Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.5

The Carpetbaggers Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov January 28, 2024

Edward Dmytryk's "The Carpetbaggers" (1964) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by critic Julie Kirgo; new audio commentary by critic David Del Valle; and vintage trailer for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Over the years, many seemingly very different people have attempted to discredit and even destroy The Carpetbaggers, but all of them came from two camps. The first camp was controlled by Howard Hughes, who knew well in advance how far and how accurately The Carpetbaggers could go in reconstructing his life and legacy and did not like it. Hughes also did not like Harold Robbins’ novel that inspired The Carpetbaggers, which was published several years earlier. So, a lot of people that Hughes was able to control went on the offensive and did what they could to damage The Carpetbaggers on his behalf. The second camp was controlled by politics -- industry politics and regular politics -- which is why The Carpetbaggers had a very odd publicity campaign that promoted it as an adult film. (Not a pornographic film, but a film that is appropriate only for mature audiences). The misinterpretation of the so-called adult content by prominent, ideologically biased mainstream critics then earned The Carpetbaggers its famous reputation as a ‘trash film’, which remained with it for decades after its theatrical release. In fact, in some places where certain critics continue to believe that they have the ultimate authority to determine what makes a film good or bad, this reputation is still alive and well. So, while The Carpetbaggers is not beyond criticism, virtually all of the bad that has been written about it is either part of a carefully managed smear campaign or a byproduct of old and current politics.

Instead of offering my opinion on how accurate/inaccurate various events from the reconstruction of Hughes’ life and career are, which I do not think make or break The Carpetbaggers, I would like to point out the reasons I consider it a timeless masterpiece. (Yes, while it does have a few flaws, The Carpetbaggers is unquestionably a masterpiece).

First, The Carpetbaggers is an apolitical film that spells out all of the basic truths about success, power, greed, and happiness in America. More importantly, it does it by making these truths impossible to attach to the classic definitions of good or bad, which is why very large parts of it have been described as strikingly cynical.

Second, The Carpetbaggers treats the two sexes as equal. One isn’t stronger than the other, and one isn’t more manipulative than the other. Both are after the same things, and both are willing to do whatever it takes to get them. This is how it always has been, and this is how it always will be. All of the isms that the two sexes have invented and used to compromise each other are nothing more than tired excuses to gain better positions in the race for the big prizes. This is why the widow immediately switches strategies and begins offering her beauty to the new boss in the family, and this is why later the elderly father throws his daughter in a deal that means everything to him. When stripped to its basics, life is about continuously making arrangements and closing deals that are equally important to the two sexes.

Third, the story of Jonas Cord (George Peppard) is the classic story of the pursuit of the American Dream, featuring all of its glamorous and more importantly all of its ugly moments. But as it is told in The Carpetbaggers, how can this story be great and praised? Cord is exposed as a ruthless, obsessed with success individual, who seems incapable of separating happiness from dollar signs, and very few people around him who want to be winners have a different philosophy of life. History tells us that the ultimate winners in America were like Cord/Hughes, so the flaws that made them imperfect human beings clearly helped them outdo their competition. The Carpetbaggers only reconfirms this fact.

Edward Dmytryk directs The Carpetbaggers with tremendous confidence and desire to give it that classic grand old Hollywood appearance that together produce some truly unforgettable visuals. Some are panoramic visuals, but many more are opulent intimate visuals that could easily be placed in a frame and mounted on a wall. In terms of visual style, The Carpetbaggers truly is a feast for the eyes.

John Michael Hayes’s screenplay is just as striking. Indeed, the classic exchanges or unforgettable one-liners are practically everywhere and a lot of what they emphasize is even more relevant today than it was during the 1960s.

Despite being approximately 150 minutes long, The Carpetbaggers probably should have had more footage with Alan Ladd’s character, Nevada Smith, whose relationship with Cord is supposed to be very special.

The cast also includes Carroll Baker, Martha Hyers, Elizabeth Ashley, Bob Cummings, Lew Ayres, Martin Balsam, Archie Moore, Ralph Taeger, and Tom Tully.

Dmytryk’s director of photography was Joseph MacDonald, whose credits include the equally great classic films My Darling Clementine, Pickup on South Street, and The Sand Pebbles

The Carpetbaggers Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.36:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Carpetbaggers arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release is sourced from a very beautiful recent 4K master that was struck from the original camera negative. I like this master a lot, and unless it is eventually made available on 4K Blu-ray, this 1080p presentation will remain the definitive presentation of The Carpetbaggers. Delineation, clarity, and depth range from excellent to stunning, so a lot of the visuals are truly quite striking. Density levels are excellent too, so even on a very large screen the visuals still look most impressive. Color reproduction and balance are as good as they can be. All primaries and all supporting nuances are very, very healthy as well. Unsurprisingly, the dynamic range of the visuals is outstanding. (If you upscale the release to 4K, large portions of the film boast the look that you would expect to get from a native 4K presentation). There are absolutely no traces of problematic digital adjustments. Image stability is excellent. There are no distracting age-related imperfections to report, either. (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).

The Carpetbaggers Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

I viewed the entire film with the 2.0 track. However, given how The Carpetbaggers was screened theatrically with a multichannel stereo mix, the 5.1 track is great to have, too. I did test a couple sequences with it, and my next viewing of The Carpetbaggers will most likely not be with the 2.0 track. The dialog is always very clear, sharp, and stable. Balance is great as well.

The Carpetbaggers Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary One - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critic Julie Kirgo.

• Commentary Two - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critic David Del Valle.

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage trailer for The Carpetbaggers. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Cover - a reversible cover with vintage poster art for The Carpetbaggers.

The Carpetbaggers Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Trash film? I don't think so. The Carpetbaggers is like a hot razor blade that cuts through all of the isms and the hypocrisy that always surrounds them, which the two sexes have worked hard to legitimize over the years. Is it a very cynical film? Yes, absolutely, but the real truth-telling films have to be, or otherwise they are pretenders. One more thing. I have Harold Robbins' book and The Carpetbaggers replicates its bold style very, very well. It changes a few bits, or perhaps it is better to write that it expands them, but it is as hard-hitting and illuminating as Robbins' writings. Kino Lorber's release is sourced from a very beautiful recent 4K master that was struck from the original camera negative. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.