DVD DETAILS:
Vision
The anamorphic widescreen transfer is most effective, true to the bleak, wintry landscapes as they move from earthen tones gradually through to a snow covered terrain. Yellow-brown slowly gives way to white. The cruel elements form a constant background and even sunlight seems ever colder as the snow covered mountains initially in the distance close-in as Heston takes his job as line rider. However, despite the harshness of the land, it is open, brightly lit and free. The interiors, although safe and warm, are by contrast cramped and shadowy, even restrictive. This important contrast between exteriors and interiors is perfectly preserved here and encapsulates Heston’s dilemma as a man of the outdoors slowly inaugurated into the pleasures of indoor domesticity. Interiors are both sanctuary and trap for Heston in as much as they offer the prospect of a true home for the first time. Interior compositions thus frame Heston at first apart from the woman and child but then gradually drawn more into two shots and group shots as he struggles with a potential new self-definition. The film also stresses the drab authenticity of the West, from dirty clothing to the contrast of sunshine and warm, golden candlelight. It depicts the landscape as home to nomadic marauding clans and with small ramshackle towns springing up along the established trails – this West may be in its transition, but such is slow to reach this far.
Sound
The sound transfer is clear and efficient in Dolby Digital mono, perfectly serviceable for a film of this age despite its limitations in the home theatre domain. Nevertheless, the film itself is deliberately quiet and soft-spoken for much of its length. The score is sparse and there is an effective background ambience of the gradual sounds of a changing weather affecting the landscape. Likewise, this authenticity carries through in the background sounds of cattle and horses during the opening cattle drive. As the weather becomes more inhospitable, so there is a greater contrast between the windy outdoors and the quiet interiors, broken only when a door is opened. Quiet scenes of Heston alone also stress the solitude in the struggle of man against nature and much is made of Heston’s surprisingly warm gentility here, making his character vulnerable despite his carefully erected defences. The understated score is well attuned to the undercurrent of tenderness running through this humane western. Its violent moments are sudden and are never dwelt on unnecessarily. The quiet interior scenes add considerable intimacy to the shared moments between Hackett and Heston, crouched in an effective golden candlelight that truly makes their scenes peaceful and idyllic. The source print is mostly blemish free. In addition, Pleasence’s unique speech mannerisms make for considerable uncertainty, humour and tension in his scenes. read more
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