Robert Taylor (Quo Vadis) and Stewart Granger (The Prisoner of Zenda) team up in this “grim, fierce, raw-boned outdoor fare” (Variety) filmed on location in rugged Custer State Park, North Dakota.
Charlie Gilson (Taylor), a mean-spirited hunter, joins reserved Sandy McKenzie (Granger) on a great government-sanctioned buffalo hunt that will keep the buffalo population under control and make the men rich. Joining them are Woodfoot, an old, one-legged skinner (Lloyd Nolan), and Jimmy (Russ Tamblyn), a half-Indian boy. But trouble begins to break the team apart when Charlie kills a group of Indians whom he accuses of stealing his horses. Charlie’s subsequent mistreatment of the lone survivors – an Indian woman and her child – forces Sandy to realize that his partner is consumed with hate…and that he enjoys killing more than just buffalo. “Raw, real and rugged” (L.A. Examiner), The Last Hunt is so intense and powerful that its stark images will stay with you long after the film ends.
For thoughts on The Last Hunt, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:
Video Quality
Warner Archive provided The Last Hunt with an impressive 1080p master transfer in 2.35:1 when it was released in 2018 from a remastered source. The exact origins of this new master is unclear, but it was stated that the previously existing elements precluded any kind of physical media release prior to this Blu-Ray, so this is a big win for Western fans. Warner Archive always puts its best foot forward when it comes to restorations, and this is a strong showing on all fronts.
The retention of the natural film grain enhances the picture to great heights to accurately capture the cinematography of Russell Harlan. This is a transfer replete with great detail and clarity. The film delivers sumptuous colors within the sprawling environments that radiate off the screen. This is especially gratifying given this was captured with the notoriously problematic EastmanColor process. Black levels are pretty deep and highlights stay firm during the runtime. The film is ostensibly clear of imperfections with no obvious instances of damage or dirt detected. Compression artifacts, banding, and other such issues do not arise as an issue in this transfer. Warner Archive always puts in top-tier work.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio stereo track that is just as pleasing as the video side of things. The rousing score is free of unwanted anomalies. Dialogue and environmental noises work in tandem with the score so everything has the appropriate resonance. Exchanges come through with the utmost clarity with no elements stealing focus. The more exciting moments of buffalo hunting are handled well and give the track a bit of activity. There is no serious age-related wear and tear to the track such as hissing, dropouts, or popping. Warner Archive has put forth the necessary effort here. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included for the feature film.
Special Features
- MGM Parade TV Promo #1: A nearly four-minute excerpt from the MGM promotional series in which Russ Tamblyn discusses his experience on The Last Hunt.
- MGM Parade TV Promo #2: An eight-minute excerpt from the MGM promotional series in which producer Dore Schary and writer/director Richard Brooks cue up a promotional video on the creation of The Last Hunt.
- Trailer (3:46)
Final Thoughts
The Last Hunt can be slightly tough to watch if you have a strong aversion to violence against animals, but the indication seems to be that the production put forth an effort to avoid any unnecessary cruelty when depicting this story. If you can get past these elements, this is a gripping Western thriller that plays with the morality of man in very effective ways. Robert Taylor and Stewart Granger square off on screen like two titans clashing for the delight of the audience. If you are a fan of the genre, this is an easy recommendation. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray that sports a great A/V presentation but not much in the way of special features. Recommended
The Last Hunt 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.
