Clint Eastwood’s filmography has always enjoyed a healthy life on home video spanning multiple formats, and it continues this month with Kino Lorber premiering three Eastwood films from his ‘70s Universal catalog on 4K UHD. Each transfer offers immediate gains with their implementation of Dolby Vision HDR, making for recommended upgrades for enthusiasts and the hopeful promise of even more to come.
After kicking off his Universal deal with the domestic action thriller “Coogan’s Bluff,” Eastwood galloped back to the familiar confines of the Old West, reuniting with “Coogan’s” director Don Siegel on TWO MULES FOR SISTER SARA (105/114 mins., 1970, PG). Making his second western since concluding the Dollars trilogy with the great Sergio Leone (I don’t count the bombastic adaptation of classic musical “Paint Your Wagon” as a serious genre exercise), this Spanish-lensed Siegel effort pairs Eastwood’s traditional drifter role with a nun (Shirley MacLaine) being terrorized by local bandits; eventually, the duo join up with Mexican freedom fighters taking on their French occupiers. Ennio Morricone scored “Two Miles,” which is a bit uneven and unfocused at times, with little chemistry generated between the two leads (who reportedly didn’t have much rapport off-screen either). Prolific western helmer Budd Boetticher had penned the original story for the film but sold the vehicle off; the end result is a picture that he didn’t much care for, though it’s entirely not without merit.
“Two Mules” was remastered in a 4K transfer (2.35, 5.1/2.0) for Kino Lorber’s previous Blu-Ray release, and this new 4K UHD premieres that transfer in full 4K with Dolby Vision HDR. As with its predecessor, the disc includes the original 114-minute International Cut – here on UHD – with the shorter U.S. theatrical version on Blu-Ray only (in a straight reprise of its prior Kino Lorber disc). Both transfers boast a warmer hue than Universal’s earlier BD and the Dolby Vision HDR usage really accentuates the superior contrasts and details of Kino’s 4K scan of the 35mm OCN.
For extras, the set features a new commentary on the 4K platter from critic Justin Humphreys while reprising the Alex Cox commentary and number of radio spots/trailers, image gallery, and vintage “At Home With Clint” interview from its previous format foray.
While he saddled up for two more Universal westerns in John Sturges’ disappointing “Joe Kidd” and Eastwood’s own “High Plains Drifter,” Clint was also looking to branch out from the genre during his Universal tenure, and correspondingly produced several diverse pictures meant to expand his box-office portfolio.
One of his most memorable exercises was undoubtedly PLAY MISTY FOR ME (102 mins., 1971, R), a hugely entertaining precursor to ’80s psycho-thrillers like “Fatal Attraction” from Eastwood (who directed) and screenwriters Jo Heims and Dean Riesner. Here, Clint plays a Bay Area disc jockey stalked by a psychotic (Jessica Walter) in a film shot by Bruce Surtees in and around Clint’s Carmel, California home. There’s tension, good performances from Walter and Eastwood, plus an excellent pursuit shot during the Monterey Jazz Festival that immeasurably adds to the movie’s sense of time and place.
The film is still effective after all these years and is enhanced here by a brand new Dolby Vision HDR (1.85, 5.1/2.0) transfer on 4K UHD with a wider color gamut and more saturated hues than seen before. On the supplemental side, Alan Spencer provides a great new commentary while Tim Lucas’ commentary is reprieved from the earlier Blu-Ray. The corresponding BD houses the rest of the extras, including an online-conducted interview with Eastwood’s co-star, Donna Mills, and a video essay from Howard S. Berger. There’s also a vintage Laurent Bouzereau-produced documentary, “The Beguiled, Misty, Don and Clint” featurette, photo montages, trailers and more. The 5.1 remixed sound is fine, sporting a Dee Barton original score and effective use of then-modern jazz and (of course) Errol Gardner’s classic ballad, “Misty.”
Espionage thrillers were all the rage in the ‘70s with “Three Days of the Condor” and “The Parallax View” among others infiltrating theaters. Clint Eastwood joined in the fray with THE EIGER SANCTION (128 mins., 1975, R), an adaptation of a “Trevanian” best-seller that’s more of a James Bond-styled adventure.
