In this definitive spaghetti western, Franco Nero (Keoma, The Fifth Cord) gives a career-defining performance as Django, a mysterious loner who arrives at a mud-drenched ghost town on the Mexico-US border, ominously dragging a coffin behind him. After saving imperilled prostitute Maria (Loredana Nusciak), Django becomes embroiled in a brutal feud between a racist gang and a band of Mexican revolutionaries… With Django, director Sergio Corbucci (The Great Silence) upped the ante for sadism and sensationalism in westerns, depicting machine-gun massacres, mud-fighting prostitutes and savage mutilations. A huge hit with international audiences, Django’s brand of bleak nihilism would be repeatedly emulated in a raft of unofficial sequels. The film is presented here in its 4K UHD Blu-ray debut, with a wealth of extras. Also included is the bonus feature Texas Adios on Blu-ray, which also stars Franco Nero, and was released as a sequel to Django in some countries.
Django (1966)
Walking through the desert dragging a coffin, a lonely cowboy rescues Maria from a group of bandits. That cowboy is Django, and he arrives in a muddy ghost town ravaged by those bandits, where only the saloon and the brothel, owned by Nataniele, are open. Soon, Major Jackson, who charges protection fees from the dwellers, rounds his gang up to face Django. Then a mercenary and acquaintance of Django, Gen. Hugo Rodriguez, arrives in town, and Django proposes a bold plan to steal the gold from Jackson and split it between them.
Django is widely known for being one of the defining films of the spaghetti western genre, and after watching it I have to say the feature comes by that designation honestly. The opening moments in which Django is dragging the coffin behind him through the muddy, barren lands is an iconic image that says so much about what this film is doing differently from everything else at this time. Westerns were known for being polished even within the dusty tales, as it was very rare that your stars would get too grimy before a final conflict in which it was a coin flip whether or not the protagonist would make it out alive. In this one shot, we have a hero trekking through mud with death symbolically on his heels. Franco Nero is not a “man with no name” like Clint Eastwood – he is Django, and by the time he is done with this violent tale it will be a name you will not soon forget. Sergio Corbucci has a great eye for framing this unflinching tale that feels as morally filthy as our hero is physically.
Part of what makes this film so satisfying is the way in which it draws a line between Django and the disreputable characters that surround him. Django is a man of few words, but he is more than willing to jump into the fray when he sees a wrong that he thinks needs to be corrected. Time after time, characters underestimate Django, and almost every time he finds a violent way to make them regret their decision. This film is not your classic John Wayne western; Django is an extremely brutal affair which was so outrageous to the UK film board that it was banned for many years. Even by today’s standards, Django is a film that can make you wince, but it is also one that can make you cheer such as when you find out what he has been dragging around in the coffin. Django tells a complete, satisfying story and it manages to do it in a spry 90 minute runtime. This is one of the films that helped shape Quentin Tarantino, so if you are looking for a fun entry point to the spaghetti western genre, this is an excellent starting point. Just be aware that it may go down from here.
Texas Adios (1966)
Franco Nero plays two-fisted, taciturn Texas sheriff Burt Sullivan, a man committed to duty and justice but possessed by a desire for revenge. Sullivan, along with his younger brother, crosses the border to bring wealthy and sadistic Mexican crime boss Cisco Delgado (José Suárez) to justice for the murder of their father. Eventually joining forces with a group of Mexican revolutionaries, Sullivan and his brother soon find themselves at the centre of a bloodbath.
While Texas Adios was positioned as a Django sequel to capitalize on the mass success of that pivotal feature, the truth of the matter is this story has way more in common with the typical American western than that of the “spaghetti” variety. It makes sense, though, as Nero once again returns to hero mode as a man of very few words who knows how to get his job done with his guns and fists. While Django feels downright revolutionary with its combination of brutal storyline and violent means, Texas Adios attempts similar brutality with less impactful results. We know by now that Nero is great at delivering a beatdown on one-note villains, but the stakes do not feel as earned as they do in Django. That is not to say there is not quite a bit to enjoy here; on the contrary this works well as a standard-fare western in which the protagonists work their way up to the finale of violence where the streets will be littered with bodies. Alberto Dell’Acqua does a fair job of being an emotional counterpart to Nero, but ultimately the weight of the narrative favors Nero more. The film may not be canonical in its relationship to Django, but those who appreciate seeing Nero in boss mode should find this a worthy addition to the set.
