‘Dead Heat On A Merry-Go-Round’ Blu-Ray Review – Satisfying Heist Film Is Buoyed By The Great James Coburn

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Screen icon James Coburn (Our Man Flint, A Fistful of Dynamite) stars as Eli Kotch, a captivating rogue and full-time con man in this comical crime caper also featuring Aldo Ray (Kill a Dragon) and Camilla Sparv (Murderers’ Row). In prison, Kotch cleverly seduces an attractive psychologist to win parole. Once out, he immediately goes to work—planning a major bank robbery at the Los Angeles International Airport. The logistics of the heist call for “imaginative” thinking, so Kotch hires an electronics wizard, charms Inger Knudsen (Sparv) into marriage and recruits Eddie Hart (Ray) to work the airport as a disguised cop. Once everything is set, the determined Kotch is ready to blast into action. But will his scheme really land him the loot he’s looking for—or will his dreams wind up in a Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round? Featuring Nina Wayne (Luv), Robert Webber (The Dirty Dozen) and the film debut of Harrison Ford (Blade Runner).

For thoughts on Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round, please check out our discussions on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/Gq72yhAZ0tk?si=7MbrqNNRznYtBhEa&t=908]

Video Quality

Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round debuts on Blu-Ray with a new digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in its original 1.85:1 that is fairly solid, but we would not pass up a refresh in the future. This transfer is derived from an older master that was supplied by Sony which exhibits a small amount of age-related anomalies, but it holds up better than other Sony-licensed titles from this month. This transfer reveals a small bit of print damage such as specks, but nothing totally egregious. Colors have an exceptional level of saturation, especially in certain articles of clothing and within the production design. Black level could be a bit stronger as it does not retain object shape at all times and grain shifts to digital noise in some shots. You will also spot some softness in a couple moments due to how the film was captured. This release from Kino Classics is good, but we wouldn’t mind seeing it treated better in the future. 

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with a really great DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that more than gets the job done. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without being overwhelmed by other elements. The score complements the narrative well and maintains a top notch fidelity. This track does not show any egregious age-related wear and tear anywhere throughout this one. Environmental sounds within the various locations are rendered accurately. Kino Classics has delivered a rock solid audio presentation for this film. This release comes with optional English SDH subtitles. 

Special Features

• Trailers: The two-and-a-half minute trailer is provided for Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round. There are also trailers provided for A Fistful of Dynamite, Harry In Your Pocket, The Internecine Project, Kill A Dragon, Gambit, Arabesque, Masquerade (1988), Grand Slam, The Anderson Tapes and Masquerade (1965).  

Final Thoughts

Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round is a fun heist film that trades on the charm of star James Coburn to keep you hooked throughout the buildup and satisfying payoff. There is not much setting it apart on a narrative level, but the execution elevates its stock quite well with deft editing, unique shot composition and an engaging ensemble. Kino Classics has given this feature a new Blu-Ray featuring an admirable A/V presentation but next to nothing in the way of special features. If you are looking for a good heist film, this is worth a look. Recommended 

Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

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

Disclaimer: Kino Classics 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.