Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

The Eiger Sanction 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 21, 2024

Clint Eastwood's "The Eiger Sanction" (1975) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by author and critic Justin Humphreys; recent audio commentary by critic Nick Pinkerton; recent program with actor Reiner Schone; promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free

If a bold producer had managed to get Clint Eastwood to direct an actual James Bond film, the end result would have looked almost exactly like The Eiger Sanction. I say almost because the out-of-left-field humor that now makes the film look fresh would have been wiped out. I am pretty sure that Jack Cassidy’s paranoid gay spy would have been replaced with a generic but ravishing female spy as well. It is probably why Eastwood did not feel the need to direct such a film. Why follow someone else’s rules when he could create his own? You don’t think this is a legit scenario? C’mon, when was the last time you revisited The Man with the Golden Gun?

Retired government assassin-turned-college professor Jonathan Hemlock (Eastwood) is abruptly forced out of his cozy lair and made to meet his former boss, Dragon (Thayer David), who informs him that he needs him to do a job for him. If Hemlock accepts and successfully does what he is wanted for, he would be paid double his usual fee and finally allowed to walk away from Dragon and the people he represents. If he refuses to do the job, the IRS will suddenly become very interested in his unusually large and worth millions of dollars collection of rare paintings, which he could not have possibly afforded with his academic salary. Hemlock reluctantly agrees to assist Dragon, and then negotiates an increase of the proposed compensation.

To get paid, Hemlock must ‘sanction’ a mysterious target that has eliminated a former colleague who many moons ago saved his life. But Dragon does not know the identity of the target. The only information he can share is that the target is a member of an international team of climbers that are planning to ascend the notorious North Face of the Eiger. To get ready for the job, Hemlock will train with old friend Ben Bowman (George Kennedy), who has a place in Arizona and has not seen him in years.

Okay, let’s state the obvious so that it does not look like it is intentionally avoided: the plot is utterly ridiculous. But in the grand scheme of things this is absolutely irrelevant because Hemlock’s mission does not need to look authentic in order to be entertaining. How do we know this? Because right from the get-go the film’s wicked sense of humor destroys the mission’s authenticity, and the more comfortable the audience becomes with Hemlock, the clearer it becomes that he is as much of an assassin as he is a playboy.

Now, what about the terrific desert and mountain footage? If Hemlock’s mission isn’t supposed to look authentic, why did Eastwood and his team risk their lives to get this footage right? Well, the answer here is just as obvious: because this is an Eastwood film. Yes, it is an early one, but it channels the same type of energy and bravado that his big westerns do. It just so happens that here the terrain is different, and the humor has a distinct contemporary flavor.

Archival reports confirm that Eastwood did virtually all of his stunts, which makes the film that much more impressive. Sadly, a young climber named David Knowles, who worked with him during the mountain shoot, lost his life in a freak accident.

The impressive footage with the iconic Totem Pole in Monument Valley was the last to be legally done by a film crew. Climbing the Totem Pole is now forbidden by the Navajo Council, so if directors place it in their films, they usually utilize a variety of special effects to make it appear authentic.

Eastwood reunited with cinematographer Frank Stanley, who had worked with him on Breezy. The original soundtrack was created by John Williams.

The Eiger Sanction 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Kino Lorber's release of The Eiger Sanction is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray disc is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray disc is Region-A "locked".

Please note that some of the screencaptures included with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and 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 #1-23 are from the 4K Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #23-34 are from the Blu-ray.

This release introduces a new 4K makeover of The Eiger Sanction on 4K Blu-ray, which can be viewed with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. The Blu-ray that is included with the 4K Blu-ray does not offer a 1080p presentation of the 4K makeover. It has a 1080p presentation of the 2K makeover of the film, which Kino Lorber introduced with this release in 2020.

I viewed the native 4K presentation of the new 4K makeover with Dolby Vision. On my system, the 4K makeover produced very healthy and vibrant visuals. On the previous Blu-ray release, I frequently spotted minor flecks and nicks, but I did not see them here. Density appeared improved. However, the most obvious density fluctuations, like the ones seen in the beginning of the film, remain because they are introduced by the cinematography. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Image stability is excellent. All primaries and pretty much all supporting nuances are lusher. However, a lot of darker areas look too dark on my system, which is an unfortunate trade-off because it is the only thing that stops me from declaring that the color scheme is improved. I went back to the 1080p presentation and I can clearly see more in darker areas there. (For what it's worth, I think on the 1080p presentation there is some light crushing, too). So, I lean toward the 1080p presentation as the superior one. My score is 3.75/5.00.

The Eiger Sanction 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this 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 would describe the 2.0 audio track as very good. However, in some areas there are small stability fluctuations that I noticed on the previous release as well. I assume that they are introduced by aging, so they can be addressed with some particular enhancements. This is not a big issue, but I think that it is something that will be noticed by viewers.

The Eiger Sanction 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this audio commentary by critic Nick Pinkerton initially appeared on Kino Lorber's Blu-ray release of The Eiger Sanction.

• Commentary Two - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by author and critic Justin Humphreys.

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - this audio commentary by critic Nick Pinkerton initially appeared on Kino Lorber's Blu-ray release of The Eiger Sanction.

• Interview with Reiner Schone - in this recent video interview, actor Reiner Schone recalls what it was like to work with Clint Eastwood on The Eiger Sanction, the tragic death of David Knowles, and the era in which the film was completed. The interview was conducted exclusively for Kino Lorber. In English, not subtitled. (14 min, 1080p).

• Interview with Heidi Bruhl - in this archival interview, actress Heidi Bruhl discusses her career and contribution to The Eiger Sanction. The interview was conducted by Pepe Ludmir. In Spanish and English, with optional English subtitles where necessary. (10 min, 1080p).

• Promotional Reel - presented here is a vintage promotional reel for The Eiger Sanction. In English, not subtitled. (9 min, 1080p).

• Gallery - a collection of vintage promotional materials for The Eiger Sanction. With music. (8 min, 1080p).

• Trailer - vintage trailer for The Eiger Sanction. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• TV Spots - a couple of vintage TV spots for The Eiger Sanction. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Radio Spots - a couple of vintage radio spots for The Eiger Sanction. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Additional Trailers - additional trailers for the following titles from Kino Lorber's catalog:
  
  1. Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
  2. Coogan's Bluff

The Eiger Sanction 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

In 2020, the folks at Kino Lorber introduced a 2K makeover of The Eiger Sanction that was quite nice. I still like it. This combo pack introduces an exclusive new 4K makeover of the film that is a little healthier and more vibrant. However, in darker areas, it struggles to perform as well as the 2K makeover. So, if you have been considering an upgrade, I suggest that you somehow find a way to test the 4K makeover on the 4K Blu-ray. The Blu-ray that is included with it has the 2K makeover.