The story follows college professor/art collector Jonathan Hemlock (Eastwood) who’s sought by his former employer – a Blofeld-esque albino dubbed The Dragon – to dabble once again in his old profession: assassination. The new mission he’s coerced to participate in involves the death of a former colleague and the climbing of a Swiss mountain along with one climber who’s also the man responsible for his friend’s demise.
The first thing you have to understand about “The Eiger Sanction” is that, as a suspense-thriller, nearly two-thirds of this movie doesn’t work whatsoever. Eastwood is much more interested in the characters and occasionally odd humor that permeates the script, credited to Hal Dresner, “Destroyer” novelist William B. Murphy and “Trevanian” himself, Rod Whitaker. The movie traverses from Munich to the U.S., where Hemlock meets up with an old friend (George Kennedy) in order to train for the climb up the Eiger; he also romances a seductive fellow operative (Vionetta McGee) and provides a nasty end for a gay rival agent (Jack Cassidy) who has a dog named “f-ggot”!
The tone of “Eiger” is surprisingly lightweight for much of its duration and Eastwood’s laid-back approach – seemingly at odds with the source material – makes for a curious viewing experience, held afloat by John Williams’ wonderful fusion of classical and jazz (one of his best pre-”Star Wars” scores) and Frank Stanley’s vivid scope lensing. Only in the film’s final third – revolving around Eastwood’s superb staging of the mountain climbing sequence – does “The Eiger Sanction” really come to life dramatically, and it’s well worth the wait as Eastwood and his crew perilously capture the thrill and danger of Hemlock’s ascent along with a climber who may just be offing him at any moment.
Those sequences also benefit enormously from Kino Lorber’s gorgeous 4K UHD (2.35), a new 4K scan of the 35mm OCN which offers clear detail, warmly saturated colors and terrific contrasts that take advantage of the movie’s outdoor cinematography and varied locations; the only hang-up is a brightness level that’s darker than previous versions and looks overly dim at times. Once again a solid 5.1 DTS MA remix opens up the old Universal mono sound stage effectively (the original 2.0 mono mix is also included), and extras here include a new commentary by Justin Humphreys to go along with extras from Kino Lorber’s previous release (a Nick Pinkerton commentary; interview with actor Reiner Schone; archival interview with Heidi Bruhl; promo reel and advertising/marketing content).
More 4K UHD Catalog From Warner
Three classics premiere on 4K UHD this month from Warner, each offering clear audio/video upgrades over their earlier Blu-Ray releases.
The movies themselves need little introduction. NORTH BY NORTHWEST (136 mins., 1959; Warner) is one of director Alfred Hitchcock’s best U.S. films: a fast-moving and fun 1959 thriller that provides big entertainment from start to end. Star Cary Grant’s easy-going charm was rarely implemented better in a suspense picture, while Hitchcock’s penchant for mixing action set-pieces, romance and humor (courtesy of Ernest Lehman’s script) clicks splendidly from start to finish.
Movie buffs and film score aficionados will find plenty to appreciate in Warner’s 4K UHD (1.85), preserving a terrific HDR10-enhanced image with wider colors and contrasts even surpassing the label’s previous Blu-Ray edition. As with the other two Warner catalog discs reviewed here, a Dolby Atmos stereo remix is included, seemingly based on the previous 5.1 remix (the mono soundtrack is also included here), and it’s satisfyingly layered, well representing Bernard Herrmann’s highly- regarded score (note this disc does not include the isolated score track from the DVD/Blu-Ray).
Extras include the featurettes “Cinematography, Score, and the Art of the Edit,” “The Master’s Touch: Hitchock’s Signature Style” and “One For the Ages.” Reprieved from the 2009 home video release is “Destination Hitchcock: The Making of North By Northwest,” which finds host Eva Marie Saint recalling her work on the picture and interviewing then-surviving cast and crew members, from co-star Martin Landau to screenwriter Ernest Lehman, who also participates in a sporadic commentary track running throughout the film.
