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.

A savvy U.S. major (Burt Lancaster) reluctantly obeys an ill-advised order to send out a unit of South Vietnamese troops and American advisors to a peaceful, former French outpost. He fears it will draw the Viet Cong into the area — and he’s right!

For thoughts on Go Tell The Spartans, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/tgmHjkh1298?si=DKXDATID93hMIasr&t=2828]

Video Quality

Go Tell The Spartans debuts on Blu-Ray with a 1080p transfer in its original 1.85:1 which looks to be derived from an unremarkable older master from MGM. It would have done wonders to freshen this one up a bit, but at least we can be thankful the transfer avoids signs of excessive damage and digital manipulation. Colors seem pretty dull overall with saturation not standing out as a strong element. There are plenty of nicks and scratches throughout, but nothing that pulls you out of the viewing experience. The transfer occasionally looks a bit soft and undefined, but most of the movie looks acceptable.

The picture maintains a thick sheen of natural film grain with some density fluctuations at play. The grain can swarm around a bit, but compression artifacts and other digital anomalies do not pop up consistently as an issue. Black levels could be better when it comes to depth, as some moments struggle to gain the nuances of the shadows. Highlights are somewhat of an issue as there are a few moments when whites have been clipped. MGM has plucked another one out of their archives without a major effort to remaster, and the audience is greeted to a lacking transfer.

Audio Quality

MGM brings us this new Blu-Ray with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that is somewhat better than the video side of things but still shows its age. The sounds of certain battle moments add a dynamic touch to the mix, but elements could be more distinguished for clarity. The score complements the tone of the story, and it holds up okay when it comes to fidelity. Dialogue comes through clearly without much sibilance or other sonic intrusions. The environmental effects get a bit messy in more chaotic developments. The age-related weaknesses are not hidden, but MGM gets on the right side of listenability with this release. There are no subtitles provided.

Special Features

There are no special features provided on the disc.

Final Thoughts

Go Tell The Spartans is a somewhat forgettable war tale made only a bit unique due to the presence of Burt Lancaster. The weary outlook of the soldiers when it comes to how they are moved around like pieces on a chess board resonates with viewers and opens up questions about responsibility and obedience to a cause. The movie becomes a bit sluggish in spots, but overall there is enough good in here to earn it a viewing. MGM has brought this film to Blu-Ray with an okay A/V presentation but nothing in the way of special features. Those who love Lancaster or wartime features should give it a spin.

Go Tell The Spartans can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers.

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

Disclaimer: MGM 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.