Directed by action-adventure ace George Sherman (Against All Flags, Big Jake), Tomahawk stars screen great Van Heflin (Shane, Wings of the Hawk) as the legendary mountaineer and Native American sympathizer, Jim Bridger. When the U.S. government decides to build a wagon route to Montana’s gold in 1866, they must run through the middle of the Sioux hunting grounds. Bridger fights for justice and territorial rights for the Sioux, which leads to a full-scale conflict with the cavalry. This Technicolor classic boasts superb scenery, grand-scale action and a strong supporting cast, with Yvonne De Carlo (Border River, Buccaneer’s Girl) as a wagon-show singer, Alex Nicol (The Redhead from Wyoming) as a prejudiced lieutenant, Preston Foster (I Shot Jesse James) and Rock Hudson (The Last Sunset) as other members of the cavalry, and Susan Cabot (The Duel at Silver Creek) as Bridger’s traveling companion.

For thoughts on Tomahawk, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/ryBLRvEkLeE?t=2100]

Video Quality

Tomahawk debuts on Blu-Ray courtesy of Kino Classics with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer which is not noted as stemming from a new master, but it looks quite lovely all the same. Instances of print damage such as nicks and scratches are mostly kept at a reasonable level with overall clarity and detail looking excellent. There are minor specks and blemishes that have made their way onto the film elements, but very few are likely to be disappointed with how this looks in high definition.

Skin tones are a touch warm but consistent with subtle facial features such as stubble easily noticeable in closeup. Black levels hold up favorably with no egregious instances of crush apparent. This transfer retains the natural film grain of the presentation with a refined look rather than a clumpy mess. The presentation looks nice throughout most of the runtime with image stability and delineation being quite firm. Colors are well saturated with the warm hues of the western territory coming through. This presentation is a sterling effort that pleases even in lieu of a fresh master.

Audio Quality

This new Blu-Ray comes with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that sounds formidable throughout this excursion. The audio track avoids most instances of age related wear and tear, hissing or distortion. Dialogue holds up without issue, coming through clearly without being overshadowed by the gallant score or sound effects. The environmental effects are delineated nicely from the firing of guns to the galloping of horses. The score emanates without overshadowing the on-screen action, and it is presented with clarity and a strong fidelity as it fills the room. This track does everything that is asked of it. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided on this disc.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Film Critic/Author Lee Gambin and Actress/Film Historian Rutanya Alda deliver a very informative commentary track in which they discuss how this film fits into the western landscape, the progressive nature of the narrative, the background of various creative figures attached to the film, some of the flaws of the narrative, the history and reception of the picture, details about the shooting locations and more.

Trailers: The two-and-a-half minute trailer is provided for Tomahawk. There are also trailers provided for Border River, Wings of the Hawk, Quantez, Buccaneer’s Girl and Against All Flags.

Final Thoughts

Tomahawk is notable for its attempt to bring a progressive sensibility to the Old West. The effort is not perfect, but it is welcome to see the Native American community given some consideration during this period of storytelling, especially. Van Heflin is a stoic screen presence who anchors your attention alongside an enchanting Yvonne De Carlo. It is not an all-time classic, but it is worth a fan if you are looking for a lower profile gem from the genre. Kino Classics has released a new Blu-Ray with a very good A/V presentation and a nifty commentary track. Recommended

Tomahawk is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

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