Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by rico (A) on April 21, 2007 at 09:37:38

Sony has bent over backwards on the production of the "Extended Version" DVD of this legendary and troubled Sam Packinpah epic, which not only restores three major scenes and a number of smaller ones (about 12 minutes in all) but contains an option for a brand new musical score recorded in Dolby Digital Ex 6.1 sound. The DVD producers managed to find a complete set of original film elements to work with and the result restores something close to both the director's vison and the continuity fans of the truncated version have long been seeking. Charlton Heston (who forewent his salary in a dispute over the film's length) heads a magnificent cast. The story takes place in new Mexico in the Winter/Spring of 1865 and involves a Major being disciplined for transgressions at Gettyburg
who is assigned to track down and eliminate a rebellious group of Aoaches who after a massacre have fled to Mexico. Due to a shortage of personnel, Heston is forced to hire Confederate officers and men owho are prisoners under his command. I got a kick out of a "Casablanca" style song battle between the Union and the former Rebesls, having just seen another one in Michael Curtiz' "Dodge City". While not a masterpiece, this version is highly enjoyable and finally makes sense.