Rightfully regarded as one of Hitch’s best works from the period, and still one of his most engaging thrillers all told, “North By Northwest” is a no-brainer to pick up in 4K this holiday season.
BLAZING SADDLES 4K UHD (93 mins., 1974, R; Warner): Mel Brooks’ classic western spoof hits UHD in a fantastic new release. Though the disc mostly reprises the supplements from its prior BD (the 2014 retrospective “Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks’ Wild, Wild West,” additional scenes, Brooks’ commentary, an archival featurette, the trailer), it adds a new retrospective with the 21-minute “Inappropriate Inspiration: The Blazing Saddles Effect” featurette, sporting assorted comics and historians gabbing about the movie.
More satisfying is the older, half-hour “Blaze of Glory,” a Blu-Ray-produced retrospective boasting a then-fresh conversation with Brooks, discussing the film’s genesis, enduring humor, and working with co-writer Richard Pryor. There are also comments from a frail Gene Wilder, recorded at 92Y in New York, and archival interview segments with Madeline Kahn from the late ‘80s. The piece is engaging though undermined somewhat by constantly running fragments from John Morris’ original score.
The transfer and soundtrack are both tremendous: the HDR10 (2.35) 4K UHD remaster is gloriously colorful and detailed, and the Dolby Atmos sound offers a rousing stereophonic remix of the original mono sound (also included here).
Last but not least amongst among Warner’s remastered classics is THE TERMINATOR (106 mins., 1984, R; Warner), the ‘84 James Cameron-Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi staple that at last receives the true HD makeover it deserves after a slate of uneven Blu-Ray editions. This one gets the transfer right – thanks to a Dolby Vision HDR (1.85) scan that offers natural grain and detail – in addition to the sound. Yes, that’s right fans, the original mono with its decidedly “archival” sound elements is completely in-place here (something that’s eluded many “Terminator” home video releases), while fans hungering for a more contemporary sound mix can find it in a Dolby Atmos overhaul with wide channel separation.
Extras are carried over from MGM’s previous release – just three featurettes and some deleted scenes (with Cameron’s commentary included) – but the pleasingly natural UHD transfer will satisfy fans who were burned by Cameron’s AI-infested, overly scrubbed 4K’s of “Aliens” and “True Lies” earlier this year.
Also New & Noteworthy
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE 4K UHD (104 mins., 2024, PG-13; Warner): Tim Burton’s long gestating sequel to his 1988 hit is an agreeable enough concoction that’s typical of most modern-day revisits of franchises from decades ago – it manages to be agreeable for its nostalgia-driven core audience while accessible for younger viewers…and yet still creatively pointless at the same time. Winona Ryder returns as Lydia whose father (Jeffrey Jones is nowhere to be found for obvious reasons) has died, leading her and her teen daughter (Jenna Ortega, doing her usual thing from “Wednesday”) to return to their New England home where the “Ghost with the Most” (Michael Keaton) still lurks about. Zany new characters filled by the likes of Willem Dafoe and Monica Bellucci pop up in a sequel that fits comfortably into Burton’s comfort zone, and he’s clearly at home here with a movie that’s more likeable than most of his recent fare – even if the script is overstuffed and the ending something of a letdown. Warner’s UHD serves up the expected array of lovely Dolby Vision HDR (1.85) enhancements here plus Dolby Atmos sound, Burton’s commentary, and a couple of hours’ worth of behind-the-scenes featurettes.
LAST CHRISTMAS 4K UHD/Blu-Ray (102 mins., 2019, PG-13; Universal): Fresh off “Game of Thrones,” Emilia Clarke plays a single girl who meets – but has trouble staying connected to – a mysterious stranger (Henry Golding) who shows her kindness, warmth and numerous spots around London…yet there’s more (or maybe less) to this new man than initially meets the eye.
Clarke tries hard but the 2019 Universal release “Last Christmas” is kind of an overly sweetened yuletide fruit cake – Paul Feig’s direction is more in-tune with the comedic shadings of Emma Thompson and Bryony Kimmings’ script, making the story’s shifts into melodrama less convincing. And then there’s the ending, which aspires for tearjerker status, but falls flat as a treacly denouement as contrived as most of this holiday box-office underperformer.
