6.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Billy Massey and Chuck Garvis have been buddies since childhood, but when Chuck got married, Billy took his cue and left the newlyweds on their own. Chuck's star shone bright as he distinguished himself as the town's hard-working, honest sheriff, while Billy drifted into a life of crime. The two friends' paths cross, however, when Billy robs a train and it is Chuck who must hunt and arrest him. So begins a classic confrontation in the Old West, as Chuck is determined to catch and possibly help his old pal, and Billy is just as determined not to get caught... no matter the price.
Starring: Rock Hudson, Dean Martin, Susan Clark (I), Donald Moffat, John McLiamWestern | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
George Seaton's "Showdown" (1973) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include an exclusive new audio commentary by critics Howard S. Berger and Steve Mitchell and a vintage trailer. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".
Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Showdown arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.
The release is sourced from an older but very solid organic master that was supplied by Universal Pictures. Close-ups and wider panoramic shots look very good and a few times even excellent, but I was particularly impressed with the latter because they hold up really well on a larger screen. There are no traces of any problematic digital corrections. A few minor density fluctuations can be seen, most notably at the very beginning of the film, but I would describe density levels as excellent. Color balance is very convincing, too. The primaries are solid and natural, while the supporting nuances are properly balanced. Is there any room for improvement? Yes. At the beginning of the film, I noticed very light color pulsations, so some minor stability enhancements can be introduced. Ideally, some saturation tweaks can be introduced as well so that in darker areas some of the light crushing is avoided. However, the color temperature and balance are already managed very well. Image stability is good. I noticed a few blemishes and nicks, but there are no distracting large cuts, debris, warped or torn frames to report. All in all, this release offers a very fine organic presentation of Showdown. My score is 4.25/5.00. (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).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.
The lossless track is very healthy. I had my volume turned up quite a bit and did not notice any signs of aging. The upper register, in particular, is very clean and stable. Dynamic intensity is good for a film from the 1970s. However, despite several shootouts, you will not encounter any truly memorable dynamic contrasts.
Do not be discouraged by my comments about the credibility of Showdown because this film was never supposed to be a gritty and realistic western. It could have managed its drama and comedy better, but this almost certainly would have affected the quality of the improvisations that produce the best material in it. Rock Hudson and Dean Martin are not in their prime, but if you have enjoyed their work in earlier films, it is practically guaranteed that you will have a good time with Showdown. Kino Lorber's release is sourced from an older but very solid organic master that was supplied by Universal. RECOMMENDED.
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