The great, gruff Nick Nolte (48 Hrs., Lorenzo’s Oil) stars in this brutally honest, all-time classic sports film about one man’s rebellion against the bureaucratic, manipulative world of professional football. Based on the semi-autobiographical novel by former Dallas Cowboy Peter Gent, North Dallas Forty depicts Nolte as an aging ballplayer who, through a woman he meets (Dayle Haddon), is drawn away from the masculine, violent world in which he has lived so long. In doing so, he finds himself at odds with the team’s management (G.D. Spradlin, Charles Durning, and Steve Forrest). Superbly play-called by director Ted Kotcheff (Billy Two Hats, First Blood), the excitement, humor, and drama of North Dallas Forty is heightened by its meticulous attention to the details of a football player’s private and public life and its authenticity on the playing field. Co-starring country music legend Mac Davis, with Bo Svenson and Dabney Coleman.

For thoughts on North Dallas Forty, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/66A22AvMBjM?si=EWZD37t0GhAA3wsa&t=46]

Video Quality

Kino Classics presents North Dallas Forty with a pretty great 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer for the first time on 4K UHD Blu-Ray sourced from a 4K scan of the Original 35mm Camera Negative. This film was never released previously on Blu-Ray in the US, which makes the jump straight to 4K UHD a pleasant surprise. We have heard the overseas Blu-Ray release was a bit lacking, but this transfer does not showcase much in the way of stray specks or damage after the refresh. The included remastered Blu-Ray provides a notable level of detail and clarity that is surpassed by the 4K UHD. This disc stays clear of jarring digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, and any other such nuisances. The transfer retains a good amount of natural film grain without overwhelming signs of digital management. The grain is not too heavy, and it resolves very well with it looking sharp and compact.

The texture on display in the uniforms and within the locations is a welcome sight that makes the frame more tangible. Subtle facial details such as perspiration present with supreme clarity. Any downturns are brief at worst with a nod toward consistency. The Dolby Vision works its magic with this release as it brings out the nuances in the hues and handles contrast favorably. Elements such as clothing and some of the vegetation achieve a deep saturation. Black levels are robust with not much left to be desired in shadow detail and in resolving crushed blacks. Highlights stay firm with no semblance of blooming. This presentation is a grand effort from Kino Classics, and it serves as a much-deserved step up from any other previous release.

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 represents the material well. As has become a trend with discs from this label with multiple audio tracks, we are not sure if the DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track is the original split mono track or a downmix of the surround sound track. There do not seem to be any serious instances of age-related wear and tear or general weakness. Every sound maintains a fine balance so nothing gets overshadowed within the mix.

The environmental sounds such as the spectators at the game are rendered well alongside everything else. Dialogue comes through clearly and without any trace of sibilance-related issues. The score is used to ease you into the tone of the narrative, and this track handles it thoughtfully throughout the film. The track is pleasant throughout while always sounding robust. Kino Classics has delivered a strong audio presentation for this one. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Film Historians Daniel Kremer and Daniel Water provide an informative commentary track with occasional insights from director Ted Kotcheff in which they discuss where this film fits into the sports genre, the background of the shooting locations, the suggestions star Nick Nolte had for certain scenes, the background of the various performers, the film’s legacy, and more.

Hit Me With Those Best Shots – Ted Kotcheff Remembers North Dallas Forty: A five-minute featurette in which the filmmaker reads from a section of his memoir that recalls the production of this film.

Looking To Get Out – A Comparative Analysis of the Ted Kotcheff Vision: A 19-minute visual essay from Daniel Kremer that explores the career of Ted Kotcheff, the recurring themes of his work, how his various films handle the idea, the unpredictable nature of his filmmaking, and more.

Introduction by Ted Kotcheff: A minute-and-a-half-long introduction from the director in which he briefly discusses the warm feelings he has for this film.

TV Spot: A 33-second low-resolution TV spot is provided.

Trailers: The three-minute trailer is provided for North Dallas Forty. There are also trailers provided for Number One, The Longest Yard, Semi-Tough, The Best of Times, Return to Macon County, New York Stories, Lorenzo’s Oil, Jefferson In Paris, Mulholland Falls, Billy Two Hats, and Split Image.

Final Thoughts

North Dallas Forty is an unflinching look at the harsh realities of being a professional athlete that remains as relevant as ever. Some moments are dated by modern sensibilities, but everything feels authentic to how these characters would have spoken and behaved at the time. The movie is often very funny, yet it also knows when to twist the emotional knife when necessary. Nick Nolte is dynamite leading this talented ensemble that shows very few weak links. In terms of sports movies, this ranks among the best. Kino Classics has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a fantastic A/V presentation and a decent array of archival supplemental features. If you are a fan of the film, this is the release you have been dreaming about. Recommended

North Dallas Forty 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.