Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Ride Lonesome 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 27, 2023

Budd Boetticher's "Ride Lonesome" (1959) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include arrival audio commentary by Jeremy Arnold; archival introduction by Marty Scorsese; and vintage trailer for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

The trackers

Ride Lonesome is the best western Budd Boetticher and Randolph Scott made together. Its only flaw is that it is not a little longer. If its second half had been expanded a bit and made slightly more melancholic, it would have been very easy to declare that it is one of the all-time greatest American westerns as well.

In a distant corner of the Wild West, the aging bounty hunter Ben Brigade (Randolph Scott) tracks down his newest target, Billy John (James Best), a wanted killer, and even though he is protected by several friends, forces him to surrender without a fight. As John’s friends disappear amid the rocky hills, Brigade announces his intention to escort him to Santa Cruz where he will be hanged.

On the way to Santa Cruz, Brigade and his prisoner stop at a swing station whose owner has gone missing after repeatedly clashing with an aggressive group of Mescaleros and meet two outlaws, Sam Boone (Pernell Roberts) and Whit (James Coburn), who are getting ready for their next job. Shortly after, the Mescaleros reappear and attempt to trick Brigade to trade the owner’s beautiful wife, Carrie Lane (Karen Steele), for a horse that she instantly recognizes, and after the deal fails, he decides to allow her to ride with him. Boone and Whit choose to join Brigade, too.

Out in the desert, while planning to get rid of Brigade and deliver John to Santa Cruz so that they can be granted amnesty, Boone and Whit realize that the group is not moving as fast as it could. Then they figure out why. Brigade is making it easier for John’s brother, Frank (Lee Van Cleef), and his men to track him down so that he can lure them into a very specific area. Once there, Brigade intends to settle an old score with Frank.

In Ride Lonesome, it is again quite easy to tell that Boetticher had a modest budget to work with, but perhaps somewhat ironically the very best material in it is the most minimalistic one. This material makes the Wild West look strikingly pure and organic, beautiful but incredibly unpredictable, and ultimately like a very dangerous playground for tough men and women that routinely gambled with their lives. Also, it must be pointed out that while in Boetticher’s westerns the toughness of the male characters is always highlighted, in Ride Lonesome it is a quality that is shared by everyone, so its atmosphere feels different. (For reference, Monte Hellman’s westerns The Shooting and Ride in the Whirlwind see the Wild West in almost the exact same manner but rather dramatically expand the minimalistic material).

Scott is a superb bounty hunter. He is very smart, a great judge of character, and quick with the gun. His words have tremendous weight too, so when he speaks, he sounds like a genuine man of the Wild West. John Wayne played several such characters but sometimes their machismo eroded their credibility. Scott’s transformation is flawless and easily leaves a lasting impression.

The supporting cast complements Scott’s performance wonderfully well but it does not look like it is forced in its shadow. For example, when Scott is not around, his choices or actions become central pieces in many discussions but it does not look like the participants are engaging in controlled events. They are reacting to developments, just like Scott does, and Boetticher’s camera just happens to be around to document what they say and do.

Usually, cinematic minimalism is closely followed by poetic beauty, and in Ride Lonesome the latter repeatedly makes its presence felt. But it does have a unique Boetticher-esque quality, which emphasizes straightforwardness and strength.

Ride Lonesome 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Ride Lonesome is presented on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray. The 4K Blu-ray release is Region-Free. The Blu-ray release is Region-A "locked".

Please note that some of the screencaptures that appear with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and are downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc, including the actual color values of this content.

Screencaptures #1-29 are taken from the Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #33-38 are from 4K Blu-ray.

Ride Lonesome is the best looking film in The Ranown Westerns: Five Films Directed by Budd Boetticher box set. Also, the film looks equally impressive in native 4K and 1080p.