Universal debuts “Last Christmas” on 4K UHD with a good looking HDR10 enhanced (2:1) transfer and Dolby Atmos sound. Extras include an alternate opening and ending, deleted scenes, a blooper reel, numerous featurettes and a commentary with Feig and Thompson. The Blu-Ray and a Digital HD code round out the release.
SPEAK NO EVIL Blu-Ray (110 mins., 2024, R; Universal): American couple Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy pick the wrong couple to hang out with while traveling around England with their young daughter in this American remake of a grizzly French thriller. Writer-director James Watkins, however, has “reconceptualized” the source, enabling James McAvoy to chew up the scenery as the resident psycho in a movie that ends up traveling down a much safer road en route to a much more satisfying ending than its predecessor. Still, “Speak No Evil” is pretty hard, unpleasant stuff from Blumhouse despite its tonal shifts and capable performances, with Universal’s Blu-Ray (2.39, 7.1 TrueHD) including a featurette with the cast amongst other supplements; a Digital HD code is also on-hand.
AMERICAN MOVIE 4K UHD (105 mins., 1999, R; Sony): Surprising, but welcome, 4K UHD debut of Chris Smith’s little-seen late ‘90s documentary about an “everyday” Wisconsin resident, Mark Borchardt, and his struggles financing, producing and making his own horror short in the greater Milwaukee area – all in the hopes it can fundraise his dream project. I don’t remember a lot of buzz about “American Movie” back in 1999 but this is an entertaining and even inspiring look at the kinds of grass-root filmmaking we see precious little of these days; Sony’s 4K UHD (1.33) includes HDR10 and looks pleasingly natural. Extras include the finished short, “Coven,” plus director/cast commentary, deleted scenes and the trailer.
TRIUMPH OF THE SPIRIT Blu-Ray (120 mins., 1989, R; Kino Lorber): Though it reportedly deviated from its true source story quite a bit, Robert M. Young’s taut “Triumph of the Spirit” generates superb performances in its depiction of Greek boxer Salamo Arouch (Willem Dafoe), who’s imprisoned by the Nazis during WWII at Auschwitz and forced to engage in boxing matches in order to keep him and his remaining circle of family and friends alive. Edward James Olmos and Robert Loggia shine in support of this atmospheric, suitably disturbing picture which didn’t find much of an audience at the time of its release; Kino Lorber’s Blu-Ray works off a serviceable HD master (1.895, 2.0 stereo) with a commentary by Manuela Lazic.
Warner Archive New Releases
A major highlight of Warner Archive’s 2024 output has to be THE COMPLETE THIN MAN COLLECTION, the label’s first-ever, comprehensive Blu-Ray box-set featuring all six MGM mystery-comedies from the ‘30s and ‘40s in gorgeous 4K scans with fine grain and higher detail than we’ve ever seen before.
William Powell and Myrna Loy star as Dashiell Hammett’s Nick and Nora Charles throughout the long-running series, one which launched with the original 1934 THE THIN MAN (91 mins.), a movie that laid the groundwork for the franchise. Director W.S. Van Dyke guided the production (as he would the next three sequels) with Nick and Nora sleuthing their way through a delicious mix of mystery and romantic screwball comedy, this particular entry co-starring Maureen O’Sullivan as a young woman, about to be married, who’s in search of her missing scientist father. Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich scripted with “The Thin Man” becoming an immediate hit for MGM; Warner Archive’s Blu-Ray restoration debuted in 2019 and is reprieved here with another fine 1080p (1.37 B&W) transfer and extras including an episode from the ‘50s “Thin Man” TV series and the 1936 “Lux Radio Theater” broadcast featuring Loy and Powell.
