The Bravados (1958)
Starring: Henry
Silva, Stephen Boyd, Gregory Peck, Albert Salmi, Andrew Duggan, Lee Van Cleef,
Joan Collins
Company: Twilight Time
Product Description: Eight years after their classic Western
collaboration on The Gunfighter (1950), director Henry King and star Gregory
Peck reunite for The Bravados (1958), a chilling tale of obsession and revenge.
Peck plays a rancher bent on avenging the rape and murder of his young wife;
when the alleged perpetrators escape the hangman, he takes off after them with
a nervous and inexperienced posse.
My Review and Thoughts:
My Rating: 4 out of 5
Twilight Time choose another classic in my book. I love this
movie. A solid cast. Tight direction, and awesome storyline. I love this movie.
Another flawless gem in my book. Starring one of the amazing all-time greatest
performers in cinema history. The amazing one of a kind Gregory Peck, a truly
phenomenal performer, that needs no introduction. He was a key figure in cinema
history. Peck is one of my all-time favorite performers that mastered so many
cinematic moments. He is one that showcases what acting is about or should be
about. He has starred in some of my favorite films of all time. Roman Holiday
(1953) The Guns of Navarone (1961) To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) Duel in the Sun
(1946) The Yearling (1946) Moby Dick (1956) Cape Fear (1962) How the West was
Won (1962) and the true favorite of mine the one and only horror film: The Omen
(1976) and last but not least, the one I have to mention, which is an
underrated gem, and one I watch often, a personal favorite, The Boys of Brazil
(1978) . No matter what he acted in he owned his parts and created thought
provoking characters.
Also starring the wonderful Joan Collins. Always a treat to
experience. I grew up watching her on television and many countless films
including one of my favorites, the over the top, silly B-movie 1977’s Empire of the
Ants. Still acting strong today, a regular on television, most recently in the
awesome TV series American Horror Story. I grew up watching her on the TV
series Dynasty, which most remember her from. Started acting in 1951 and is
still pushing along her talent and beauty today. It was great seeing her again
in this classic.
This was directed by one of the great directors of all time.
The one and only Henry King. This amazing director directed over 117 films.
From the amazing Twelve O’Clock High, The Snows of Kilimanjaro, The Song of
Bernadette, Carousel and so many others. He truly was a god and king of all thing’s
cinema. He also was honored with another Twilight Time Blu-ray Special Edition
release Captain From Castle which you can read my review for in the Twilight
Time section of this page.
This is based on a wonderful western book written by Frank O’Rourke.
O’Rourke was a masterly writer that captured many wonderful fiction tales to
explore in the realm of wonderful imagination. If you have not read any of his
books I highly recommend his wonderful style of written word. O’Rourke could
capture not only western’s but mystery’s and sports fiction. Sadly, this action
master killed himself in 1989, but his books and the books that became movies
became his legacy. And for any book lover, his name is remembered. Also,
Twilight Time has honored him with this awesome amazing release of this classic
western film that he wrote so well in book form.
I think what makes this western unique is it is equal parts
western action, but also creates a drama form of storytelling that is memorable.
There is a dramatic reality to the story right along with what you expect from
a western.
Growing up I was either in school, or at my Uncle Earl’s. My
Uncle Earl bleed manly western cowboy. If he didn’t have a coffee in one hand
and a Louis Lamour book in the other, it was a western on TV. I always joked
with him that he was a cowboy in the city. Trust me when I say he bleed basic
ranch western life, in everything he did. He and I would go to Saturday
Matinees of westerns playing on the big screen, and if it was Sunday it was all
day westerns on TV. Now days that is rare, but when I was growing up, it was
everywhere. One of those westerns, was The Bravados. I first saw this on an
all-day theater marathon, where if you brought in a can food item for the poor,
you got in at 50 cents. One step further if you dressed up, you got 25 cent
popcorns. Anyways one of those midday flicks on the big screen was The Bravados,
and that is why I fondly remember it, sitting next to my Uncle Earl, God rest
his soul, I miss him greatly, but he gave me lots of amazing memories.
I am thankful Twilight Time has picked this movie for a
wonderful Special Edition Blu-ray. It was amazing seeing it on Blu-ray High Definition.
It has never looked any better. I have seen this movie on the big screen, VHS, TV and DVD, this Blu-ray blows all of them out of the water. Twilight
Time did another amazing, lovely job.
Audio/Video:
My Rating: 5 out of 5
Yet again this movie has never looked any better. Twilight
Time has done a fantastic job in creating a wonderful new High Definition,
1080p Blu-ray. The audio is equally fantastic. Twilight Time always touches on
perfection when creating new outlets to older films, and for any movie lover,
that means a perfect entertaining good time.
LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 2.35:1
AUDIO: English 5.1 DTS-HD MA / English 4.0 DTS-HD MA /
English 2.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
Extras:
My Rating: 2 out of 5
Isolated Music Track: Like so many of the releases by Twilight
Time you get this fantastic experience of just listening to the music by
itself. This I found amazing because it’s by 3 wonderful musicians that truly
gave a gift to this film. First up Hugo Friedhofer was a true master and
spectacular music god that left the world of cinema with such memorable scores.
All one must do is look at his career and understand the master that he was.
The Young Lions is one of those powerful scores that will always stand the test
of time.
Next up, Alfred Newman was another pioneer of music. A
composer and arranger and conductor of many, upon many pieces of music for
film. The vast array of work under his belt can only show you his expertise at
music, from, The Song of Bernadette, All About Eve, The Diary of Anne Frank,
How the West Was Won, The Greatest Story Ever Told and many, many more credits
to his name. What’s so different and amazing about Newman is, he only wrote
music for film. This idea and concept showcase the beauty he had for film and
that beauty always showed in the finished product. I must mention the success
of his music was honored countless times, winning an impressive 9 Oscars and
being nominated over 40 times.
Next up is by Lionel Newman. Newman was a brilliant, music
genera master, in his own reality. Gifted in the art-form of supplying
memorable music scores and tunes for many wonderful films, and for TV shows
that most will remember for its music. First movie for me that really comes to
mind, besides this one that he has worked on, would be the horror classic, The
Omen, followed equally by the Sci-fi Masterpiece Alien. I mean just looking at
the scores he has conducted, The Omen which is one of the greatest and always
spooks me anytime I hear it, showcases his amazement. He was the uncle to music
man, Randy Newman. He won an Oscar for the amazing 1968 Hello Dolly. He was the
music supervisor for Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the
Jedi. That should tell you his mastery. 11 Academy Award nominations and 1 win.
He crafted his art-form over decades upon decades. He crafted composing music
and soundtracks all the way back into the start of the 1930’s. He mastered his
talent through both small and large, from the TV series Mash, to The Green
Hornet and music supervisor on Land of the Giants, Lost in Space, Batman, and
Planet of the Apes. He also was the conductor for many other Twilight Time
release’s: The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, Doctor Dolittle, Don’t Bother to
Knock and The Boston Strangler, Let’s Make Love. Now Newman also was a part of
another movie that Twilight Time graced the Blu-ray world with. He was the
conductor on Flaming Star starring Elvis Presley.
Fox Movietone Newsreels
Original Theatrical Trailer
Overall:
Another highly recommended Blu-ray by Twilight Time.
Perfection in audio and video transfer, refreshed on a high quality High
Definition Blu-ray. This is a wonderful entertaining experience. Twilight Time
captured another treat for movie lovers.
INFO:
Make sure you head over to www.screenarchives.com to buy all
the wonderful Twilight Time Blu-rays. The main page that gives you these
beautiful releases on top quality Special Editions.
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