Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

The Big Gundown Blu-ray Movie Review

Leone Who?

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 14, 2013

As the Italian Western genre began to flourish in the mid-1960s, taking the world by storm, certain pictures, such as “A Fistful of Dollars,” were quickly solidified as modern classics, making a director like Sergio Leone synonymous with squinty actors and ruthless Ennio Morricone scores. However, a few other gems managed to slip into view during this fertile period, including 1966’s “The Big Gundown,” a fascinating manhunt tale from helmer Sergio Sollima that employed a political slant to its tale of unlikely respect, making the feature as much about the changing tide of American and Mexican relations as it was about cowboy violence. Impressively shot and edited, “The Big Gundown” manages to thrill, tickle, and thunder in all the ways a masterful western should, adding a nice counterpoint of flawed heroism to the genre’s operatic accomplishments.

Jonathan Corbett (Lee Van Cleef) is a famous bounty hunter with an impressive record of captures and executions, questing to bring justice to a lawless land. Looking to step down from his position, railroad baron Brokston (Walter Barnes) tempts Corbett with an opportunity to transform into a politician, riding on a stellar reputation in an effort to keep Texas strong and open up the land for transportation development into Mexico. Halting Corbett’s decision is the case of a young girl who was sexually assaulted and murdered, with the perpetrator, Cuchillo (Tomas Milian), making his way to the border to secure his freedom. Setting off to find the monster, Corbett works through dangerous terrain, crossing paths with Cuchillo numerous times, yet he’s unable to take possession of the trickster, forming a strange relationship of respect with the lowlife.

Before the story of “The Big Gundown” commences, there’s an opening title sequence that introduces the picture in an enormous way. The title tune is performed by the artist Christy, also known for her stellar work on “Deep Down” for “Danger: Diabolik,” yet her vocal performance here is positively nuclear, belting out a song that establishes the passions and sweep of the feature before Sollima has an opportunity to prove himself. It’s magnificent, kicking off the movie in a perfect, decidedly cinematic fashion, soon giving way to Morricone’s sublime score, which goes out of its way to distribute leitmotifs and support scenes of intimidation and travel, making the work one of the highlights of the effort. As amazing as “The Big Gundown” looks, it sounds even better.

Although early sequences hint at a customary manhunt saga, with Corbett off to retrieve a slippery, charismatic villain, “The Big Gundown” often goes out of its way to disturb convention. It’s not a chase picture, finding Corbett and Cuchillo meeting up a several points during the journey, playing a strange psychological and physical game as the suspect uses his fast-talking skills to elude capture, occasionally depending on the lawman to rescue him from danger as he seeks asylum in inhospitable ranches along the way. It’s a routine of near-misses and humiliations for Corbett, who can’t seem to continue on with his mission with the type of ease he’s used to, making him a splendidly unsettled character who’s prone to failure. Just not for long. The production (including co-screenwriter Sergio Donati) adds flavoring through flashes of humor (Corbett’s run-in with a Mormon community feature a hilarious punchline) and a steady stream of supporting characters who help and hinder the hunter’s pathway to his prey, tracking his travels through a brothel, a jail cell, a monastery, and the elemental dangers of the great outdoors.

Through it all, Van Cleef retains his signature scowl in “The Big Gundown,” portraying Corbett with menacing observational qualities that emphasize his skills of detection and gunplay, retaining some nobility as poor saps attempt to outdraw the marksman. Sollima loves his lead’s face, focusing intently on glares, which says more about the character than any monologue could. Stealing the picture is Milian, who masters Cuchillo’s unnerving position between friend and foe, having a ball playing around with taunts and mischief (including the faking of snake bite in one of the effort’s weirder scenes) as the scoundrel scurries to the border, leaving behind a trail of enemies. The pair shares terrific chemistry, sustaining the human factor of “The Big Gundown” as Sollima masterminds its hypnotic widescreen appeal.

The Big Gundown Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.34:1 aspect ratio) presentation does an excellent job matching the picture's original theatrical condition. Some debris and faint flicker are detected, but this is a hearty viewing experience with a pleasing fullness of color, featuring crisp western hues, big blue skies, and accurate skintones. Fine detail is generous with squinty facial particulars, while costuming conveys fabric quality and exteriors expose natural textures. Shadow detail is supportive and expressive, maintaining distances and evening encounters without solidification. Grain is managed superbly, providing a filmic appearance. The BD event looks fresh and true, capturing cinematographic nuance. Featured on the disc are two cuts: the "Expanded U.S. Version" (94:56) and the "Italian Director's Cut" (110:18).