Longer, more developed and just as entertaining as its predecessor, AFTER THE THIN MAN (112 mns., 1936) was the second in the series. Powell and Loy, of course, returned here, along with director W.S. Van Dyke, for this first follow-up, set in the Bay Area where the Charleses have to defend Nora’s cousin (Elissa Landi) after her no-good husband goes missing. Jimmy Stewart co-stars in what’s widely regarded as one of the best in the series despite its heftier running time; Warner Archive’s Blu-Ray boasts a crisply rendered B&W transfer (1.37) with extras including a Robert Benchley short and classic cartoon “The Early Bird and the Worm”; a radio show with Powell and Loy; radio promo; and the trailer.
ANOTHER THIN MAN (102 mins., 1939) finds Nora tending to Nick Jr. while having to clear her husband Charles of murder after a Long Island industrialist dies while they’re visiting him. William Powell and Myrna Loy’s chemistry remains impeccable in this enjoyable “Thin Man” entry, included here on BD in a 1080p (1.37) transfer with a couple of bonus shorts (the cartoon “The Bookworm” and musical short “Love on Tap”) and mono sound.
The fourth entry in the classic MGM series, SHADOW OF THE THIN MAN (97 mins., 1941), has Nick and Nora heading to the race track for what would be their last mystery until a WWII hiatus kicked in; it’s also the first of the series not to be based on a Dashiell Hammett story, with Irving Brecher and Harry Kurnitz penning an original outing in keeping with the tone and mood of its predecessors and Major W.S. Van Dyke II again taking full advantage of his stars’ chemistry. A vintage short, classic cartoon and the trailer are on-hand in Warner Archive’s crisp Blu-Ray (1.37) along with mono sound.
Powell and Loy would return in 1944 for the series’ penultimate entry, THE THIN MAN GOES HOME (101 mins.), with Nick and Nora leaving Nicky, Jr. behind for a trip back to the former’s hometown of Sycamore Springs. Murder, a bit of booze, and comedic shenanigans follow in the fifth entry in the classic mystery-comedy series based on Dashiell Hammett’s characters. Warner Archive’s Blu-Ray (1.37) here includes the Robert Benchley comedy short “Why Daddy?”, cartoon “Screwball Squirrel” and the trailer.
Wrapping up “The Thin Man” saga, SONG OF THE THIN MAN (86 mins., 1947) offers one last go-around for William Powell and Myrna Loy, here tasked with finding the killer responsible for taking the life of a jazz bandleader. Dean Stockwell plays little Nick Jr. in this last of the “Thin Man” films – a slight (particularly compared to its predecessors) but still genteel outing scripted by Steve Fisher and director Nat Perrin. Fans of the series will want to add the franchise’s goodbye outing to their Blu-Ray libraries and Warner Archive’s Blu-Ray (1.37 B&W) does not disappoint, the disc also including a “Passing Parade” short (“A Really Important Person”), the cartoon “Slap Happy Lion,” and the original trailer.
LOONEY TUNES: COLLECTOR’S CHOICE Blu-Ray Volumes 1-4 (690 mins.): Convenient box-set offers all four volumes from Warner’s “Collector’s Choice” Looney Tunes series that have been released over the last year and a half, including the all-new fourth volume.
This series has been significant in it marked the first appearance of vintage Warner Bros. animation on physical media in several years, each disc offering roughly 2½ hours of shorts – many of which either debuted on Blu-Ray in high-def or home video altogether. From ’40s and ’50s favorites to a sprinkling of later efforts, Warner did a terrific job representing the works of the great animators included here, from Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng to Tex Avery and Bob Clampett.
This four-disc Blu-Ray set houses each disc in the series, all in 1080p transfers (1.37) with 2.0 DTS MA soundtracks. My individual reviews of the respective volumes can be found in the Aisle Seat archives for details on the specific cartoons included therein.
