Howard Hawks on Blu-ray

[bonehica]

Arguably the most versatile director in the history of Hollywood, Hawks' films spanned multiple genres and were often definitive. Whether it was Gangster (Scarface), Film Noir (The Big Sleep), Screwball Comedy (Bringing Up Baby, His Girl Friday), Musical (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), Western (Rio Bravo, Red River), Sci-Fi (The Thing From Another World) or Action/Adventure (Hatari!), Hawks demonstrated an ability to handle them all. He was often referred to as a man's man. His enjoyment of flying airplanes, riding motorcycles and racing cars was renowned and his male characters were often a reflection of himself. And then, of course, there is the "Hawksian Woman": Independent, strong willed and tough minded, they were able to cut those very men down to size with just a look and a few choice words.

4K UHD



Region A




Select Region B/C

I'm a storyteller - that's the chief function of a director. And they're moving pictures, let's make 'em move! - Howard Hawks

[Monterey Jack]

The Thing is technically directed by Christian Nyby.

[hanshotfirst1138]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

The Thing is technically directed by Christian Nyby.

Depends on who you believe though.

[CinemaScope]

I think the story goes that Christian Nyby was Howard Hawks editor, & Hawks did him a favour by sort of letting him direct this so he could get a directors ticket, & then he could go on & direct other films. Hawks wanted to make this as he knew it could be quite profitable, but he was a big Hollywood director & didn't want his name on the credits as director of a small cheap SF/horror film. In various interviews, the cast say he was on the set the whole time calling the shots, so I think you could call it a Howard Hawks film.

I want a decent Rio Bravo, I can't watch the current Blu-ray. The b/w western, The Big Sky & the epic Land Of The Pharaohs, both would be from Warner Archive.

[bonehica]

Originally Posted by CinemaScope

I think the story goes that Christian Nyby was Howard Hawks editor, & Hawks did him a favour by sort of letting him direct this so he could get a directors ticket, & then he could go on & direct other films. Hawks wanted to make this as he knew it could be quite profitable, but he was a big Hollywood director & didn't want his name on the credits as director of a small cheap SF/horror film. In various interviews, the cast say he was on the set the whole time calling the shots, so I think you could call it a Howard Hawks film.

I want a decent Rio Bravo, I can't watch the current Blu-ray. The b/w western, The Big Sky & the epic Land Of The Pharaohs, both would be from Warner Archive.

This is pretty much what I have gleaned. I'm not trying to disrespect Nyby, but a lot of folks consider it part of Hawks canon and his film. You certainly can argue it that way.

[DR Herbert West]

Top 5:

1. Rio Bravo
2. The Big Sleep
3. Red River
4. El Dorado
5. The Thing

[ABaglivi]

Land of the Pharaohs

[Gunsnroses092789]

Thanks for this. I don't know why but I figured more Hawks was on Blu-ray since he's done so many films.

Also, I had no ideas He was a Male War Bride and Sergeant York has Germany releases!

[Dailyan]

I've been starting to get more into Hawks. "Red River" is one of my favorite westerns. The score is also fantastic. The Bogdanovich and Hawks interview on the Criterion disc is a real treat.

BTW, Japan is Region A

[bonehica]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

I've been starting to get more into Hawks. "Red River" is one of my favorite westerns. The score is also fantastic. The Bogdanovich and Hawks interview on the Criterion disc is a real treat.

BTW, Japan is Region A

Doh! I knew that. Brain fart. Thanks

[iap738]

I didn't realize Bringing Up Baby had a Japanese release. Can anyone speak to its quality? I'm tired of waiting on a US release.

[Gunsnroses092789]

Originally Posted by iap738

I didn't realize Bringing Up Baby had a Japanese release. Can anyone speak to its quality? I'm tired of waiting on a US release.

It's probably from a decent print, not original elements. I have the Japanese Blu-ray of I Walked with a Zombie made in the same run from ITV, and it's decent. Better than a DVD is capable of but not a full restoration. I would assume Baby is similar.

But hey-- if you buy it, I'm sure Warner Archive will release it the following month

[HaroldnMaude]

Originally Posted by iap738

I didn't realize Bringing Up Baby had a Japanese release. Can anyone speak to its quality? I'm tired of waiting on a US release.

If you translate the reviews on Amazon Japan, they all complain that it is very poor quality. Probably just the dvd transfer on a blu-ray.

[SeanJoyce]

Top-5 director for me. Two of the guys above him, Walter Hill and John Carpenter (especially the latter), wear his influence on their sleeves. I thought it was awesome that they both appeared in the supplements on the Rio Bravo disc.

Really hard to rank his work since of a lot of it is so precious to me, but I will say that Rio Bravo is easily my #1, my favorite western of all time and it would have to rank in any "top 10 coolest movies" list. It is THE "hangout" movie, and despite its length you never feel it...you could chill with those characters all afternoon.

I agree with an above user that it's badly in need of another disc. Bringing Up Baby, Sergeant York and The Big Sky are also major omissions on HD. And while I have yet to see it, I've been waiting for Air Force for quite a while.

I've always loved the story where Hawks and Hemingway were chatting and they made a bet that Hawks couldn't turn his worst book, "To Have and Have Not", into a good movie. While it's in many ways a pretty blatant attempt to replicate the magic of Casablanca, Hawks delivered another classic that gave us one of Hollywood's greatest romances. I wish he and Bogart made 1 more film together.

And oh yeah, I'm in the "The Thing from Another World is a Hawks film" camp.

[hanshotfirst1138]

Why on Earth isn’t Bringing Up Baby available on Blu in the US? Vudu has an HD master.

[CinemaScope]

I saw a nice HD transfer of Howard Hawks, Air Force (1943) on TV the other week. As it was made during the war it had a strong element of propaganda, & wasn't always politically correct when talking about the Japanese, understandable, seeing as America was at war with them at the time. Great movie, I'd love to buy a Blu-ray of it.

[bonehica]

Originally Posted by hanshotfirst1138

Why on Earth isn’t Bringing Up Baby available on Blu in the US? Vudu has an HD master.

Almost certainly with Criterion, but they seem to be dragging their feet on it. Who knows why...

Originally Posted by CinemaScope

I saw a nice HD transfer of Howard Hawks, Air Force (1943) on TV the other week. As it was made during the war it had a strong element of propaganda, & wasn't always politically correct when talking about the Japanese, understandable, seeing as America was at war with them at the time. Great movie, I'd love to buy a Blu-ray of it.

Gimme any Hawks from the 30's and 40's and I will do the happy dance!

[Chase540]

Originally Posted by TheSandman83

This is really high on my wish list:

Loved this film! I saw it for the first time on the Criterion Channel about a month or two ago. It looked pretty rough, though, so I figure a blu-ray is far into the future.

[BamaDullard]

Originally Posted by Chase540

Loved this film! I saw it for the first time on the Criterion Channel about a month or two ago. It looked pretty rough, though, so I figure a blu-ray is far into the future.

You never know. Blood on the Moon and Dodsworth were streaming in pretty rough prints very recently. Then both got an outstanding blu-ray.

[50strat54]

Originally Posted by Chase540

Loved this film! I saw it for the first time on the Criterion Channel about a month or two ago. It looked pretty rough, though, so I figure a blu-ray is far into the future.

Great fillm!

But Public Domain

I have an average DVD copy