The Big Gundown Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix kicks off with a burst of energy, finding the title tune from Christy testing the upper reaches of the track, hitting the viewer with a direct shot of frontal power. The action settles down into comfortable silences, with a spare quality that boosts the mood. Scoring is expressive, adding support and distinct musicianship, never intruding on dialog exchanges. Performances sound clean in their dubbed presentation, with easily tracked emotional changes, never sounding clotted. Atmospherics are goosed, but pleasingly so, finding gunshots and whip cracks appropriate in their loudness. It's a simple audio design in many respects, but the sheer movement of the mix is preserved well on this disc. Additionally, a Music & Effects track is supplied.

The Big Gundown Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• CD of Ennio Morricone's score is provided (25 tracks, 53:49).

• Booklet offers 22 pages of essays concerning the film, the two cuts, and the score.

• Commentary with western enthusiasts/writers (though they never properly introduce themselves) C. Courtney Joyner and Henry C. Parke is expectedly academic, finding the pair questing to provide detailed background information on the Italian moviemaking industry, and how "The Big Gundown" fit in with its brethren. There's play-by-play to contend with, and it's amusing to listen to the duo try to top each other with trivia (it sounds like standing in a film festival line at times), but the men are knowledgeable and consistent, with dead spots rare.

• "Sergio Sollima Remembers 'The Big Gundown'" (29:02, SD) is a 2005 chat with the director, who explores his work on the movie in wonderful detail, clearly proud of the finished product. Reflecting on the cinematic power of his stars, the Japanese origins of the Italian Western genre, and the miracle of Ennio Morricone, Sollima candidly describes the effort to bring "The Big Gundown" to the screen. It's a treat, even offering an anecdote concerning the difficulty of working with an aroused horse. That type of BTS detail is priceless.

• "Tomas Milian: Acting on Instinct" (29:48, HD) is a spirited 2013 conversation with "The Big Gundown" co-star, who walks through the highlights and inspirations of his extensive career, and his command of acting thanks to training with Lee Strasberg. Milian also shares his distaste for the Spaghetti Western label, time with Orson Welles, and experience working on Steven Soderbergh's "Traffic."

• "Tagliatelle in Los Angeles: Sergio Donati Interview" (12:03, HD) catches "The Big Gundown" screenwriter in a good mood, imparting his thoughts on the "magic" collaboration found on the set. The 2013 talk is light on details, but Donati offers a few informational highlights about his time with Sollima, and shares mournful thoughts on the current state of Italian cinema.

• "Sergio Sollima: Struggles Against Genre" (27:55, SD) is a political chat with the director, recorded in 2005. Also rejecting the Spaghetti Western brand, Sollima vigorously defends his work, dissecting creative struggles and thematic intent in a boisterous manner, also sharing backstage information concerning inspiration and casting choices.

• "Sergio Donati Bonus Interview" (11:51, SD) is a 2005 chat with the screenwriter, who isolates his position in the Italian Western movement, delving into his relationship with Sollima and Sergio Leone.

• Production Stills shares 20 images.

• U.S. Promotional Material (41 images), Italian Promotional Material (10 images), French Promotional Material (30 images), and Various Promotional Material (20 images) are offered.

• U.S. Theatrical Trailer A (2:14, HD), U.S. Theatrical Trailer B (2:14, HD), and an Italian Theatrical Trailer (3:56, SD) are included. Also, five T.V. Spots (2:06, HD) are available.

The Big Gundown Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Tending to the traditions of Italian Westerns, "The Big Gundown" doesn't disappoint, providing abundant showdowns and shootouts, including a Leone-esque finale where the score is settled in a decidedly protracted manner. There are layers here as well that are most welcome, finding Brokston an uneasy presence in the story, while border and racial tensions are introduced smoothly into the script, bringing necessary grit. It's a wonderful film, rich with style and loaded with surprises, with a fluid storytelling touch that brings substance to a genre that's often concerned solely with appearance. It's a must-see, especially for any western fan who feels Leone is the final word when it comes to this idiosyncratic cinematic movement.