THEY’D NEVER FORGET THE DAY HE DRIFTED INTO TOWN! From Clint Eastwood, the acclaimed director/star of The Outlaw Josey Wales, Pale Rider, Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino and The Mule, comes this western masterpiece and homage to his “The Man with No Name” legend. Eastwood portrays a mysterious stranger who emerges out of the heat waves of the desert and rides into the guilt-ridden town of Lago. After committing three murders in the first 20 minutes, The Stranger is hired by the town’s citizens to protect them from the three vengeful gunmen about to be released from jail. Eastwood’s second film as a director is a tribute to his three spaghetti western classics with the great Sergio Leone, and features a strong supporting cast that includes Verna Bloom (Medium Cool), Marianna Hill (The Baby), Mitchell Ryan (The Hunting Party), Jack Ging (Play Misty for Me), Geoffrey Lewis (Every Which Way but Loose), Anthony James (In the Heat of the Night), John Hillerman (Blazing Saddles), John Quade (Breakheart Pass) and Billy Curtis (The Terror of Tiny Town). Beautifully shot in CinemaScope by Bruce Surtees (Dirty Harry) with a great screenplay by Ernest Tidyman (The French Connection) and a memorable score by Dee Barton (Thunderbolt and Lightfoot).

For thoughts on High Plains Drifter, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/F23oOqWKYDM?t=1120]

Video Quality

Kino Classics presents High Plains Drifter with a really terrific 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer sourced from a 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative. The film was just released on Blu-Ray from the company just two years ago, but it appears that release was not derived from this new 4K master. The included Blu-Ray is sourced from the 4K scan, so this is likely an upgrade for those who are not 4K UHD capable, as well. This is by far the best the film has ever looked on physical media and should be considered the definitive way to watch the film outside of a cinema.

Detail and clarity is very impressive with the perfect amount of natural film grain intact. The grain experiences some moments that are a bit more thick, but mostly everything resolves well. There is not much in the way of jarring digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding or any other such nuisances. This transfer has eliminated nearly all rogue specks which allows this film to truly dazzle. This presentation honors the original aesthetic of the film with the added resolution making numerous elements seem more crisp and fully realized. The texture on display in the costumes and within the landscapes are a standout, and you will appreciate the grizzled facial details that present with stunning clarity.

The Dolby Vision brings out an unparalleled depth of color with the rich, earthy hues of the dusty environment leaping off the screen with an intense vibrancy. Even more mundane colors such as the wood of certain interiors show a greater nuance which makes this feel like the definitive home entertainment presentation of the film. Black levels are impressive with nothing to complain about in shadow detail and in resolving crushed blacks. White levels are bold with no evidence of blooming, and the stability of the overall picture is consistent throughout. The encode runs at a consistently high bitrate which alone cleans up so many issues you might worry would show up on this disc. This presentation is a top notch effort from Kino Classics.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with both a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio track in English that both handle this material well. Many fans will want to opt for the original 2.0 track, but those who want more from their speakers will find that the 5.1 track is very effective. The environmental sounds such as the clamoring of the townspeople and gunshots are a prime part of the experience, and every element is rendered well in relation to competing elements. The film is not an action powerhouse, but it definitely springs to life when confrontations come to a head. There does not seem to be any majorly noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear as things radiate out without fail.

Like his spaghetti westerns scores from the past, Eastwood treats the music as an essential element of the story which flows through with impeccable fidelity. This track handles every sonic element with precision throughout the duration of the experience. You do not encounter moments where the music comes close to overwhelming competing sounds, and it maintains a perfect balance so that dialogue comes through clearly. Kino Classics has done a nice job with this one.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Film Historians Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson deliver a new informative commentary track in which they discuss where this film fits into the genre, the direction of Clint Eastwood, the tone of the feature, how the movie subverts conventions, potential supernatural connections and more.

Audio Commentary #2: Filmmaker Alex Cox provides an excellent commentary track in which he discusses the gothic elements, the creative decisions of Eastwood, the production design, the location shooting, analysis of the plot and more.

Lady Vengeance – Interview with Actress Marianna Hill: A 14-minute interview with the actress in which she discusses the qualities of her character, working with Clint Eastwood, memories from the production, her motivation behind certain moments and more.

Hell To Pay – Interview with Actor Mitchell Ryan: An eight-minute conversation with the actor in which he discusses the experience of working with Clint Eastwood, traveling to the shooting locations, his work ethic, the legacy of the film and more.

The Barber Of Lago – Interview with Actor William O’Connell: A 16-minute interview with the actor in which he discusses his early life, working with Clint Eastwood, the themes and legacy of the narrative and more.
A Man Named Eastwood – Vintage Promo: A seven-minute archival featurette which gives you a decent overview of Clint Eastwood up until this point.

Trailers From Hell with Josh Olson: A two-and-a-half minute overview of High Plains Drifter with screenwriter Josh Olson (A History Of Violence).

Trailers From Hell with Edgar Wright: A two-and-a-half minute overview of High Plains Drifter with screenwriter filmmaker Edgar Wright (Last Night In Soho).

Poster and Image Gallery: A collection of promotion and production images are provided here.

Radio Spot: There is a minute-long radio spot provided for the film.

TV Spot: There is a minute-long TV spot provided for the film.

Trailers: There are two trailers provided for High Plains Drifter (2:31, 1:25). There are also trailers provided for A Fistful Of Dollars, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, For A Few Dollars More, Two Mules For Sister Sara and Joe Kidd.

Final Thoughts

High Plains Drifter is not quite to the level of the Sergio Leone classics that Eastwood made a splash with, but it delivers something pretty gritty and unique within the genre. There are elements such as the casual treatment of sexual assault which sours the mood a bit, but on the whole this plot delivers palpable tension and moments of surrealism. Eastwood is strong both as a screen presence and behind the camera shaping this film. Kino Classics has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a wonderful A/V presentation and a fine assortment of special features. Eastwood fans should be more than pleased. Recommended

High Plains Drifter is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD 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.