Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

The Painted Desert Blu-ray Movie Review

A classic western featuring the talkie debut of legend Clark Gable

The Painted Desert is an old-fashioned Hollywood western produced during an early era of talkies. The film stars William Farnum and J. Farrell MacDonald in the lead roles and also features a impressive supporting turn by beloved actress Helen Twelvetrees. The film is perhaps most famous in the pantheon of film history for being the talkie debut for Hollywood legend Clark Gable (featured in the film as a young supporting player).

Cash (William Farnum) and Jeff (J. Farrell MacDonald) are two guns-loaded, hat-tipped cowboys of the west who discover a young, abandoned child in the middle of the desert. In a surprising sign of compassion to the child, the two men decide to take the kid under their wing and help raise the abandoned youth. Hoping to give the child a good life (and prevent the kid from entering into a disastrously ill-fated future) each old-west hero wants to be the one in charge.

Eventually, the conversation over “parental” control is turned into an epic family feud which lasts decades. Over the course of the storyline, the characters age and their lives and experiences help to form a story about compassion, dedication, and family as set against the backdrop a old-fashioned western. The story is charming and moving and the entire experience is one which feels rewarding. Sentimentality runs rampant in this film and it shows its heart on its sleeve. This is certainly not a drawback for those who appreciate some genuine empathetic filmmaking and it makes the storyline much more absorbing.

A Quiet Western Symphony

There are reportedly two different cuts of The Painted Desert which are in existence. The cut included on this Kino release is the shorter 75 minutes long version. The 85 minute long version has not been restored and is unfortunately not included as an option on the release. These source materials might actually be difficult to find or restore but it's still a shame that both versions are not provided (either separately or via seamless branching). Perhaps some day these elements will come to light and the film will receive a proper home media re-release. Until that time comes (should that moment in time ever arise), the cut which is included here is still notably entertaining and it is worth a watch.

Although this is a pre-code film, the filmmaking is rather tame and lighthearted compared to some of the time-period more risque productions. The film balances its pull-at-the-heartstrings storyline with some action beats and a number of good performances from the cast. Before superhero films became Hollywood's go-to genre for audience hits, the western was considered to be the most crowd-pleasing genre by many within the industry. This film excels as a traditional western.

The filmmaking is enhanced by the direction by Howard Higgin (The Line-Up, Hell's House). The film has a well-paced atmosphere which feels focused and restrained throughout the filmmaking. The film's remarkable cinematography (as produced in Arizona's scenic outdoors) highlights the work of cinematographer Edward Snyder (Speed to Burn, Escape by Night) impeccably.

The Painted Desert Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Painted Desert arrives on Blu-ray from Kino with a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.33:1 full frame. This is a generally excellent presentation. The film has been preserved by the Library of Congress and has received a restoration effort undertaken by Lobster Films. This is a surprisingly sharp and detailed transfer given the age of the film and it's source elements. The transfer truly delivers with superb fine-details.

Film grain is also intact and appreciated. The release has some minor flickering issues and there is also some scratches which are still visible in the film print. These minor drawbacks don't take away from the fact that the release has received a modestly impressive presentation. As the second-best looking release in the RKO Classic Adventures set, it's a worthwhile video encode which shouldn't disappoint.

The Painted Desert Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The audio on this release is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio. This is a decent sounding stereo audio presentation which sounds reasonably clear with the primary focus being on the dialogue as the film's age and materials aren't exactly showcases for sound effects. Dialogue is always easy to understand throughout the feature. 

The source material does show some signs of wear with some minor fidelity drawbacks which are unavoidable given the age of the material. Occasionally, certain scenes sound slightly muffled. Atmospheric elements like the clanking of horse shoes and running stampedes also sound decent here all things considered. For the most part, The Painted Desert has received a modest lossless audio mix that is worthwhile.

The Painted Desert Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There are no extras included on this release.

The Painted Desert Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Painted Desert is an entertaining western which is enhanced by the terrific performances by William Farnum, J. Farrell MacDonaldin, and Helen Twelvetrees. Fans of Clark Gable will also appreciate seeing his talkie debut. The film has received a decent video upgrade and the audio is satisfying. As part of the excellent RKO Classic Adventures Blu-ray collection, the film comes recommended.