HDTV Forum

This widescreen DVD has been out awhile, but I just got it and wanted to call your attention to a film that got a very bad rap in the theaters and even worse when shown on TV. If you have 3 hours on a rainy day for a quite different kind of film check this DVD out. This film uses very slow pacing to build suspense to get you edgy wondering if ANYTHING is ever going to happen, and then it goes BANG!. It constantly keeps you guessing as multiple plots intertwine. It is a multiple murder mystery that you know who did it, but not why. It will test your memory in the end to see if you remember the beginning. Not for those expecting to be spoon fed the plot.

This 1968 film runs 165 minutes and is in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen with some of the most detailed western sets and Monument Valley scenery ever put on film. US distributers edited the film to 140 minutes( or less) and pan and scanned it for TV so if you saw it that way( and hated it) I suggest a reconsideration of this epic western on DVD. When you see this in full widescreen you will see how TV ruined it. Leonard Maltin's guide rates the movie as *** 1/2 .

My DVD collection emphasizes Cinematography Oscar winners and nominees. This film was not nominated, but it should have been.There is less dialog per minute than any sound film I have ever seen. You have to WATCH this film closely for the clues- the dialog does NOT carry the plot. With action at both sides of the screen at the same time and NO dialog it is impossible to fit this film into a 4:3 TV screen with pan and scan.
Other points:
This was Henry Fonda's favorite role as "Frank"- the only film where he got to play the villain which Maltin describes as "coldest villain in screen history".

Charles Bronson is at his best as "Harmonica" will keep you guessing just like he keeps Frank guessing.

Claudia Cardinale provides "eye candy" as the new bride from New Orleans.
Jason Robards does just great acting.

Another actor is the music score which is famous as identifying each character with a musical theme- except in this film the other actors hear and react only to Bronson's theme!!. These musical themes often substitute for that actor's dialog. The director even had an orchestra on the set to play these themes to pace the acting.

I am sure the slow pace at times will drive people with short attention spans nuts!. I loved this film l ( DD 5.1 re-mastered, but not much surround)

I have seen a cut from that film where Bronson is at the rail road tracks and a shoot out is about to begin on an old Paramount laser disc promo for over 10 years but have never seen the movie. Wanted to. You have inspired me!

Yet the main problem remains... Nobody has it for rent. Inspired again...

Checked Netflix and they have it. May just be time to join to get those rare birds...

On the other hand this film is a great candidate for HDTV. Is there an HD master and who is broadcasting it? Maybe it is time for VOOM?

The music score for this film is from the legendary Ennio Morricone, one of my favorites. The title track is becoming a widespread classic, heard more often all over.
If the music in this film sounds a little familiar, it should. Morricone also did most all the spaghetti westerns, the best known one "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly". There are music gems throughout all of the films he and Sergio Leone teamed up to do.
Other films from Morricone that most people don't know he did are:

The Untouchables
The Mission
The Professional
Casualties of War
Once Upon A Time In America
Cinema Paradiso
-and about 250 others worldwide.
He is "announced" to do "Leningrad" in 2005.

Richard wrote: Yet the main problem remains... Nobody has it for rent. Inspired again...

I got mine at $11.24 at Amazon.com with free shipping on a $25 order

Hmm...

Well, maybe he bought a few more DVDs to get his total over $25.

Yup! Plus a book.

Bought it, watched it, loved it.

Good movie with lots of twists and turns!