The Plainsman Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

The Plainsman Blu-ray Movie Review

The Plainsman is a classic Western gem with an ambitious production. The underrated classic comes from producers Cecil B. DeMille and William H. Pine. Executive produced by William LeBaron, The Plainsman stars Gary Cooper, Jean Arthur, James Ellison, Frank McGlynn Sr., Charles Bickford, and Anthony Quinn. A fantastic cast and a fun production make the film a worthwhile experience for Western fans.

Wild Bill Hickok (Gary Cooper) is considered to be a legend by others and has a reputation as an iconic gunman. Setting forth on a new adventure with his sweet-and-strong girlfriend Calamity Jane (Jean Arthur) and ally Buffalo Bill Cody (James Ellison), Wild Bill Hickok faces new challenges in the large sprawling vastness of the old west – and as he aims to help shape it and pacify the land. At the same time, President Abraham Lincoln (Frank McGlynn Sr.) is seen working on new political movements that could help to ultimately shape the entire landscape of America following the Civil War. Will the journey forward be fruitful?

The performances in The Plainsman are impressive and carry the filmmaking. Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur are both terrific actors. These fantastic actors deliver great performances in their respective roles. The sense of dedication to these roles is noteworthy. The ensemble cast of supporting actors helps to round out the production all the more. For example, Anthony Quinn is as good as always – a sure thing as a supporting player in the film.

The production of The Plainsman is ambitious in scale. The epic filmmaking is ushered in under the art direction of Roland Anderson (Souls at Sea, Breakfast at Tiffany’s) and Hans Dreier (Double Indemnity, Frenchman’s Creek). The Western landscape is remarkable and provides an authentic and exciting film setting for the story to unfold. The designs are certainly one of the key reasons why the filmmaking is so impressive.

The costumes by Joe De Yong (North West Mounted Police), Dwight Franklin (Sinbad, the Sailor), and Natalie Visart (Reap the Wild Wind) make a good impression and enhance the filmmaking as well. A worthwhile effort by the costumers, The Plainsman is a good example of how key costuming can be essential to telling a story (especially in the Western genre – a genre that often relies heavily upon the aesthetic appearance of the characters in the Old West).

Edited by Anne Bauchens (The Greatest Show on Earth, The Ten Commandments), The Plainsman is fun and exciting. The pace is solid throughout the production and there are no dull moments in the film. A worthwhile effort from Bauchens and something to commend. The Plainsman just wouldn’t be quite as memorable with a less precise effort in the editing room.

The cinematography by Victor Milner (Reap the Wild Wind, The General Died at Dawn) is one of the best strengths of the film. Milner is a first-rate cinematographer and someone with a keen understanding of the language of cinema. The results are wonderful and the filmmaking soars to greater heights as a result of the lush cinematography.

The score composed by George Antheil (Make Way for Tomorrow, In a Lonely Place) adds to the charm of the filmmaking. Antheil is a solid composer and someone with a good understanding of the Western genre and the requirements of the narrative. The score is well suited to the genre and adds a sense of adventure.

The screenplay by Waldemar Young (The Lives of a Bengal Lancer, Love Me Tonight), Harold Lamb (The Golden Horde, The Crusades), and Lynn Riggs (Oklahoma!, Destination Unknown) is playful fun and the dialogue is one of the best strengths of the script. The characters have some compelling exchanges and the writers certainly seem to enjoy exploring these characters and bringing the best out of the cast. An engaging script and one that carries things forward.

Directed by Cecil B. DeMille (The Greatest Show on Earth, The Ten Commandments), The Plainsman is an underseen and underrated classic from the legendary filmmaker. DeMille is an incredible filmmaker – a icon whose films are not to be missed. The production is outstanding and DeMille brings everything to the forefront for a solid Western (with an adventurous spirit). The Plainsman is well worth seeing by any and all DeMille fans.

The Plainsman Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, The Plainsman is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.37:1 full frame. The transfer on the release wasn't pristine and could have been improved with a more extensive restoration effort for the film. This was a release that was not sourced from a new 2K or 4K remaster.

Unfortunately, the transfer shows some of its wear and the print is not as crisp looking as some might be hoping to find. The transfer looks a little processed at times and not as organic as desired (and a 4K scan would have gone a long way to help here). Nonetheless, a decent enough presentation and one that most viewers won't take significant issues with. There isn't much in the way of print damage.

The Plainsman Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono. The audio presentation is reasonably engaging and clear sounding. Detail and depth are noteworthy. The track has no significant audio presentation issues with regards to hiss, crackle, pops, or clicks. The track doesn't sound muffed or compressed. A worthwhile audio encode by Kino Lorber.

The Plainsman Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by Film Critic and Author Simon Abrams

The Plainsman – Trailer (SD, 2:21)

The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber:

The Lives of a Bengal Lancer – Trailer (SD, 1:42)

Desire – Trailer (HD, 2:50)

The General Died at Dawn – Trailer (SD, 1:28)

Bluebeard's Eighth Wife – Trailer (SD, 3:08)

Beau Geste – Trailer (SD, 1:28)

Unconquered – Trailer (HD, 2:41)

A Foreign Affair – Trailer (SD, 1:01)

The Sign of the Cross – Trailer (SD, 1:35)

Reap the Wild Wind – Trailer (SD, 2:17)

The Plainsman Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Plainsman is an entertaining and charming Western classic from beloved filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille (The Greatest Show on Earth). The classic gem is well worth seeing and fans of the cast will take note of the production - the lead performances by Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur are fantastic. The film isn't as well known as some other Cecil B. DeMille productions but it deserves a new audience to discover it.

The Blu-ray features a decent presentation but it could have been improved with a more robust 4K restoration. I would have liked to see a more extensive restoration effort n this title because of the pedigree of the filmmaker. Nonetheless, Cecil B. DeMille's The Plainsman is well worth seeing and is worth adding to the collection. Recommended.