Archive Thrillers: THE BEAST WITH FIVE FINGERS (88 mins., 1947) makes its Blu-Ray debut with Robert Alda and Peter Lorre starring in a macabre tale of a dead pianist’s severed hand tuning up all kinds of trouble in a small Italian town. Robert Florey’s 1947 black-and-white chiller is strong on atmosphere, backed by Max Steiner’s score and remastered here in a superb Archive Blu-Ray (1.37, mono) featuring two classic cartoons, the trailer, and an insightful Steve Haberman/Constantine Nasr commentary included…“Beast” is new to Blu as is THE RETURN OF DOCTOR X (62 mins., 1939), an in-name-only follow-up to “Doctor X” featuring Humphrey Bogart as a blood-hungry undead doctor who becomes the subject of a reporter’s investigation. Glossy Warner B-fare on Blu-Ray, the Archive’s disc boasting another finely textured 1080p (1.37 B&W, mono) transfer with commentary by Steve Haberman and director Vincent Sherman, two classic cartoons and the trailer also on-tap…Boris Karloff teamed up with the great Michael Curtiz for another top-flight WB horror outing, THE WALKING DEAD (66 mins., 1936), with the legendary genre star playing a man who comes back from the grave — courtesy of scientist Edmund Gwenn’s experimental mechanical heart — to extract revenge on the gangsters who framed him for murder. There’s vivid imagery present in this mid ’30s genre favorite, preserved here in another sterling Archive Blu-Ray (1.37 B&W, mono) with numerous extras including an all-new commentary by Alan K. Rode, Michael Curtiz doc, two classic cartoons, the trailer, and an older commentary with Gregory Mank.
Finally, Warner Archive provides fans of mockumentary specialist Christopher Guest with the Blu-Ray debut of FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION (86 mins., 2006, PG-13). This ensemble comedy offers many of his usual comic cohorts (Bob Balaban, Eugene Levy, Jane Lynch, Michael McKean, Catherine O’Hara, Parker Posey, Harry Shearer, Fred Willard among them) in a behind-the-scenes look at a low-budget indie film cast hoping beyond hope they can nail an Oscar nomination. Warner Archive’s Blu-Ray (1.78, 5.1 DTS MA) includes a commentary by Guest and Levy, the trailer, and over 30 minutes of archival bonus material.
TV on Disc
HOUSE OF THE DRAGON: The Complete Second Season 4K UHD (511 mins., 2024; HBO/Warner): Second season of “House of the Dragon” offers more spectacular Dolby Vision HDR and immersive Dolby Atmos sound, comprising another peerless technical package in Warner’s 4K UHD of the HBO “Game of Thrones” spinoff’s sophomore season. Set over 200 years before the events of its sister series, “House of the Dragon” finds the Targaryens ruling the Seven Kingdoms while trying to stop their own house from unraveling – which it already has here, following King Aegon II’s coronation and the death of Queen Rhaenyra’s son. Big action, fine performances and fan-friendly story lines made this an immediate ratings hit for HBO, with this superlative home video package besting whatever streaming quality you might’ve seen before. Warner’s 4K UHD offers some four hours of bonus content including extended versions of the eight-part featurette “The House That Dragons Built” along with eight character cards in the slipcover-adorned UHD package.
MAYOR OF KINGSTOWN Season 3 DVD (8 hours, 2024; Paramount): Jeremy Renner returns in this third season of the Paramount+ streaming series. This time out, after a series of explosions rock Kingstown and the Russian mob sets up a drug war both inside and outside the prison, Mike McLusky (Renner) faces a new set of challenges in all 10 episodes from “Mayor of Kingstown”’s third season. Paramount’s DVD (1.85, 5.1 Dolby Digital) offers a number of extras, including episodic interviews and behind-the-scenes segments.
ULTRAMAN BLAZAR: The Complete Series Blu-Ray (12 hours, 2023-24; Mill Creek): After the Global Guardian Force fails to stop the deadly kaiju Bazanga, they’re forced to deal with a mysterious new Ultraman who emerges on the scene. All 25 episodes from the most recent “Ultraman” series are included in Mill Creek’s upcoming Blu-Ray (1.78) package along with “Ultraman Blazar: The Movie – Tokyo Kaiju Showdown” which offers more big-robot/monster action. The original 2.0 Japanese stereo audio is on tap plus an English dub and a free playable card from the Ultraman trading card game.
NEXT TIME: Shout brings THE DARK CRYSTAL and LABYRINTH back to 4K UHD! Until then, don’t forget to drop in on the official Aisle Seat Message Boards and direct any emails to our email address. Cheers!