The Jericho Mile (1979)

[James Luckard]

Amazing news!!! From Kino Lorber's Facebook posting:



Coming July 3rd!
First Time on DVD and Blu-ray!
Brand New HD Master - 2K Scan of the Original Camera Negative!

Winner of three Emmy Awards including Best Actor (Strauss), Best Teleplay (Mann and Patrick J. Nolan) and Editing (Schmidt)

DGA Award Winner - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Specials/Movies for TV/Actuality

Eddie Award Winner: Best Edited Television Special

The Jericho Mile (1979) Starring Peter Strauss, Richard Lawson, Roger E. Mosley, Brian Dennehy, Geoffrey Lewis, Billy Green Bush, Ed Lauter, Beverly Todd, William Prince and Richard Moll - Shot by Rexford L. Metz (The Gauntlet) - Edited by Arthur Schmidt (Forrest Gump) - Co-Written and Directed by Michael Mann (Thief, Heat).

Includes Audio Commentary by Film Historian Lee Gambin and Trailer (without audio).

[James Luckard]

I have an OOP 2005 Dutch DVD of this, which I believe is the only DVD release it has ever had. It's an excellent film, people seem to routinely think THIEF was Mann's first film, completely overlooking this one. I can't wait to see the remastered version KL is giving us!!!

[Hoke Moseley]

Wowwwwww!



Amazing news indeed.

I've only ever watched it in 480p on Youtube. :|

[nikita70]

If the blu has subtitles then I’m in.

[JezelleGHartman]

This looks great! I’m in blind

[klauswhereareyou]

Never thought this would get released on blu-ray. I'm very happy to hear this and will pick it up for sure.

[James Luckard]

This is sort of Mann's equivalent of DUEL, a TV movie that transcended the limitations of the genre, showing the artistry he was capable of, even on a shoestring budget. It explores all his favorite themes to do with criminality and masculinity, and the way men develop process and routine over time and how it impacts them. It's a vital part of his filmography, I'm delighted we're getting what sounds like an ideal release of it.

[tim_p]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

This is sort of Mann's equivalent of DUEL, a TV movie that transcended the limitations of the genre, showing the artistry he was capable of, even on a shoestring budget.

Absolutely correct. I've got the Dutch dvd too. Looks like no input from the Mann, which is disappointing considering its significance and pedigree, and I'm sure his opinion of it is more positive than The Keep!

[trip66]

I'm a huge Mann fan, and this is the one film of his I've never seen. From the clips I've seen, it is absolutely in line with the rest of his films (except The Keep). Even a line from this film, "I'm doing my own time, time isn't doing me" (or something like that), was re-used in Blackhat.

This film was born out of Mann visiting Folsom and working with Eddie Bunker while working on the script for Straight Time, starring Dustin Hoffman. Mann would later re-connect with Bunker as a technical adviser on Heat.

I know this was only a TV movie in the US, but it was given a theatrical release in Europe, so I'm wondering what the aspect ratio is gonna be. It may have been shot in 1:33 for TV, but then cropped to 1:85 for theaters.

[klauswhereareyou]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

This is sort of Mann's equivalent of DUEL, a TV movie that transcended the limitations of the genre, showing the artistry he was capable of, even on a shoestring budget. It explores all his favorite themes to do with criminality and masculinity, and the way men develop process and routine over time and how it impacts them. It's a vital part of his filmography, I'm delighted we're getting what sounds like an ideal release of it.

Yeah other than the violence and language I don't think Mann had to compromise much by having this be a made for TV film.

[klauswhereareyou]

I always thought for years the hold up with this getting a release past VHS in North America was that the title music sounded very similar to the Rolling Stones Sympathy for the Devil, or at least that was what people were spit balling on the old IMDB message boards.

The Jericho Mile - Sympathy For The Devil - YouTube

[Hoke Moseley]

Originally Posted by tim_p

Absolutely correct. I've got the Dutch dvd too. Looks like no input from the Mann, which is disappointing considering its significance and pedigree, and I'm sure his opinion of it is more positive than The Keep!

I'm pretty sure Mann has a very positive opinion on The Jericho Mile... Kino should definitely try to track him down for an interview at the very least.

[klauswhereareyou]

Originally Posted by Hoke Moseley

I'm pretty sure Mann has a very positive opinion on The Jericho Mile... Kino should definitely try to track him down for an interview at the very least.

I think I'd actually like them not to because I don't want him to decide to re-edit it like he seems to do to all his films that get re-released.

[Hoke Moseley]

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

I think I'd actually like them not to because I don't want him to decide to re-edit it like he seems to do to all his films that get re-released.

Lol, good point.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by trip66

I know this was only a TV movie in the US, but it was given a theatrical release in Europe, so I'm wondering what the aspect ratio is gonna be. It may have been shot in 1:33 for TV, but then cropped to 1:85 for theaters.

It may very well have been cropped for European theaters, but I certainly hope it'll be 1.33 on BD, since that was the intended aspect ratio.

[MJD64]

Now all we need is a Blu of the inspiration for Heat, L.A. Takedown (which, like Jericho Mile, I've not seen). A 1.66 ratio is listed on IMDB for the theatrical release that trip66 cited, will be curious to see what Kino goes with.

That this is getting a Blu release at all is pretty impressive and unexpected; miracles do happen sometimes (though it will take something more than a miracle to see a release of The Keep, I fear ).

[mca213]

cant wait for this one, Mann is one of my fav directors and I have never seen this.

THANKS KINO!

[Hoke Moseley]

Originally Posted by MJD64

Now all we need is a Blu of the inspiration for Heat, L.A. Takedown (which, like Jericho Mile, I've not seen).

L.A. Takedown kind of stinks, unfortunately. It's interesting to watch it as a blueprint for Heat, but that's about it.

On the other hand, The Jericho Mile is legitimately pretty great.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by Hoke Moseley

L.A. Takedown kind of stinks, unfortunately. It's interesting to watch it as a blueprint for Heat, but that's about it.

On the other hand, The Jericho Mile is legitimately pretty great.

Yep, Jericho Mile is a genuine film, with a story that he was passionate about. LA Takedown feels like it was just an exercise, done quickly, to prepare for the masterpiece that is Heat. I actually think it's amazing he got to do a first rough draft like this, and if it helped him create his defining film, then every cent was worth it. At most, though, it's a fascinating curio for any completist Heat/Mann fans, but I'd go so far as to say it's borderline unwatchable to anyone but Mann obsessives.

[MJD64]

Yeah, I'm not expecting much from L.A. Takedown and even not having seen it have no doubt it pales by comparison to Heat...but as a Mann completist I gotta watch it one of these days!