Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

The Last Picture Show 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 19, 2023

Peter Bogdanovich's The Last Picture Show (1971) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include two versions of its sequel, Texasville (1990); archival cast and crew interviews; multiple documentaries; screen tests; archival promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

The Last Picture Show entered the Criterion Collection with America Lost and Found: The BBS Story, a six-disc box set, in 2010.

Peter Bogdanovich’s film is about a small West Texas town in which a beloved movie theater is dying -- as is the entire town. Duane Jackson (Jeff Bridges, The Fisher King) and Sonny Crawford (Timothy Bottoms, Johnny Got His Gun) are best friends who have rather similar interests and desires. Jacy (Cybill Shepherd, Taxi Driver) is Duane’s girlfriend. She is rich and beautiful, a girl every boy wants -- and she knows it. Mostly unaware of the issues many of the town folks have to deal with, Duane, Sonny, and Jacy are happy with their lives. But when the town begins to disintegrate, so do various relationships.

The Last Picture Show 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Criterion's release of The Last Picture Show is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray is Region-A "locked". Also included on this release, as a bonus feature, is Texasville, the sequel to The Last Picture Show.

Please note that some of the screencaptures that appear 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.

Screencaptures #1-19 are from The Last Picture Show Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #22-32 are from The Last Picture Show 4K Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #33-35 are from Texasville Theatrical Cut
Screencaptures #36-40 are from Texasville Director's Cut.

The following information appears inside the booklet that is provided with this release:

"This new digital master on the 4K Blu-ray disc was created from the 35mm original camera negative. The 4K wet-gate scanning and digital image restoration was conducted at Cineric, Inc., New York. The original monaural soundtrack was remastered from the magnetic track by Deluxe Audio Services in Hollywood, following original work by Chace Audio. The digital master on the Blu-ray, supervised by director Peter Bogdanovich, was created in 2009 from a 35mm fine-grain master positive, which was scanned in high-definition on a Spirit 4K DataCine scanner.

4K mastering and restoration supervisor: Grover Crisp/Sony Pictures Entertainment.
4K colorist: Sheri Eisenberg/Roundabout Entertainment, Burbank, CA.

The Last Picture Show entered the Criterion Collection in 2010 with America Lost and Found: The BBS Story, a six-disc box set. As the quoted credits above clarify, the 4K Blu-ray release introduces a brand new 4K makeover, which can be viewed with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. I viewed the entire native 4K presentation with Dolby Vision and then performed several comparisons with the older 1080p presentation of the film.

On my system, it was very easy for me to see a wide range of meaningful improvements. For example, in native 4K, all visuals -- daylight footage, indoor footage, and nighttime footage -- conveyed better density levels and grain exposure. These improvements remained very consistent as well, so even in areas where the original cinematography introduces native softness, the superiority of the visuals was still easy to see and appreciate. Furthermore, the improved density impact fluidity as well, so a direct comparison between the new 4K makeover and the old 1080p presentation reveals much tighter visuals, and on a big screen the uptick in quality is rather significant. The grayscale is better, too. On the previous release, the grayscale was very attractive but occasionally somewhat uneven. While it is true that the superior dynamic range of 4K makes it easier to better handle these areas, I think that the overall strength of the 4K makeover clearly contributes as well. So, again, on a larger screen, the superior grayscale is easy to see and appreciate. The Dolby Vision grade is excellent, but I am not surprised because Sony's mastering team never disappoints. On my system, darker and daylight footage looked equally impressive. Image stability is outstanding. The entire film looks spotless as well. All in all, while I think that the older presentation of The Last Picture Show is very nice and convincing, the new 4K makeover is unquestionably a more satisfying presentation of the film.

There are two versions of Texasville on this release, Director's Cut (in black-and-white) and Theatrical Cut. Both look good but somewhat dated. For example, there are some small traces of surface work, which is why grain exposure is not optimal. In some areas, the dynamic range of the visuals is average, too. I think that most viewers will find delineation and depth pleasing, but on a large screen the limitations of the two presentations become easy to identity. On the Theatrical Cut, color balance is good. However, all primaries and supporting nuances can be a little healthier and even better balanced. On the Director's Cut, the grayscale is convincing. Image stability is good. Some dirt spots and blemishes can be seen, but there are no large cuts, warped or torn frames to report.

