Arthur Dong Collection Blu-Ray Review – Master Documentarian Gets First Class Release

With over 150 awards to his name, the full scope of Arthur Dong’s storytelling mastery is brought to light in this special edition Blu-ray collection of films that explore the Asian American and LGBTQ experience. Distinguished by his intensely compassionate and wonderfully crafted stories, this collection of critically acclaimed and award-winning films, plus a bonus disc with four hours of shorts, outtakes, and more, powerfully illustrates the many sides and faces of the Asian American and gay rights struggle in America.

For thoughts on Arthur Dong’s LGBTQ Stories, please check out our previous Blu-Ray review here. 

For thoughts on Arthur Dong’s Asian American Stories,  please check out our previous Blu-Ray review here. 

Video Quality

Arthur Dong’s LGBTQ Stories contains the four films on one disc preserved and restored by the UCLA Legacy Project. The encoding is likely pushed to its limits, yet we did not spot any glaring digital artifacts given the length of the titles. Coming Out Under Fire is the most impressive visually thanks to the glorious 16mm black-and-white source thriving with lovely film grain. The transfer holds up well throughout with nothing looking compromised and no major instances of spiking. The 16mm source has been restored with care with only sporadic white specks, tiny cuts, and other small signs of wear.

Out Rage ‘69 comes from an upscaled video source, while Licensed to Kill and Family Fundamentals seem to be completed with a combination of film and digital capture, and these all look as good as their source allows. Colors are decently saturated with hues standing out in some of the clothing. The transfers show off some fine detail in Family Fundamentals in the backgrounds. The video capture of Out Rage ‘69 struggles to unlock the crisp detail you want. There do not appear to be any deal-breaking issues with compression artifacts or any other such nuisances. This set allows these works to be seen in their best state. 

Arthur Dong’s Asian American Stories contains the four films on one disc which have been preserved and restored by the UCLA Legacy Project. Having all of these films on one disc may spark some concern but given the length of the titles, the encoding does not seem to be pushed beyond its limits. Sewing Woman and Forbidden City, USA are the most impressive visually thanks to the sumptuous 16mm source replete with lovely film grain. The transfer maintains a consistent picture throughout with nothing looking unnatural and no major instances of spiking. When you consider the age of the film and the condition of the source material, it is pleasing to see the material looking so alive. This gorgeous presentation all but eliminates every blemish to the 16mm source outside of the occasional white specks, tiny cuts, and other small signs of wear.

Hollywood Chinese and The Killing Fields of Dr. Haing S. Ngor seem to be completed with a combination of film and digital capture, and these both look excellent even if it is a change from the earlier work. Colors present as vivid as the initial source will allow with hues radiating off the screen. The clips utilized in Hollywood Chinese do not always look the best, but they are likely the best that could be sourced at the time the film was made. The transfers show off some fine detail in the environments and clothing of the subjects. There do not appear to be any issues with compression artifacts or any other such digital anomalies. This set does a wonderful job of giving life to the vital work of the filmmaker. 

Audio Quality

Arthur Dong’s LGBTQ Stories is presented with a newly restored DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track for all of the films except for Out Rage ‘69, which is presented with a Dolby Digital 2.0 track. All tracks suit the material as well as the source will allow. The interviews and narration are the primary focus, and they largely hold up quite well depending on when and where the subjects were recorded. Certain utterances are slightly muddled due to some of the limitations of the equipment but mostly things remain clear. There are intermittent fluctuations in the audio that seem to stem from the condition of the source material, but these are very brief and not a significant issue. Considering the material, the results are admirable. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided. 

Arthur Dong’s Asian American Stories is presented with a newly restored DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track for Hollywood Chinese and the English audio for The Killing Fields of Dr. Haing S. Ngor which are very pleasant. Sewing Woman, Forbidden City USA, and the Khmer audio for The Killing Fields of Dr. Haing S. Ngor are provided with newly restored DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio tracks that suit the material as well as the source will allow. The interviews and narration are the main focus, and they mostly hold up quite well considering the conditions of capturing some of these subjects. Most of them are present in stable environments, but some outings take you to more unpredictable spaces.

Certain strands of information are a bit muddled due to some of the limitations of the equipment but mostly things remain clear. There are fleeting fluctuations in the audio that seem to stem from the condition of the source material, but these are very brief and not an overwhelming issue. Considering the variables in play during these restorations, the results are a good experience for fans of the filmmaker. English SDH subtitles are provided for those who desire them. 

Special Features

• 45 Years In Film – Arthur Dong In Conversation with Oliver Wang: A 21-minute conversation courtesy of The Criterion Collection in which the filmmaker discusses his early work and entry into filmmaking, the topics he chose to explore, his inspiration for various projects, how his personal life influenced his work, and more. 

• Short Films

• • Public (5:04)

• • Living Music for Golden Mountains (Director’s Cut) (18:05)

• Licensed to Kill

• • Interview with Arthur Dong (10:35)

• • Follow-Up Interview with Jay Johnson (13:54)

• Coming Out Under Fire

• • Additional Interview – Pat Bond (10:58)

• • Additional Interview – Ernest Max Cole (6:59)

• • Additional Interview – Elwood Burton Gerrits (8:20)

• • Additional Interview – Nicolai Gioscia (9:04)

• • Additional Interview – Edna Rostow (5:45)

• • Trailer (2:52)

• Family Fundamentals

• • Interview with Arthur Dong (15:01)

• • Additional Scene – San Diego Spatula Ministries (10:02)

• Forbidden City, USA

• • Charlie Low Promo Clip (1:12)

• • Charlie Low Ranch Outtakes – “What’s For Dinner?” (2:20)

• • Performance Outtakes (3:44)

• • Soundie – “Chinese Joy Dance” (Starring Noel Toy) (2:28)

• Hollywood Chinese

• • Arthur Dong In Conversation with Jacqueline Stewart (48:38)

• • Conversation with Luise Rainer (11:12)

• • Conversation with Turhan Bey (4:53)

• • Conversation with B.D. Wong (7:01)

• • Dialogue About Yellowface (10:07)

• • Trailer (2:16)

• The Killing Fields of Dr. Haing S. Hgor

• • Hope For Cambodia Press Conference (June 30, 1988) (6:00)

• • Music Video (2:44)

• • Trailer (2:10)

• Booklet: “Film Is A Weapon: Arthur Dong’s Life In Documentary” by Alonso Duralde 

Final Thoughts

The Arthur Dong’s Collection is a rewarding set of films that explores engrossing topics with great care and understanding. From the smaller, more personal snapshots to the decades-spanning plight of a major segment of the population, you have stories that enlighten on every scale. The material is often harrowing, but there is enough variety within this presentation to avoid this being a grueling experience. Kino Lorber has released a Blu-Ray featuring a pretty solid A/V presentation and a new disc of incredible special features. If you are a documentary fan, this one is essential viewing. Highly Recommended 

The Arthur Dong’s Collection will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray on December 31, 2024. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Lorber has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.