Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Re-releases of Blu-rays “A Fistful of Dollars”, “For a Few Dollars More”, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”

 Three Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Westerns Being Re-released on Blu-ray June 6

Media Play News

By Flora Sanxhez

May 26, 2023

Kino Lorber on June 6 will release on Blu-ray Disc three classic 1960s “spaghetti Westerns,” starring Clint Eastwood, from Italian director Sergio Leone.

The three films — A Fistful of Dollars, A Few Dollars More and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly — are collectively known as the “Man with No Name” trilogy.

A Fistful of Dollars (1964) finds Eastwood portraying a lean, cold-eyed, cobra-quick gunfighter who arrives in a grim and dusty border town where two rival bands of smugglers terrorize the impoverished citizens. Though he receives lucrative offers of employment from each gang, his loyalty cannot be bought. He accepts both jobs — and sets in motion a deadly plan to destroy the criminals, pitting one against the other in a series of brilliantly orchestrated setups, showdowns and deadly confrontations. A Fistful of Dollars costars Marianne Koch and Gian Maria Volontè.

The film’s restoration included over 24 hours of extensive shot-by-shot color grading of the logarithmic restored 4K files provided by L’Immagine Ritrovata. Bonus features include audio commentary by novelist and critic Tim Lucas and film historian Sir Christopher Frayling, an interview with actress Koch, then-and-now location comparisons, and a featurette with Eastwood on the experience of making the film, among others.

The sequel For a Few Dollars More (1965) stars Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef as two rival bounty hunters who join forces to bring murderous bandit El Indio (Gian Maria Volontè) and his vicious gang of criminals to justice. But all is not as it seems as their quest erupts in blistering gun battles, jailbreaks and bank holdups. The film also features a  score by Ennio Morricone  and co-stars Mario Brega, Luigi Pistilli, Aldo Sambrell and Klaus Kinski.

This film also was color edited, with the Blu-ray Disc including such bonus features as audio commentaries by Lucas and Frayling, a visit with filmmaker Alex Cox to location settings in Almería and Granada; Eastwood’s remembrances; and the original Amerian release version of the film.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) concludes the “Man With No Name” trilogy. Eastwood returns as the anonymous lead character, this time teaming with two gunslingers to pursue a cache of $200,000 and letting no one, not even warring factions in a civil war, stand in their way. Hailed as “the best directed movie of all time” by Quentin Tarantino, the film co-stars Van Cleef as Angel Eyes and Eli Wallach as Tuco.

The 162-minute theatrical cut was restored through 30 hours of extensive shot-by-shot color grading from a 4K scan of a 1967 IB tech print. Bonus content on the disc includes audio commentary by Lucas; a making-of documentary; deleted and alternate scenes; a Civil War documentary; and various other featurettes.








“A Fistful of Dollars”

(1964)

 

Director: Sergio Leone

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Gian Maria Volonte, Marianne Koch

 

Country: U.S.A.

Label: Kino Lorber Studio Classics

Discs: 1

Restored 4K

Aspect ratio 2.35:1

Languages: 5.1 Surround and original 2.0 mono English

Subtitles: English

Running time: 99 minutes

Extras: Special Features: Audio Commentary by Novelist and Critic Tim Lucas and noted Film Historian Sir Christopher Frayling. MARISOL - Sergio Leone’s Madonna in the West: Interview with Actress Marianne Koch. The Christopher Frayling Archives: A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS. A New Kind of Hero. A Few Weeks in Spain: Clint Eastwood on the Experience of Making the Film. Tre Voci: Three Friends Remember Sergio Leone. Not Ready for Primetime: Renowned Filmmaker Monte Hellman Discusses the Television Broadcast of A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS. The Network Prologue with Harry Dean Stanton. Location Comparisons: Then to Now. TRAILERS FROM HELL with John Badham. Three Image Galleries. Archival Outtakes. Radio Spots. Double Bill Trailer & Radio Spot. Theatrical Trailer.

ASIN: B0C34RCTLK

Release date: June 6, 2023










“For a Few Dollars More”

(1965)

 

Director: Sergio Leone

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Gian Maria Volonte

 

Country: U.S.A.

Label: Kino Lorber Studio Classics

Discs: 1

Restored 4K

Aspect ratio 2.35:1

Languages: 5.1 Surround and original 2.0 mono English

Subtitles: English

Running time: 142 minutes

Extras: Audio Commentary by Novelist and Critic Tim Lucas and Film Historian Sir Christopher Frayling. On location in Almería and Granada with Filmmaker Alex Cox. The Christopher Frayling Archives: FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE. A New Standard: Frayling on FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE Back for More: Clint Eastwood Remembers FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE. Tre Voci: Three Friends Remember Sergio Leone. FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE: The Original American Release Version Featurette. Location Comparisons. TRAILERS FROM HELL with Ernest Dickerson.Four Image Galleries. Radio Spots. Double Bill Trailer and Radio Spot. Two Theatrical Trailers.

ASIN: B0C34NNDJ5

Available: June 6, 2023










“The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”

(1965)

 

Director: Sergio Leone

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Eli Wallach

 

Country: U.S.A.

Label: Kino Lorber Studio Classics

Discs: 1

Restored 4K

Aspect ratio 2.35:1

Languages: DTS-HD MA 5.1 Surround and original 2.0 mono English

Subtitles: English

Running time: 162 minutes

Audio Commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas. Leone's West: Making of Documentary. Il Maestro: Ennio Morricone and GBU Featurette Parts 1 & 2. The Leone Style: On Sergio Leone Featurette. The Man Who Lost the Civil War: Civil War Documentary. Reconstruction GBU (Extended Cut). Deleted Scenes and Vignettes. Alternate Scene: The Optical Flip. TRAILERS FROM HELL with Ernest Dickerson. Two Image Galleries. Original American, German and French Trailers.

ASIN: B0C34TSGBD

Available: June 6, 2023


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