Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.5

Wichita Blu-ray Movie Review

Everything's bigger in... Kansas?

Reviewed by Randy Miller III August 22, 2023

A largely forgotten but sturdy Wild West drama directed by the great Jacques Tourneur (Out of the Past), Wichita follows the exploits of a not-so-young Wyatt Earp (Joel McCrea, in fine form) during his first trip to the bustling cattle town. Hoping to start a business on the cusp of the railroad's arrival, he's instead asked by mayor Andrew Hope (Carl Benton Reid) to bring order to the lawless town after thwarting a bank robbery with his gunslinging skills.

Earp isn't thrilled with the prospect of being a lawman, preferring to try his hand at business in a promising location. But this town is is a crowded place and, with the excitement of growth -- wide banners hung atop the streets proclaim "Everything Goes in Wichita" -- comes growing pains. That, and disorder: throngs of cowboys led by Ben Thompson (Robert J. Wilke) and Gyp Clements (Lloyd Bridges) have packed the streets, saloons, and brothels, and a wild night turns disastrous when one civilian is injured and a young child dies during the revelry. Taking charge of the situation, Earp jails a few dozen drunken men, deputizes his new friend Bat Masterson (Keith Larsen), and issues a town-wide ban on guns that doesn't sit well with saloon owner Doc Black (Edgar Buchanan) and banker Sam McCoy (Walter Coy), whose daughter Laurie (Vera Miles) has taken a liking to Earp. Their budding romance clashes with the return of a few men who prove the old adage that, in a town where guns are outlawed, only outlaws have guns.

Historically, Wichita is pretty questionable in some areas and pure, outright fiction in others. Joel McCrea was 50 years old during shooting, almost a decade and a half older than Earp was when he actually set foot in the town; if nothing else, it makes his relationship with the much younger Laurie a bit questionable since Vera Miles was half his age here. Earp's partnership with journalist Bat Masterson actually took place in a different town... or even state, depending on who you ask. It also ignores the facts that (a) Masterson wasn't even a journalist until much later in life, and (b) Earp never actually became a marshal in the town -- just a deputy. But like most Hollywood adaptations, we should never let truth get in the way of a good story, and Wichita at least has a serviceable and entertaining -- if not a little safe and by-the-book -- tale at its core. It's largely well acted with a solid supporting cast, the original score by Hans J. Salter adds plenty of flavor, and Tourneur's direction is certainly solid. Does Wichita have teeth? Not really... it feels more like an extended TV episode with big-screen ambitions. But that's still more than enough to make it well worth seeking out, especially given its status as a lesser-known genre effort with more than a few big names involved.

Wichita's modest legacy has been bolstered nicely by Warner Archive's new Blu-ray, which replaces their DVD from 2009 with a sparkling new 4K-sourced restoration from the original Technicolor camera negatives. Though unfortunately light on extras, it's a solid movie-only disc whose A/V merits go a long way towards its overall recommendation.

Wichita Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Seen in its original ultra-wide 2.55:1 aspect ratio, Wichita looks every bit as good as expected from Warner Archive. They've lavished their usual amount of care on this Technicolor beauty, working from a recent 4K scan of the original negative (which, according to a reliable source, included the addition of the yellow separation negative to correct fading of the OCN) to produce a high-quality 1080p transfer with outstanding fine detail, strong textures, and accurate color reproduction that showcases its dusty locales, colorful costumes, and everything in-between. Expectations are set high early on with the first haunting glimpse of mystery rider Wyatt Earp, who looks a half-mile away on horseback but can be clearly made out against the pale blue sky (above), This sets the tone for yet another one of the boutique label's purist-friendly efforts, a satisfying marriage of grain-rich film and an ultra-clean appearance, free from dirt and age-related defects with only the occasional optical transition reminding us we're watching a film almost 70 years old. If you've seen any of Warner Archive's recent Technicolor-era releases sourced from the original negatives, you'll know exactly what to expect here: a start-to-finish stunner that easily outpaces earlier home video editions and, more than likely, most original theatrical showings. Five stars all the way, as if we should be surprised.

Wichita Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Warner Archives' DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix is a consistently robust and healthy sounding effort that accurately represents Wichita's original one-channel soundtrack as a split mono presentation sourced from the optical print master track. Dialogue is crisp throughout with virtually nothing in the way of hiss, crackle, gauziness, or distortion to speak of, and stray gunfights pack a punch too. The rousing original score by Hans J. Salter likewise sounds great, as does the corny but enjoyable title song performed by the great Tex Ritter -- what Western from this era is complete without one? Overall, a solid effort that's as impressive as the visuals and yet another feather in the boutique label's cap.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are offered during the main feature only.

Wichita Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release ships in a standard keepcase with poster-themed cover artwork and no inserts. Bonus features are unfortunately minimal -- we only get a pair of Tex Avery shorts already available elsewhere.

• Tex Avery Cartoons - This pair of shorts, while thematically appropriate, are ported over from different volumes of Warner Archive's Tex Avery Screwball Classics and likewise presented in restored HD.

• Deputy Droopy (6:33) - One the least essential Avery shorts, this one's basically a shot-for-shot remake of his earlier short "Rock-a-Bye Bear" (which is itself an homage to the classic Tom and Jerry short "Quiet Please") with a new cast. Also available on Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3.
• The First Bad Man (6:33) - A late-period short from Avery's time at MGM, this brief odyssey follows the first villain in human history, "Dinosaur Dan", and his dastardly exploits in prehistoric Texas. It's fittingly narrated by Maurice "Tex" Ritter, the popular country music singer (and father of John) who sang the main feature's title song. Also available on Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 2.

Wichita Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Jacques Tourneur's Wichita is a somewhat forgotten but still-enjoyable Western drama with solid performances, steady direction, and a reasonably tight pace that ensures the story doesn't wear out its welcome. It's a bit generic and safe to be considered a true genre standout but, given its relative obscurity in recent decades, this one's ripe for (re)discovery on Warner Archive's sterling new Blu-ray: sourced from a pristine new scan of the camera negative with meticulous cleanup and crisp lossless audio, this Technicolor beauty looks and sounds better than ever. Only a lackluster pair of extras keeps this from being a truly well-rounded release, but it's still a Recommended one.