Monte Walsh Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

Monte Walsh Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov April 30, 2014

William A. Fraker's "Monte Walsh" (1970) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Swiss label Explosive Media. The supplemental features on the disc include an original American trailer for the film; collection of original film posters, stills, and promo cards; and trailers for other Explosive Media release. In English or German, not subtitled. Region-Free.

But you never asked

All his life Monte Walsh (Lee Marvin, Point Blank, Prime Cut) has been a cowboy, but he has started realizing that very soon no one would need men like him. For a while, he has been lucky to find small jobs here and there that would pay enough so that he doesn’t starve, but lately, even the low-paying gigs have disappeared.

When Monte’s best friend, Chet (Jack Palance, Contempt, Panic in the Streets), marries a lonely widow in a small town, he also starts thinking about having a family of his own. He talks to Martine (Jeanne Moreau, La Notte, Bay of Angels), the local whore, who has always had a soft spot for him. She is surprised to hear that he wants to settle down but likes the idea.

Soon after, a traveling businessman comes around and offers Monte a job -- he would make more than he ever has and be able to save and buy a house, but for a few years he must live on the road. Initially, Monte likes the offer but then changes his mind.

Meanwhile, two penniless cowboys who used to ride with Monte decide to rob the hardware store Chet has started operating with his new wife. Chet attempts to change their mind, but the more desperate of the two men shoots him in the chest.

William A. Fraker’s directorial debut, Monte Walsh, sees the old West without the glamor that is typically present in the big-budget westerns Hollywood produced during the years. It is a slow and unusually poetic film that attempts to tell the truth -- and the truth was that the old West was a big, sad, and very dangerous place where being a good worker and great gunslinger was frequently not enough to survive.

Marvin’s character is also getting old. Initially, he spends time with other cowboys who just like him have begun taking odd jobs to make ends meet. Life isn’t easy but they support and encourage each other, secretly hoping that the ‘good times’ will come back. When even the odd jobs start disappearing, the men become seriously depressed. Some get married but not because they have discovered true love, some become outlaws, and some, like Marvin’s character, get stuck between the present and the past, constantly reevaluating their lives while worrying about the future.

The film has a terrific atmosphere. The visuals are very elegant and there is hardly even a whiff of melodrama. Marvin, Palance, and Moreau look extremely relaxed but slightly jaded, just like people who have realized that they have no other option but to play the tough hands life has dealt them should.

There are a couple of mass shootouts, but the most intense sequence is with Marvin. In it, the old-timer tries to tame a wild mustang and in the process destroys half the town.

Monte Walsh was cinematographer David M. Walsh's first big project. After it he collaborated with Leonard Hord on Corky (1972), Jack Starrett on Cleopatra Jones (1973), and Herbert Ross on The Sunshine Boys (1975), amongst others.

Fraker’s credits as a cinematographer include such cult films as Pater Yates’ Bullitt (1968), Roman Polanski’s Rosemary's Baby (1968), and Burt Reynolds’ Sharky's Machine (1981).

Monte Walsh Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, William A. Fraker's Monte Walsh arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Swiss label Explosive Media.

The high-definition transfer has been struck from a pre-existing master, but the film looks quite beautiful on Blu-ray. To be perfectly clear, there are some age-related issues, such as light damage (see the top end of the frame in screencapture #3), a few tiny specks, and even a bit of very light noise popping up here and there. However, no digital corrections have been applied to repolish the film. Unsurprisingly, even though the film does not sparkle, it certainly has a very pleasing organic appearance. The overwhelming majority of the close-ups, in particular, impress with good depth and clarity (see screencaptures #5 and 12), while the wider panoramic shots boast pleasing fluidity (see screencapture #17). Color saturation could be better, but thankfully there are no traces of digital color boosting. Grain is visible throughout the entire film, though some minor fluctuations are present. Lastly, there are no serious stability issues to report in this review. All in all, even though there is room for some cosmetic improvements and some important enhancements, I like the technical presentation quite a lot. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location. For the record, there is no problematic PAL or 1080/50i content preceding the disc's main menu).

Monte Walsh Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray: English LPCM 2.0 and German LPCM 2.0. For the record, Explosive Media have not provided optional subtitles for the main feature.

The sound is crisp and stable. There is plenty of depth during the action sequences -- see the one where Monte Walsh destroys half the town with the bronco -- and balance is very good. John Barry's wonderful score also shines in all the right places without any serious dynamic issues. The dialog is crisp and stable. Finally, there are no pops, audio dropouts, distracting background hiss, or distortions to report in this review.

Monte Walsh Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - original English-language trailer for Monte Walsh. In English, not subtitled. (1080p).

• Bildergalerie - a collection of original film posters, stills, and promo cards. With music. (3 min, 1080p).

• Western - a collection of trailers for other Explosive Media release. In English, not subtitled. (1080p).

• Leaflet - in German.

• Cover - reversible cover.

Monte Walsh Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Explosive Media has quickly become one of my favorite European labels. It brings to Blu-ray some cracking classic gangster films and cult westerns with an enthusiasm that is impossible not to admire. The latest addition to the Swiss label's terrific catalog is William A. Fraker's directorial debut, Monte Walsh. It is a tremendous American western about the end of an era with a top-notch cast. This is one of my favorite European Blu-ray releases this year. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.