Caulder, how different segments were shot (with good comments about the beach footage), some important trends that impacted the various westerns that were made in Europe and the U.S. during the 1970s, etc.

• Exploitation or Redemption? - in this new featurette, Film, TV and Digital Media scholar Ben Raphael Sher discusses the evolution of rape/revenge films during the late 1960s to 1980s (with interesting comments about Abel Ferrara's Ms. 45), the rape/revenge element in Hannie Caulder and the type of impact the film can potentially have on the viewer, the casting of Raquel Welch, etc. In English, not subtitled. (13 min, 1080p).

• Win or Lose: Tigon Pictures and the Making of Hannie Caulder - in this new featurette, cultural historian and author of Spaghetti Westerns Christopher Frayling discusses the production history of Hannie Caulder and executive producer Tony Tenser's involvement with it, the feminist overtones in the film, Burt Kennedy's direction and some of the unusual dilemmas he faced after the casting of Raquel Welch, the evolution of the spaghetti western genre and the role women had in them, etc. In English, not subtitled. (22 min, 1080p).

• Sympathy for Lady Vengeance - presented here is critic Kim Morgan's essay "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance". In text-format.

• Booklet - an illustrated booklet featuring critic Kim Morgan's essay "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance".

Hannie Caulder Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Burt Kennedy's Hannie Caulder is one of the better rape/revenge films -- and arguably amongst the best westerns that deal with the subject -- that emerged during the late 1960s to 1980s. I must say, however, that it has probably been overanalyzed quite a bit during the years, though I am sure that there are plenty of people that will passionately disagree with me. Olive Films' upcoming release is sourced from a new digital restoration, and even though there is still some room for improvement, currently it has the best technical presentation of the film on the market. RECOMMENDED.