Gunny Rafferty (Alan Arkin) is a lonely ex-marine adrift in the sea of humanity known as Los Angeles. In the morning, he leaves his rundown apartment and drives his beat-up car to a boring, mind-numbing job. But today is going to be different when Gunny meets two footloose female drifters Mac and Frisbee (Sally Kellerman and Mackenzie Phillips) who cajole him into take a road trip to New Orleans. Resigning himself to the situation, Rafferty joins forces with this terrible twosome. On the road, their odyssey shifts into high gear as these lovable losers get into one comic misadventure after the other. Two of their victims, Charles Martin Smith (American Graffiti) and Harry Dean Staton (Paris, Texas) get humorously stung by the antics of consummate femme fatale/pool hustler Frisbee. Eventually romance brings Rafferty and Mac together. Even Frisbee’s hostile attitude softens as these lost souls form a compassionate fondness for each other. Finishing their journey on a bittersweet, but hopeful note, director Dick Richards (co-producer of Tootsie) crafted a funny and tender twist on the road movie that celebrates the human spirit.
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Video Quality
Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins gets a terrific upgrade on Blu-Ray courtesy of Warner Archive with a new 1080p transfer derived from a 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative. The restoration has preserved the sumptuous natural film grain that feels essential to any movie from this era. This transfer delivers a sturdy encode free of any serious compression artifacts or other such digital anomalies. There are facets of the lived-in production design that have never been clearer. There are also some complex colors featured in the various locales, such as the lighting in the bar, that add to the ambiance of the film. This disc translates the wide array of landscapes on this trip with a level of clarity and nuance that is to be admired. Skin tones are natural, consistent, and detailed, and the presentation offers faithful black levels free from crush. Warner Archive has lived up to its high standard of quality.
Audio Quality
Warner Archive gives this Blu-Ray a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that captures the source with commendable confidence. Dialogue stays planted in the center channel with environmental sounds deployed properly in the dual mono mix. Sounds of automobiles and other sounds within the setting add some texture to this journey. A standout aspect of the film is the music, and every tune sounds healthy as it deploys notes with unwavering fidelity. This audio presentation is in good shape throughout thanks to the Warner Archive. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided on this disc.
Special Features
- Original Theatrical Trailer (2:56)
Final Thoughts
Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins is an inviting little gem from the ‘70s that blends a “band of misfits” (aka “chosen family”) plot with the easygoing allure of a road trip picture. There is an almost episodic structure to the journey as our characters get into one interesting mishap after the next. Anchoring this all is the detached earnestness of Alan Arkin and his dynamic with his two memorable companions. You would be forgiven if you have never heard of this one before, but it is worth catching up with it during its second life. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a gorgeous A/V presentation, but not much in the way of special features. Recommended
Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive 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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
