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A massive, sprawling chronicle shot in the three camera Cinerama Process approved during the early 60’s, “How the West Was Won” spans from 1830 to 1880 covering the history of the westward expansion. Directed by three directors (John Ford, Henry Hathaway and George Marshall with a forth Richard Thorpe providing uncredited linking pieces) “How the West Was Won” was produced during the twilight of the western as the most current type genre.
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Warner has done a painstaking job of restoring this classic film and although it isn’t perfect, it’s an exceptional job that deserves kudos. The film has never looked this top-notch with colors that pop and upright fleshtones. More famous the seams that one could leer for the separate cameras aren’t quite as glaring as before. The image quality is exceptionally crisp with terrific detail. Audio sounds extremely proper with a nice 5.1 mix.
The film is spread over two discs with the recent Overture and Alfred Newman’s pleasurable net included as portion of the package. We collect a terrific feature length commentary track from “West” stuntman Loren James who provides plenty of background details about the physical shooting of the film, filmmaker David Strohmaier, film scholar Rudy Behlmer, Cierama’s John Sittig and music historian Jon Burlingame. My only complaint is that Burlingame will produce a comment about listening to Newman’s edifying gain and then whomever edited his comments continues to play them correct over the music cue we should be listening to without interruption.
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The only other complaint that I have is that while the dirt and grit has been removed making the film peer advantageous, there’s one sequence that has always bugged me–there is a bit of dirt suitable in the middle of the frame of the opening skim over sequence that I wish they could have figured out how to steal. Other than that, it’s shapely composed looking throughout the presentation despite an occasiona bit of image unsteadiness as characters travel across the cloak and span of the three cameras lenses.
We also pick up a terrific hour and a half documentary on the Cinerama process on the third disc.
There are three different versions of the film in re-release: the first is a three disc DVD edition with unprejudiced the film; the second is the three disc region postcards, a reproduction of the unusual press book, souvenir book and photos as piece of the package;there is no equivalent for this SCE in the Blu-ray edition although it does have a booklet as allotment of that package.
The image and sound quality in this restored edition improves on the unique single disc edition of the film with a terrific commentary track and documentary to round out the site. With a sparkling casts (James Stewart, Gregory Peck, Carolyn Jones, Debbie Reynolds, Carol Baker, Lee J. Cobb, George Peppard, John Wayne, Lee Van Cleef, Karl Malden, Agnes Moorehead and others) this was truly one of the last story, lyrical westerns to be produced in Hollywood. Highly recommended.
If you’ve never seen the unusual Cinerama gargantuan mask release, or only know the previous video versions of HTWWW, you are in for a gargantuan treat. The fully restored classic American film, the top box office hit of 1962, is glorious.
And the Blu-ray hi-def transfer is truly breathtaking. I literally gasped when I saw it. And so have special preview audiences of the hi-def DVD.
Warner — which owns the pre 1986 MGM library — has spent a ton of dough getting this good. Six years, hundreds of people, thousands of hours and millions of dollars have been invested in creating and applying unusual technology that has virtually erased the “join lines” that marred the earlier — rather terrifying — video transfers. Not only that, but every frame has been restored. That’s the equivalent of restoring three 35 MM films — the unique was exposed using three alligned cameras. The final aspect ratio is 2.89:1 (that’s nearly three times as wide as it is high) . And it is a wondrous peek to peep.
Seeing this original version is like experiencing the film for the first time. The familiar record — based on a series in Life magazine — follows three generations of a typical pioneer Ohio Valley family from 1839 to 1889. A myriad of stars shine in this mountainous American adventure — John Wayne, Gregory Peck, Jimmy Stewart, Debbie Reynolds, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb and Carrol Baker are among the many recognizable faces.
Three accomplished directors (including John Ford) helmed this rousing memoir that does not degrade the Native American experience even as it allows for the conflicts the westward movement created.
The absolutely attractive Blu-ray version inlcudes a “smilebox” transfer that mimics the new Cinerama experience of a giant bent cover. On a tremendous video prove — especially if projected on a ample pull down hide — this version is jaw-dropping.
The extras include Rudy Strohmaier’s great acclaimed documentary “Cinerama Adventure.” And there’s a fabulous commentary by filmmaker Strohmaier, John Sittig (director of Cinerama, Inc.), film historian Rudy Behlmer, music historian Jon Burlingame and stuntman Loren James. But why no Debbie Reynolds?
The only other legend three camera Cinerama film is “The Amazing World of the Brothers Grimm” and the stored negative has suffered water pain so there are no plans for a bulky restoration at this time.
As a kid I saw this film at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. The impact of the gigantic sound and images swept me away and I remember the experience vividly. The rousing music, the inviting heartland American anecdote calm works. And thanks to cutting edge technology, it’s better than ever.
This is one for the digital library.
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