Video Quality
Arrow Video presents Django with a glorious 2160p transfer in its original 1.66:1 aspect ratio with both HDR10 and Dolby Vision transfer sourced from a 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative. For my money, Django ranks among the top presentations I have ever seen for a classic film on 4K UHD. The film features some bold colors such as Django’s bloody hand that pop off the screen with a vibrant intensity. The Dolby Vision offers a depth and stability of color that is frankly mind boggling. While the setting may be very brown and muddy, it proves to be a stunning sight when viewed here. The black levels are outstanding with nothing in the way of crush present, and white levels are solid as a rock with no evidence of blooming.
The level of detail and clarity is stunning with the appropriate amount of natural film grain intact. The grain resolves quite well without ever being clumpy or unsightly. The texture on display in the costumes and within the production design are a revelation. Even facial details like sweat present with impressive clarity. This transfer does feature a few stray specks that do not amount to much in the long run. This presentation is true to the original look of the film without the added resolution making elements seem out of place. There does not appear to be any jarring digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding or any other such nuisances. This presentation is an award-worthy effort from the team at Arrow Video.
Texas Adios makes its Blu-Ray debut thanks to Arrow Video with a brand new 1080p master in its original 2.35:1 from a 2K scan of the original two-perf Techniscope 35mm camera negative. The only word to describe this presentation is beautiful. The lovely photography shot by Enzo Barboni sparkles in high definition with natural grain intact. There is a fantastic amount of detail present with nice textures on the clothing, both in the fancy suits and in the shabby clothing of the revolutionaries. The new transfer shows off a great amount of depth and enhanced detail, but admittedly the close-up shots hold up better than the long shots. Black levels are very deep with no trace of black crush or compression artifacts. The contrast is well defined, and there is virtually no print damage to be found. Arrow Video has given this one the royal treatment.
Audio Quality
Both of these films come with a DTS-HD 1.0 Master Audio mono track in both the original Italian and the dubbed English version that represents these worlds in a pretty impressive way sonically. The desolate stillness of the desert settings creeps through to provide some excellent ambient details. All of the various sounds in the mix seem accurately rendered so that nothing ever feels off. The dialogue itself comes through crystal clear without being crushed by the sound effects or score. There are many moments of gunshots that pack enough of a punch without becoming a muddled mess in the ensuing chaos. The memorable score brings a triumphant mood to the proceedings that is represented well in the mix. Everything is presented with an excellent fidelity. This presentation is free of any hiss or other age-related wear-and-tear. Another 5-star effort from Arrow Video.
Special Features
The Limited Edition Collector’s Set of the Arrow Video 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Django + Texas Adios comes beautifully packaged in a hard outer case and includes a 60-page bound book featuring three essays from Howard Hughes, one essay by Robert Curti, a collection of contemporary reviews, and much more. These works provide a great analysis of these films and the genre at large in a thoughtfully written style. This package also includes six double-sided collector’s postcards and a double-sided poster. The on-disc special features are as follows:
Django
- Audio Commentary: Film critic, historian and theorist Stephen Prince provides an extremely insightful commentary track that details influences from other films, themes of the story, stories from the production, shot composition, histories of the cast and creative team and much more that proves to be a real treat for fans of the film.
- Django Never Dies: A newly-filmed 26-minute interview with star Franco Nero in which he discusses where he was in his career, what encouraged him to take the film, his experience working with Sergio Corbucci, his favorite scenes, filming the dragging of the coffin, the legacy of the film and more. This is pretty wonderful.
- Cannibal of the Wild West: A newly-filmed 26-minute interview with assistant director Ruggero Deodato in which he discusses his relationship with Corbucci, why he pushed for Franco Nero in the lead role, painful experiences post-Django, problems during the production and more. This is a very honest and enlightening piece that is worth a look.
