Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

The Shepherd of the Hills Blu-ray Movie Review

A strong cinematic work by Henry Hathaway.

The Shepherd of the Hills is an entertaining adventure-drama based on the novel by Harold Bell Wright. Produced by Jack Moss (Mr. Winkle Goes to War, The Biscuit Eater), the heart of the story revolves around the lives of moonshiners. The feature has some historical significance as being the first collaboration between star John Wayne and director Henry Hathaway (the original True Grit).

Young Matt Matthews (John Wayne) is a moonshiner with a troubled past that haunts him. Matt has struggled with facing the reality of his complicated upbringing – a father who he never got to know – a father who decided to abandon his mother and hit the road. Flash- forward and the wise Granny Becky (Marjorie Main) aims to be a guide for Matt and the other moonshiners that surround her throughout the community.

As the storyline unfolds, the stranger Daniel Howitt (Harry Carey) enters the equation. An older man, Daniel has a caring personality. He brings joy to the people of the community. Yet Matt isn't pleased when he finds out that Daniel Howitt has befriended his girlfriend, the beautiful Sammy Lane (Betty Field). Will a confrontation be in the cards?

Fans of John Wayne will be pleased with his performance in The Shepherd of the Hills. Though the actor might lack the range of some performers, as a stoic moonshiner he finds the right moments throughout the story to showcase his natural charisma as a performer. The part is well suited to someone like Wayne and the actor knows his audience well.

The art direction by Roland Anderson (White Christmas, Reap the Wild Wind) and Hans Dreier (Double Indemnity, The Lost Weekend) showcases the outdoor landscapes with ease. There is an impressive amount of detail in the production design and the manner in which the sets are showcased. The production seems authentic and inspired: providing the performers an exceptional backdrop to do their best.

A remarkable performance by Betty Field.

Another compelling aspect of The Shepherd of the Hills is the rewarding Technicolor cinematography by W. Howard Greene (The Garden of Allah, Phantom of the Opera) and Charles Lang (Some Like It Hot, Charade). The production stands as the first feature-film star John Wayne shot in Technicolor. This is a beautiful, organic, and inspired looking film. As someone who cherishes the charms of Technicolor productions, it is a joy to see the use of color on display throughout the film: across the grassy hills and the cabin environments.

One of the most beautiful elements of the filmmaking is found in the original music by Gerard Carbonara (The Big Wheel, Pacific Blackout). There is a sense that Carbonara provides themes accompanying the characters and their respective journeys during the course of the story. The music swells when the drama accelerates and swoons when the romantic sub-plots are at play.

The screenplay by Grover Jones (The Lives of a Bengai Lancer, Lady and Gent) and Stuart Anthony (Highway Patrol, Mutiny Ahead) manages to create a remarkable, engaging, and creative story. Fans of classic Westerns and old-school filmmaking will find the storyline to be a nice reprieve from today's bombastic Hollywood productions. The pace is slow but always lyrical.

The characters are well developed and complex. One of the shining examples of this aspect is Betty Field's Sammy Lane. Throughout the feature, Sammy has an impressive role which often manages to even outshine John Wayne's Young Matt Matthews. From the leading to supporting roles, the script by Jones and Anthony delivers compelling characters.

Henry Hathaway (How the West Was Won, The Sons of Katie Elder) did a fantastic job directing the film and giving it a sense of excitement in every turn-of-the-story. The dramatic scenes feel quietly intelligent and introspective. There are some fantastic images created by Hathaway that will strike feelings of awe in to audiences. The Shepherd of the Hills is an enjoyable classic, well-worth discovery (or re-discovery).

The Shepherd of the Hills Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, The Shepherd of the Hills is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.37:1 full frame. The scan looks a bit dated and colors are never as robust as desired. The print is generally in good shape (and shows little wear and tear). The film still could have benefited from a sparkling new 4K remaster. The scan looks acceptable but never as effective as a newer restoration might have granted audiences.

The black levels were decidedly underwhelming. There were too many scenes in which the gray-tones of the visuals were distracting (especially with regards to highlight detail). There were also occasional specks on the print (however light). Though it might sound as though the print is one to be highly critical of, the video encode is generally quite effective and the film has received a decent high-definition upgrade. Fans should still consider this a worthwhile release (despite some flaws).

The Shepherd of the Hills Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Blu-ray release is presented in DTS HD Master Audio mono. The lossless audio soundtrack is quite effective overall. Dialogue sounds impressive: crisp, clear, and easy to understand. The audio presentation is never too harsh sounding. Given the age of the elements, the audio- presentation was acceptable.

Please Note: Optional English subtitles are provided.

The Shepherd of the Hills Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by Film Critic and Author Simon Abrams

The Shepherd of the Hills Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2:19)

The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: Seven Sinners (SD, 1:45), Reap the Wild Wind (SD, 2:17), The Spoilers (SD, 1:48), Pittsburgh (SD, 2:05), Legend of the Lost (SD, 3:43), and Brannigan (HD, 2:23).

The Shepherd of the Hills Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Shepherd of the Hills is entertaining and thought-provoking at the same time. Audiences are in for a real treat. Betty Field steals the show and shines throughout the story. The Technicolor film has beautiful imagery that is impossible to ignore. The Blu-ray release is well worth a pick up for fans. Recommended.