Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

The Eiger Sanction Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 20, 2020

Clint Eastwood's "The Eiger Sanction" (1975) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the disc include archival promotional materials; new video interview with actor Reiner Schone; new audio commentary by critic Nick Pinkerton; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

The fee has changed

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 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Eiger Sanction arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release is sourced from an exclusive new 2K master. I don't know what element was used to prepare it, but if I had to guess I would say that it is some sort of an interpositive. Why? Because the entire film has a slightly softer appearance than it should, and because of the thicker darker visuals that produce the occasional flat spots you would see in our screencaptures. Newer masters struck from interpositives, or other elements that are further away from the OCN, have these exact limitations. There is still plenty to like, however, especially if you take a look at the previous release of the film. Indeed, there are no traces of digital tinkering, so the entire film now has a solid organic appearance. The color scheme is improved as well. There are still decent ranges of supporting nuances that are not expanded as they need to be, but this is primarily because of the flat spots that emerge in darker footage and crush some blacks. Image stability is good. Minor flecks, marks, and stains remain, but there are no distracting debris, warped or torn frames to report. My score is 3.75/5.00. (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).

The Eiger Sanction Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

Clarity and sharpness are good. However, while viewing the film I noticed a couple of areas with short but obvious unevenness that appears to have been introduced by aging. So, I have to conclude that if the film is ever fully restored, there is an excellent chance that the audio will be fully and properly remastered as well. At the moment, it is simply transferred as it is.

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

• Interview with Reiner Schone - in this new 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

• Commentary - an exclusive new audio commentary by critic Nick Pinkerton.

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

The Eiger Sanction offers the type of loose '70s entertainment that I always find attractive. I think that it has a James Bond-esque identity, but carefully shaped up by Clint Eastwood's unique sense of humor and passion for outdoor adventure. It is a good film to see on a cold winter night. Kino Lorber's release is sourced from a decent new 2K master and features a really nice exclusive interview with actor Reiner Schone. RECOMMENDED.