The Sugarland Express 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

The Sugarland Express 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Justin Dekker November 22, 2024

Just in time for the 50th anniversary of director Steven Spielberg's first feature film, 'The Sugarland Express' races onto 4K UHD disc courtesy of Universal. Based on true events 'The Sugarland Express' sees Lou Jean (Goldie Hawn, 'Housesitter') and her husband Clovis Poplin (William Atherton, 'Ghostbusters') as she breaks him out of jail and together they lead a bizarre chase through Texas to be reunited with their infant son. The film also features a score by John Williams and cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond ('The Long Goodbye', 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'), and the 4K UHD presentation has been given a new 5.1 audio mix. A slipcover, Blu-ray disc (identical to the 2014 release), and a Digital Code redeemable through Movies Anywhere are also included.

As is often the case with films based on true events, not only have names been changed to protect the innocent (and the guilty, in this case), but considerable latitude has been taken to adapt the story for the screen. Perhaps a better tagline would have been, "Inspired by a true story", as there is very little similarity between the actual events and the film beyond a few key elements. There was a couple was on the run. They did have a hostage and were pursued by dozens of officers through Texas. And strangely, they were allowed to stop for restroom breaks and to refuel on the way to their final destination. While the actual events are an interesting human drama, I'm certain Speilberg's fans will excuse him for simply using them as a springboard in the crafting of this tale, where every change was necessary for characterization, to increase tension, and to enhance the story. For a an appreciation of the film, please follow this link.

The Sugarland Express 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The 4K transfer on display here is not the homerun I was hoping for. Grain is uneven, more visibly present in some shots than others. Skin tones are generally healthy, but there are times when Atherton looks too pale and Hawn appears far too tan. Colors appear nicely saturated within the prevailing palette of the era, as automobiles and fashions reflect the realistic and authentic colors of the day, and that's a definite improvement, as at times the Blu-ray appeared a bit washed-out to my eye. There are signs that either AI or sharpening was applied to certain scenes, but perhaps inelegantly so, such as in the scene around the 22-minute mark where Atherton is commandeering the police vehicle. The entirety of the car itself is rendered very precisely and crisply, as is the officer, but both Hawn and Atherton remain soft and/or slightly out of focus. The sharpness of the vehicle also stands in stark contrast to the relative blurriness of the landscape and objects just behind it. By way of comparison, the Blu-ray presentation sees the front of the squad car blurrier and less well-defined in keeping with Hawn and Atherton whose blocking keeps them on either end of the vehicle, remaining slightly out of focus in keeping with with how the shot was composed or shot. At the 25-minute mark, Mr. and Mrs. Looby also appear to have been subtly but noticeably sharpened as they stand stranded on the roadside and wait for assistance. Strange sharpening is also seen at the 1:27.28 mark as those in the crowd flock to their vehicles and traffic becomes confused and chaotic as they attempt to follow the Poplin's as they leave town. Other instances appear as well.

No blocking, banding, or compression artifacts were detected, but haloing is occasionally noticeable. Blacks are typically deep and inky, though crush can be an issue. Still, reds, yellows, and blues have opportunities to pop, primarily in the colorful signage along the highways or in the towns Lou Jean (Hawn) and Clovis Poplin(Atherton) or their pursuers speed through. Fine detail levels can be quite high with the worn and aged particulars of the stolen police cruiser open for inspection. Detail levels seen in exterior location shots can be more variable with some reaching pinpoint precision where every blade of grass or pebble is discernable, and every textural element of the pavement presents with incredible tactile and visual realism. Others display a significant softness, with environmental particulars much more imprecise. Clothing such as Clovis's flannel shirt and Lou Jean's sweater, for instance, can yield fantastic realistic fuzziness and pilling.

Why decisions were made to modify the image beyond simply removing debris, damage, and standard color correction is unknown - though the bold color correction of the big Texas skies to improve continuity is somewhat defensible and reasonable (as discussed below under "Supplemental Material"). Sharpening and scrubbing grain is less so. Perhaps this is what Spielberg, who evidently had oversight over the restoration, wanted, though the true nature of his involvement is unknown. Regardless, the end result is an uneven and, at times, distracting viewing experience. As evidenced by the solid Blu-ray release, the source is/was in good condition and that presentation was suitably filmic and identifiable as of its era, the occasional softness or out-of-focus shot included. The resultant transfer here is a tale of opposites cohabitating in the same transfer: it's soft and it's sharp, it's impressively detailed and imprecise, it's grainy and it's not. It's generally a good transfer, but the issues detailed above keep it from being a great transfer.

