Johnny Guitar Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Johnny Guitar Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 8, 2021

Nicholas Ray's "Johnny Guitar" (1964) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include archival introduction by Martin Scorsese; new program with Susan Ray; new program with critic Tony Rayns; theatrical trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

I have to quickly address a very popular myth about Nicholas Ray’s film Johnny Guitar, which is that it is a very smart piece of satire that carefully targeted McCarthyism. The film can work as a satire, but the political overtones that supposedly reveal its true identity quite simply do not exist. Johnny Guitar was a small project, at its core very much an experimental film, that displaces some traditional elements that defined the classic American western with the same audacity that is present in the work of the French New Wave directors. It is the very reason why the likes of Francois Truffaut and Eric Rohmer fell in love with it and publicly praised it.

Joan Crawford is Vienna, the owner of a brand new saloon somewhere in Arizona. She has invested all of her money in it and hopes that in a few years the place will be the biggest attraction in a busy and prosperous town. She has hired a whole bunch of different people to work for her and has even promised them a small share of the profits. A few are nervous, but she has urged them to believe in her plan.

Vienna has also hired her former lover, Johnny ‘Guitar’ Logan (Sterling Hayden, The Killing, The Asphalt Jungle), who is coming all the way from Albuquerque to protect her. He has one of the fastest guns in the West and with him around Vienna is confident that the saloon will quickly earn a solid reputation.

But on the day that Johnny arrives Vienna gets in trouble with the town’s marshal (Frank Ferguson), who suspects that one of her regular customers, the Dancin’ Kid (Scott Bradley, Bonnie's Kids), might be responsible for a recent robbery. When Vienna tells him that she does not know anything about the robbery and does not need drama in her place, Emma Small (Mercedes McCambridge, Suddenly, Last Summer), who loves the Dancin’ Kid and can’t stand hearing that he is always around Vienna, sees a perfect opportunity to destroy her. So she convinces the marshal that Vienna is actually protecting the Dancin’ Kid and when he demands that she comes clean on her involvement with the gunslinger all hell breaks loose.

There are a couple of things that make Johnny Guitar a very unique film. First, it has two very strong female characters that essentially challenge the machismo that defined the classic American westerns. So there is a dramatic shift that introduces an entirely new playing field and possibilities. Second, instead of looking to capture nature’s authentic beauty like John Ford and Howard Hawks’ biggest and greatest westerns do, Johnny Guitar goes in the opposite direction and becomes a ‘small film’ that creates and sustains a very specific atmosphere. Essentially, Ray does with color and camera movement what many early American film noirs accomplish with light and shadow. (It is not a coincidence that a big portion of Johnny Guitar actually takes place inside closed spaces). Third, the film strips its characters of the cliched qualities that are promoted in the big westerns and the majority of them quickly become mortals with authentic strengths and weaknesses.

All of the dramatic changes are introduced with such audacity that at times it literary feels like Johnny Guitar is only a few frames short of self-destruction. (Something very similar occurs in Jean-Luc Godard’s classic films from the early 1960s where the same inspired rejection of the classic genre rules gives them a borderline surreal ambience). Depending on how well you tolerate it, you will either fall in love with its rebellious spirit and find the narrative uncharacteristically attractive or conclude that the end result is too exotic and ultimately seriously underwhelming.

Johnny Guitar Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Johnny Guitar arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka Entertainment.

The release is sourced from the same 4K master that that the folks at Olive Films worked with to prepare their Signature Edition of Johnny Guitar in 2016. You can see our listing and review of this release here.

I think that after the makeover is successful, but not perfect. Indeed, in terms of delineation, clarity, depth, and fluidity, the improvements are quite impressive. They become even more impressive if you begin performing direct comparisons with the first Blu-ray release of Johnny Guitar that Olive Films prepared in 2012. However, I don't think that the color-grading job is as convincing as it should be. I mentioned in our review of the Signature Edition that there is a shift toward some warmer nuances that I don't find particularly convincing. The overall balance is still quite good, but I would have preferred to see stronger blues and whites, and toned down yellows and in some areas even browns. Some minor density fluctuations remain, but they are part of the original cinematography. Image stability is very good. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Johnny Guitar Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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

I did not encounter any issues to report in our review. The audio is clear, very clean, and stable. Balance is good too. Dynamic intensity is good, but as always you need to keep in mind that Johnny Guitar comes from the 1950s and therefore some native limitations exist.

Johnny Guitar Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Introduction by Martin Scorsese - presented here is an archival filmed video introduction by director Martin Scorsese, a big admirer of Johnny Guitar. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Geoff Andrew on Johnny Guitar - in this new program, critic Geoff Andrew discusses the reputation of Johnny Guitar, its 'strangeness', and some of the key themes that define it. In English, not subtitled. (14 min).

• Tony Rayns on Johnny Guitar - in this new program, critic Tony Rayns explains how Johnny Guitar came to exist, Nicholas Ray's days at RKO, Republic Pictures and the production of Johnny Guitar, and the film's style. In English, not subtitled. (16 min).

• Never is a Long Time - presented here is a new video essay by critic David Cairns. In English, not subtitled. (24 min).

• Stranger: Interview with Susan Ray - in this new program, Susan Ray discusses her relationship with her late husband, his attitude toward acting and actors, his working methods, and lasting appeal of many of his films. The program features archival footage with Nicholas Ray and other filmmakers and colleagues that admired his work. In English, not subtitled. (30 min).

• Alternate Opening Credits - these credits were used for some early home video releases of Johnny Guitar. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Theatrical Trailer - vintage theatrical trailer for Johnny Guitar. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Book - 60-page illustrated collector's book featuring two new essays by western expert Howard Hughes, and an archival interview with director Nicholas Ray, as well as technical credits.

Johnny Guitar Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Eureka Entertainment's release brings to the United Kingdom the 4K restoration of Johnny Guitar that Olive Films introduced in America in 2016. It is clearly the best presentation of the film that you can get at the moment. However, I have to say that the ideal presentation of the film should incorporate some of the color values that you will see in the theatrical trailer that is included on this upcoming release. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.