I viewed the native 4K presentation with Dolby Vision and I think that it has two advantages over the 1080p presentation. First, in native 4K, the panoramic footage reveals nuances that are more convincing. Sometimes there are areas with minor highlights and shadows that simply look richer and better defined -- as they should because this is one of the key improvements Dolby Vision/HDR delivers. Sometimes there is just an overall superior depth in areas where density fluctuations are better handled. (The higher resolution 'tightens' the image and everything begins to look better). Second, the nighttime footage looks superior. I went back and forth multiple times comparing different areas the discrepancy is undeniable. Also, this 4K makeover has the most convincing color scheme. In native 4K and 1080p, the primaries and supporting nuances look spot on. In select areas, grain can fluctuate quite a bit, causing image unevenness, but this is an inherited limitation, not a byproduct of problematic digital work. Image stability is excellent. The entire film looks immaculate as well.

Ride Lonesome 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

The dialog is very clear, sharp, and stable. I assume that before Ride Lonesome was restored in 4K there were some traces of aging, but now it is impossible to tell where they may have been. The upper register is very healthy. Dynamic intensity is excellent throughout the film as well.

Ride Lonesome 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - this archival audio commentary was recorded by film scholar Jeremy Arnold in 2008. Mr. Arnold shares a lot of information about the production history of Ride Lonesome, Budd Boetticher's directing style and legacy, and various people that helped him make the film.

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - this archival audio commentary was recorded by film scholar Jeremy Arnold in 2008. Mr. Arnold shares a lot of information about the production history of Ride Lonesome, Budd Boetticher's directing style and legacy, and various people that helped him make the film.

• Introduction - presented here is a filmed archival introduction by Martin Scorsese. In English, not subtitled. (6 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage trailer for Ride Lonesome. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Booklet - 34-page illustrated booklet featuring Tom Gunning's "Some Things A Man Can't Ride Around: Budd Boetticher's Ranown Westerns", Glenn Kenny's The Outlaw Variations: The Ranown Westerns' Finely Drawn Antagonists", and technical credits.

BONUS BLU-RAY DISC

• Budd Boetticher: A Man Can Do That - this archival documentary examines the life and legacy of Budd Boetticher. Included in it are clips from interviews with Clint Eastwood, Peter Bogdanovich, Taylor Hackford, Robert Stack, Robert Towner, and Boetticher, amongst others. The documentary was produced in 2005. In English, not subtitled. (85 min).

• Cinema, de Notre Temps: "Boetticher Rides Again" - presented here is an archival episode of the French TV program Cinema, de Notre Temps in which Budd Boetticher discusses his transformation into a "western director" and career in Hollywood. The episode was first broadcast on September 13, 1995. In English and French, with imposed French subtitles and English subtitles where necessary. (60 min).

• Budd Boetticher: A Stury in Self-Determination - in this archival documentary, Taylor Hackford interviews Budd Boetticher about his experiences as a bullfighter in Mexico, which were eventually recreated in Bullfighter and the Lady. The documentary was produced in 1971. In English, not subtitled. (61 min).

• Visiting Budd Boetticher - in this archival program, Budd Boetticher recalls various experiences he had with Randolph Scott and Burt Kennedy while working on the Ranown westerns and discusses the evolution of the American western. The program was produced in 1999 by Fiction Factory. In English, not subtitled. (38 min).

• Visiting Budd Boetticher - in this archival program, Budd Boetticher recalls various experiences he had with Randolph Scott and Burt Kennedy while working on the Ranown westerns and discusses the evolution of the American western and his decision to exit Hollywood. The program was produced in 1999 by Fiction Factory. In English, not subtitled. (38 min).

• Budd Boetticher and Jim Kitses - in this archival audio interview, film scholar Jim Kitses questions Budd Boetticher about the various westerns he made with Randolph Scott. The interview was conducted in 1969. In English, not subtitled. (63 min).

• Farran Smith Nehme on Randolph Scott - this new visual essay was created by critic Farran Smith Nehme. In English, not subtitled. (26 min).

Ride Lonesome 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ride Lonesome is the best western Budd Boetticher and Randolph Scott made together. I think that everything in it comes together beautifully and its stars look glorious before the camera. Had it been a bit longer and more melancholic, it would have been impossible not to place it among the ten all-time greatest American westerns. Also, after it was fully restored in 4K, Ride Lonesome is the best looking of the five westerns in Criterion's The Ranown Westerns: Five Films Directed by Budd Boetticher 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray box set. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.