Please note that all included screenshots are sourced from the included 1080p disc.

The Sugarland Express 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Confoundingly, the previous Blu-ray's DTS-HD 2.0 Mono mix is nowhere to be found on this new 4K release which eschews the mono track in favor of a much more modern English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio mix. Some will no doubt find this unacceptable and were no doubt hoping or expecting an option to decide for themselves if they preferred to watch the restored feature in mono or with the updated 5.1 mix. Given that the film is both visually and stylistically a product of the early 1970s, it does seem to be a bit of an occasionally odd but not necessarily jarring pairing.

Thankfully, it's at least a more subtle 5.1 Dolby TrueHD than those that accompany modern films. This track is still relatively front-heavy and the bulk of the dialogue and action emanates from those speakers. Occasionally objects such as automobiles can effectively be tracked moving from left to right, for example, in what feels more like an enhancement rather than an anachronism. In the early chase scene at around the 16-minute mark where Hawn steals a car and is pursued by the officer who made the initial routine traffic stop, the sound field opens up and the surrounds are brought into play as cars move more freely from front to back and from side to side. While it is well done and vehicles move fluidly enough, it will likely strike lovers of 60s and 70s cinema as strange. Gunshots and car crashes present with greater depth and realism as is to be expected, but are never garish, overwhelming, or on par with modern effects. It's just immersive enough without being ostentatious.

The Sugarland Express 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

While the original Blu-ray release had only a shabby-looking trailer to off fans, this release has just a bit more on deck:

• From Vault to Screen: The Art of Restoring Universal's Cinematic Legacy (13.24) - Populated with Universal executives including Cassandra Moore (VP, Mastering and Archive), Adam Moysey (CFO, NBCUniversal Studio Group), Jen Hashida (Manager, Restoration and Preservation) and others, they discuss the company's 112-year legacy of film, their restoration program, and the importance of properly storing, maintaining, and preserving their film library for future generations. As these people share their views and insights, clips from Frankenstein, The Wiz, The Man Who New Too Much, and many other classic films play under their voices. There are even a few quick shots inside the massive film vault. A fair amount of time is given to the restoration performed on The Sugarland Express and other films. While not as detailed as some may have wished, high-level information is given on HDR scanning, repairing damage, color correction, and more. Specific to The Sugarland Express, it's shared that color correction was done to alter or "normalize" the skies in scenes that were supposed to take place within minutes of each other. Texas's highly changeable weather meant that, as shot, some were originally clear blue skies, and others were grey and overcast. This work was done in the name of improving shot-to-shot continuity. The opening crane shot was also stabilized to a great degree after it was learned that the bouncing seen in the original was not intended but was a byproduct of how it was originally shot. It is also mentioned that the original 3- track mono mix (one each for dialogue, music, and effects), was turned into a 5.1 mix with help from Amblin and Skywalker Sound.

• Theatrical Trailer (3.19) - This is the same rough SD trailer that graces the original Blu-ray release save that it is no longer window-boxed.

The Sugarland Express 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The next time I feel the urge to watch The Sugarland Express, I'll face a bit of a conundrum. Do I opt for the Blu-ray's less manipulated visual experience and a more authentic and appropriate audio track or the new 5.1 track? Or, do I elect the 4K's video presentation that shows sometimes off- putting signs of digital tinkering but features better color saturation, paired with a more texturally interesting, though inauthentic audio track? It's a more complicated choice than it should be. Considering the improvements to color saturation, for example, and the fact the 4K presentation does generally look good in motion all tinkering aside, I'll likely reach for the 4K disc. But, depending on my mood I might opt for a more authentic 1970s experience and go for the Blu-ray instead. Based on personal preferences, others may feel differently. Still, considering that this new release of The Sugarland Express 4K includes the original 2014 Blu-ray release and the new 4K UHD treatment, it makes for an easy purchase decision as it provides viewers with both options. Fans of the film, Spielberg, Hawn, and Atherton will certainly wish to pick up this release if the film is not already part of their collections. Concerns aside, on the strength of the film and the variety of viewing options available, The Sugarland Express comes highly recommended.