I Died a Thousand Times Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		4.0

I Died a Thousand Times Blu-ray Movie Review

On the run... again.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III January 24, 2026

Essentially a scene-for-scene remake of Raoul Walsh's outstanding 1941 film High Sierra (best known for Humphrey Bogart's first breakout role as a leading man, which was cemented by The Maltese Falcon later that year), underrated director Stuart Heisler's I Died a Thousand Times updated the gangster classic in color with an ultra-wide CinemaScope canvas while maintaining strong film noir roots. Featuring solid performances from Jack Palance, Shelley Winters, Lee Marvin, Lon Chaney Jr. and more, it's a film that grabs you from the first scene and rarely loosens its grip.

As with High Sierra (whose linked review above could also serve as a loose plot synopsis, aside from one expanded subplot here), I Died a Thousand Times introduces us to recently paroled bank robber Roy "Mad Dog" Earle (Palance, subbing in for Bogey); he's currently en route to a hideout in the Sierra Nevada mountains at the request of "Big Mac" McGann (Chaney Jr.), the gangster who pulled a few strings for his early release. On his way there, he helps out elderly couple "Ma" and "Pa" Goodhue (Olive Carey and Ralph Moody) on their way to California, and Roy takes a liking to their pretty granddaughter Velma (Lori Nelson), who was born with a club foot. After going their separate ways, Roy's mind immediately snaps back to his original destination and mission: to meet with Big Mac's hand-picked team and plan a daring half-million dollar jewel heist at the nearby Tropico Springs Hotel. Basically, payback for his parole.

Things look rocky from the start, though: not only are his new partners Babe Kossuck (Marvin) and Red Hattery (Earl Holliman) at odds with each other, but there's an "obligation" in Marie Garson (Winters), who Babe picked up at a dance hall. She somehow convinces Roy to let her stick around and even seemingly falls for him... but Roy's still got his mind on Velma, enough so that pays several visits and even asks his doctor friend (Howard St. John) to fix her foot up as a personal favor. Will she reciprocate, or will Velma stick with younger suitor Lon Preisser (Richard Davalos)?

Like its predecessor, I Died a Thousand Times has a lot of balls in the air at once and it's clearly up to the challenge. Breezing along at a deceptively svelte 109 minutes, it keeps up with everything and then some; even with the bank job and its inevitable fallout on the horizon, we've got multiple love stories to contend with, drama with the ailing Big Mac, several exciting car chases, and even a cute little dog that follows Roy and Marie around without fail. There's a lot going on but editor-turned-director Stuart Heisler, who would only make three more films in his career, keeps a strong pace while smartly retaining the memorable Sierra Nevada mountains as a constant backdrop, casting a long and fittingly unavoidable shadow over everything. Also central to its success is the then-new CinemaScope cinematography by Ted McCord -- who would next work on 1956's singular East of Eden -- as well as a strong original score from the prolific composer David Buttolph, perhaps best known for writing Maverick's opening theme later that decade.

It's a top-notch effort, all things considered, whose only real sin is perhaps that a new version of High Sierra didn't really need to be made only 14 years after the original. (That's not even counting Raoul Walsh's 1949 film Colorado Territory, which is itself a loose Western remake.) No matter, though -- both are extremely solid genre films with high entertainment value, and now I Died a Thousand Times gets its own much-needed upgrade to Blu-ray. Warner Archive's welcome disc carries similar merits to other catalog titles revisited by the boutique label, leaning hard into a sparkling new restoration that gives this visually striking film new life seven decades after its theatrical debut.

I Died a Thousand Times Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

As is the case with most Warner Archive Blu-ray restorations, I Died a Thousand Times has been sourced from a new 4K scan of the original camera negative and treated to a round of careful manual cleanup. It does wonders for the film's then-new CinemeScope visuals, whose tight framing still leaves plenty of room for all those picturesque Sierra Nevada backdrops. Originally developed in Warnercolor (essentially, a rebranded Eastmancolor process), the era-specific palette appears to be extremely accurate, with lots of contrast achieved between alternately stylish/rustic interiors and outdoor scenes shot between Roy's cabin, the hotel, and other locations. Black levels, fine detail, and textures are also striking; even though close-ups are rare and the ultra-wide framing often leaves plenty of unused space, it's easier than ever to pick out crucial background details while appreciating the unique compositions. As usual, film grain is ever-present and no compression issues were seen thanks to solid encoding on this dual-layered disc. In short, die-hard fans will be enormously pleased with the improvements made over Warner Archive's own 2009 DVD edition.

I Died a Thousand Times Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Equally impressive is the film's stereo sound, presented here in DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio, which can be decoded as Dolby Surround and was sourced from a two-channel backup mix created by the studio before its original four-track magnetic masters succumbed to vinegar syndrome. While this track can't achieve quite the same amount of width as its visuals, separation is clearly present and that also very much applies to the fine original score by David Buttolph. Dialogue is clean and crisp throughout, as are its well-placed effects, and there's no obvious age-related damage to report either. Essentially, this is a perfect presentation under the circumstances.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during the main feature only, not the extras listed below.

I Died a Thousand Times Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a keepcase with vintage poster-themed cover art and a few era-specific extras.

• Hare Brush (7:07) - This classic Looney Tunes short was last seen on the Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection, which will soon be re-released without the numerical title since he's 86 now.

• Sahara Hare (7:24) - Another classic short from the era, this one's actually new-to-Blu since it last appeared on the Golden Collection Vol. 1 DVD set. Needless to say, it looks a lot better now.

• Theatrical Trailer (3:04) - This vintage promotional piece can also be seen here.

I Died a Thousand Times Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Stuart Heisler's I Died a Thousand Times is a worthy remake of Raoul Walsh's High Sierra, even though they were released only 14 years apart. Aside from obvious changes like the cast and at least one expanded subplot, the main difference here is a full color palette and ultra-wide CinemaScope framing... and while I prefer the original for various reasons, I Died a Thousand Times is still well-paced and entertaining from start to finish. Warner Archive's rock-solid Blu-ray edition easily surpasses their old 2009 DVD taken from inferior elements, as its outstanding new restoration makes it look and sound as if it were brand new. Firmly Recommended to fans and first-timers alike.