The Last Picture Show 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I did not encounter any anomalies to report in our review. All dialog sounded very clear and sharp. It was easy to follow, too. There are some, not many, good dynamic contrasts, but the film's original sound design does not produce any memorable moments, which is why the lossless track does not have any either. The upper register is very healthy.

The Last Picture Show 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentaries - two audio commentaries, one with director Peter Bogdanovich and actors Cybill Shepherd, Randy Quaid, Cloris Leachman, and Frank Marshall, recorded exclusively for Criterion in 1991; and a second commentary with director Peter Bogdanovich, recorded in 2009.

BLU-RAY DISC ONE

• Commentaries - two audio commentaries, one with director Peter Bogdanovich and actors Cybill Shepherd, Randy Quaid, Cloris Leachman, and Frank Marshall, recorded exclusively for Criterion in 1991; and a second commentary with director Peter Bogdanovich, recorded in 2009.

• "The Last Picture Show": A Look Back - a documentary film, directed by Laurent Bouzereau in 1999, featuring interviews with director Peter Bogdanovich, actors Cybill Shephred, Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, Ellen Burstyn, Cloris Leachman, Frank Marshall, and author Larry McMurtry. In English, not subtitled. (65 min).
  
  1. Time, Place, and language
  2. Confidence in his cast
  3. McMurtry's own hometown
  4. Controversies and difficulties
  5. Emotional moments
  6. Last look back

• A Discussion with Filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich - a Q&A session with director Peter Bogdanovich conducted in 2009, during he recalls how The Last Picture Show came to exist, some of the directors that had a major influence on him, his casting choices during the years, etc. In English, not subtitled. (13 min).

• Picture This - a wonderful documentary, directed by George Hickenlooper, in which the director and cast of The Last Picture Show reunite in Archer City for the filming of Texasville. The documentary contains interviews with actors Jeff Bridges, Cybill Shepherd, Timothy Bottoms, director Peter Bogdanovich, and writer Larry McMurtry. In English, not subtitled. (42 min).

• Screen Tests - a collection of 16mm screen tests of various actors featured in The Last Picture Show. Music only. (3 min).

• Locations Footage - archival testing footage which director Peter Bogdanovich shot in Archer City before production of The Last Picture Show began. Without sound. (7 min).

• Truffaut on the New Hollywood - an excerpt from Vive le cinema, a French TV program, in which legendary director Francois Truffaut discusses America's underground directors and the end of the "happy endings" in American cinema. Aired on February 13, 1972. In French, with optional English subtitled. (5 min).

• Trailers - in English, not subtitled.
  
  1. Original Theatrical Trailer (4 min).
  2. Rerelease trailer (2 min).

BLU-RAY DISC TWO

• Texasville Director's Cut - presented here is the Director's Cut of Texasville. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. Black-and-white. LPCM 1.0. 1080p. (131 min).

• Texasville Theatrical Cut - presented here is the Director's Cut of Texasville. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. Color. LPCM 1.0. 1080p. (126 min).

• Introduction - presented here is an archival introduction to the Director's Cut of Texasville, filmed by Peter Bogdanovich, Jeff Bridges, and Cybill Shepherd in 1992, for a laserdisc release of the film. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Picture This - in 2007, George Hickenlooper edited a version of his 1991 film Picture This: The Times of Peter Bogdanovich in Archer City, Texas for the Criterion Collection's DVD and Blu-ray releases of The Last Picture Show. Included here is the final chapter of his original documentary, which focuses on Bongdanovich's Texasville. In English, not subtitled. (17 min).

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

• Booklet - a 22-page illustrated booklet featuring an essay by film critic Graham Fuller and excerpts from an interview with Bogdanovich about Texasville, with a new introduction by Bogdanovich biographer Peter Tonguette, as well as technical credits.

The Last Picture Show 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Criterion's new 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack of The Last Picture Show is a winner. It introduces a stunning new 4K makeover of the film and adds two versions of its sequel, Texasville. However, you need to keep in mind that the 4K makeover is available only on the 4K Blu-ray disc. The Blu-ray disc gives you the old presentation of the film from 2009, which was included in the America Lost and Found: The BBS Story six-disc box set. All bonus features from the previous release of the film are retained. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.