- Sergio, My Husband: A newly-filmed 28-minute interview with Sergio Corbucci’s wife Nori Corbucci in which she discusses her husband’s relationship with the film, his directing style, highlights from his career, her relationship with Quentin Tarantino, the violence in the film, the connections to Italian politics throughout his career and much more.
- That’s My Life – Part 1: A 10-minute archival interview with screenwriter Franco Rossetti in which he discusses his love of France, his relationship with Corbucci, the bitterness he holds within himself, thoughts on some of his other works and more.
- A Rock ‘n’ Roll Scriptwriter: An 11-minute archival interview with co-writer Piero Vivarelli in which he discusses his place as a genre filmmaker, why he got his start in film, what he brought to the story, his writing process, humorous moments from the set and more.
- A Punch In The Face: A 19-minute interview with stuntman and actor Gilberto Galimberti in which he discusses getting his start in film, his various positions on film sets, what stunts he finds to be the most dangerous, moments where was scared on set, working with fire and more.
- Discovering Django: A 24-minute piece in which spaghetti western scholar Austin Fisher explores the counterculture nature of Django, how certain markets used Django as a brand name, the career of Corbucci, the trajectory of the narrative, the cultural perception of spaghetti westerns and more.
- An Introduction to Django by Alex Cox: A 12-minute archival piece in which acclaimed director Alex Cox (Repo Man) delivers a brief introduction to the film that touches on some of the history associated with this feature along with the careers of the the key figures after Django.
- Original Trailers: Both the Italian and International trailers are provided here.
- Image Galleries: Several collections of images are provided including Stills, Posters, Lobby Cards, Press Material and Home Video Material.
Texas Adios
- Audio Commentary: Spaghetti Western experts C. Courtney Joyner and Henry C. Parke deliver an easygoing and informative commentary track in which they discuss the talent in front of and behind the camera, the unique opening credits, comparisons to other spaghetti westerns, the local influences on the film, the post production process and much more. In addition to learning more about this film, you will learn a lot about the genre in general which will have you adding many films to your watchlist.
- The Sheriff Is In Town: A newly-filmed 20-minute interview with star Franco Nero in which he discusses the uniquely American look of Texas Adios, how this role differed from his typical roles, women in westerns, his prowess with guns and his stance on using them in the real world, and much more that is worth digging into if you are a fan of the performer. This is a wonderful addition to the set.
- Jump Into The West: A newly-filmed 34-minute interview with co-star Alberto Dell’Acqua in which he discusses getting the role in Texas Adios, his friendship with Franco Nero, his work as a stuntman, what it was like shooting in Spain, the different filming styles of various European countries, his career after this film and much more. He is a very animated character filled with interesting stories.
- That’s My Life – Part 2: A 9-minute archival interview with screenwriter Franco Rossetti in which he discusses his career, his thoughts on Franco Nero, his relationship with various creative figures and more.
- Hello Texas!: A 16-minute piece in which spaghetti western scholar Austin Fisher explores the time in which this film was released and how the genre exploded with experimentation. Fisher delves into what makes this specific narrative unique and why it is worthy of appreciation.
- Original Trailer: A nearly three-minute trailer is provided for the film.
- Image Galleries: Several collections of images are provided including Stills, Posters, Lobby Cards, Press Material and Home Video Material.
Final Thoughts
Django and Texas Adios prove to be an amazing double feature of brutal western justice as seen through the Italian point of view. Star Franco Nero is every bit as iconic as his contemporary Clint Eastwood in these spaghetti western classics, but generally less well known by the casual viewer. If you have even a passing interest in the genre, you owe it to yourself to edify yourself and let these films entertain you. Arrow Video has released a truly incredible Limited Edition collection with Django in a transcendent 4K UHD Blu-Ray presentation and Texas Adios with a lovely Blu-Ray release. Not only are the A/V presentations to die for, but the supplemental features and packaging are a fan’s dream come true. This is one of the standout releases of the year. Highly Recommended
Django (4K UHD Blu-Ray) + Texas Adios (Blu-Ray) (Limited Edition) is currently available to purchase.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray or Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Arrow Video has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
