7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A cynical ex-sheriff turned bounty hunter helps a young, recently appointed acting sheriff with his advice, his experience, and his gun
Starring: Henry Fonda, Anthony Perkins, Betsy Palmer, Michel Ray, Neville BrandWestern | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: LPCM Mono
English: LPCM 2.0
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
So many fantastic composers made their names in television and films beginning more or less in the fifties and then hitting career highs in the sixties and seventies (and well beyond for many depending on their longevity) that it is understandably well nigh impossible for some fans of film and t.v. scores to select a favorite. Dimitri Tiomkin, Alex North, Henry Mancini, Jerry Goldsmith, and John Williams back when he was still Johnny, are just a very few names that might occur to some, but in this general timeframe of what might be called the first "post World War II bunch" of American film and t.v. composers, I think I have to unabashedly opt for Elmer Bernstein as my personal favorite. I've mentioned in several other reviews, notably my To Kill a Mockingbird Blu-ray review, Hawaii Blu-ray review and Thoroughly Modern Millie Blu-ray review how completely odd I found the vagaries of bestowing an Academy Award on Bernstein eventually became, but thankfully musical reputations are not built entirely out of statuettes taken home, and any number of Bernstein's less celebrated scores are often just as viscerally exciting as those that brought him the most acclaim. Case in point: The Tin Star, a western which presaged Bernstein's arguably much more famous work on The Magnificent Seven. This is all to say if there were no other reason to recommend The Tin Star (and there most certainly are other reasons), Bernstein's score might be enough to, and the fact that this disc has a really sweet interview with Bernstein's son Peter should make this of special interest to those that share my love of classic film composers.
The Tin Star is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. Arrow's insert booklet contains the following fairly generic information on the transfer:
The Tin Star is presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio with original mono, stereo and 5.1 audio. The high definition master was provided by Paramount.This was a fairly low budget affair, as is gotten into in some of the supplements, but you wouldn't necessarily know it from Loyal Griggs' efficient cinematography. While there isn't a surplus of "style" here, there's a workmanlike professionalism that finds generally fine support from this transfer. The studio bound or at least interior material is arguably a bit better controlled overall, with more consistent clarity and contrast, and better overall fine detail levels, but a lot of the outdoor footage, particularly that in the last third or so of the film, offers some good general detail levels in what are often pretty wide framings of the supposed western panoramas. Close-ups offer appealing detail on the understated costumes. There's occasional very minor age related wear and tear. Grain resolves naturally throughout.
The Tin Star features three audio options, LPCM Mono, LPCM 2.0 and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Both the stereo and surround tracks do noticeably open up Elmer Bernstein's excellent score, as well as offering at least a bit of directionality in some of the sound effects, but the surround track in particular can have at least moments of a quasi-phased quality that often attends these "upgrades". I'd frankly stick with either the mono or stereo tracks, and in fact the mono track, while obviously narrow, offers secure fidelity and a generally full bodied quality that supports dialogue, score and effects perfectly well. Optional English subtitles are available.
- Promotional (HD; 12:55) is authored to auto advance, and chapter skipping takes you to the end, not the next image, so forewarned is fore-remoted, so to speak.
- Stills (HD; 14:25) is also authored to auto advance, and chapter skipping takes you to the end, not the next image, so forewarned is fore-remoted, so to speak.
- French Photocomic (HD; 2:51) is authored with each page as a separate chapter stop (so there are hundreds of pages, per the timing).
The Tin Star has the same "lean" quality that attends the Mann - Stewart collaborations, but it also may have a bit more emotional heft than some of the Stewart films. Technical merits are generally solid and the supplements outstanding. Recommended.
2019
2016
Warner Archive Collection
1956
1959
1971
Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
1967
1958
El Perdido
1961
1972
1972
Warner Archive Collection
1955
1975
2016
2K Restoration
1972
1959
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1966
1995
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1968
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1966