The Hallelujah Trail (1965)

[MifuneFan]

The Hallelujah Trail Blu-ray


John Sturges' The Hallelujah Trail will be released by Olive Films on February 27th.

As the winter of 1867 approaches, Denver inhabitants led by chronic drunk Oracle Jones (Donald Pleasence), who has visions when inebriated, realize with horror that their supply of whiskey will run out before the snows melt. Oracle devises a plan to bring cases of whiskey from a distillery, but is thwarted at every turn. A temperance leader (Lee Remick), three Sioux Indians, and the U.S. Cavalry become interested in the shipment, and a sandstorm and quicksand add to the difficulties.

[BarnDoor]

Didn't Twilight Time drop this one? If so I imagine it will look pretty rough, so probably best to check your expectations.

[noirjunkie]

You can't go wrong with Burt Lancaster and Lee Remick. I'm in.

[yellowcakeuf6]

Will it be presented in the Ultra Panavision AR of 2.76:1 is the question.

[Rory]

I used to own this on laserdisc. Not a great comedy, but the photography is superb and I have a nostalgic thing for these overblown '60s Roadshow pictures, like THOSE MAGNIFICENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES, released the same month back in 1965.

Found this bit of trivia on Wikipedia:

On October 19, 1968, three years and four months after its release, the film had its television premiere in a three-hour timeslot on NBC Saturday Night at the Movies.

I was nine years old in '68 and I remember my parents watching it.

[gates70]

I collect everything Lancaster, so I'm in.

[Duke_45]

Oh, what could have been with this film. Turned out to be a massive bore

[CinemaScope]

Originally Posted by Duke_45

Oh, what could have been with this film. Turned out to be a massive bore

Yeah, John Sturges & Burt Lancaster could do most things...but not comedy. But if the transfer is up to snuff I'd still buy it, a huge sixties film, fantastic Elmer Bernstein soundtrack. Another not so hot sixties western I'd love is McKenna's Gold, which might appear this year, & coming from Sony would no doubt look a lot better than Hallelujah Trail.

[yellowcakeuf6]

There have been a few large format films that were written off as needing very expensive restorations for even a Blu-ray release that eventually came without too much expense, and looked very good: Strategic Air Command; Krakatoa, East of Java; Custer of the West.
I can't believe they would use the old DVD transfer for Trail, it has to have had a new scan.

[Tns49]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

John Sturges' The Hallelujah Trail will be released by Olive Films on February 27th.

BB Pre-order: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hallelu...skuId=33786558
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078XX3MP3...llelujah+trail

I wonder why preorders are not up at Amazon. Hopefully not delayed or a BB exclusive.

The previous DVD was very bad (non-anamofric widescreen) so hopefully a completely new scan from OCN.

[Old Geezer]

On the subject of Western comedy, I would love to see The Villain starring Kirk Douglas, Ann-Margret, and Arnold Schwarzenegger come out on Blu-ray.

[MifuneFan]

Cover art:

[Paulo Elias]

Does anyone know what is the aspect ratio for this transfer???

And sound format, for that matter?

My DVD is still the UK version (had the 4:3 lettterbox US before that) but still the aspect ratio is wrong. Sound is ok, but far from great.

[T. Warren Scollan]

Originally Posted by Paulo Elias

Does anyone know what is the aspect ratio for this transfer???

And sound format, for that matter?

My DVD is still the UK version (had the 4:3 lettterbox US before that) but still the aspect ratio is wrong. Sound is ok, but far from great.

Knowing Olive Films, I'm betting we'll get an old transfer. Doesn't seem like anybody wants to do anything from a 65/70mm element. That's the only way we'll get a copy in the original Ultra Panavision aspect ratio of 2.76 to 1(a Todd AO/Super Panavision type neg with a 1.25 anamorphic squeeze). We'll be lucky to get even a 2.35/1 from a anamorphic 35mm Panavision reduction print! Just consider what Olive did to "Money from home"! F**king money grubbing cheapskates!

[yellowcakeuf6]

We did get the very good Strategic Air Command from them, but I will wait for reviews.

[Paulo Elias]

Well, in this case I will definitely wait for the reviews before ordering.

I saw Hallelujah in Cinerama 70mm, 6-track stereo. It is a pity that MGM or Fox, or whoever does not recover the original negative and put it to good use!

[Swissangel4616]

when the Quality Looks Close like "BEN HUR" or "Khartoum" then I might be in - otherwise : nah

[Swissangel4616]

Originally Posted by yellowcakeuf6

There have been a few large format films that were written off as needing very expensive restorations for even a Blu-ray release that eventually came without too much expense, and looked very good: Strategic Air Command; Krakatoa, East of Java; Custer of the West.
I can't believe they would use the old DVD transfer for Trail, it has to have had a new scan.

lucky you got Krakatoa on blu... while german-speaking area got somewhat called DVD only

[yellowcakeuf6]

Originally Posted by Swissangel4616

lucky you got Krakatoa on blu... while german-speaking area got somewhat called DVD only

While it looked good, mainly due to the Super Panavision/Todd-AO source, it is from a 35mm print-down in 2.35:1 AR.

[T. Warren Scollan]

Originally Posted by Swissangel4616

lucky you got Krakatoa on blu... while german-speaking area got somewhat called DVD only

Yeah, but Krakatoa, while better in Blu-ray, was once again taken from the same scan of an anamorphic 35mm reduction element with a mono sound track.

P.S. Sorry, I wrote this before reading yellowcakeuf6's post. Another Senior Moment!!