Reviewed By Jason LockardAfter Lee Van Cleef's memorable performances in films like For a Few Dollars More and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, he would go on to make many more spaghetti westerns. In 1972 Sergio Leone assistant director Giancarlo Santi would get Van Cleef to star in his western The Grand Duel.
The good folks at Arrow Video have been giving these spaghetti westerns the full blu-ray treatments they deserve. Now it's time for The Grand Duel to have it's time to shine. Let's take a look at what is included on this release.
The film follows Philip Wermeer a man accused of murdering the patriarch of the ruthless Saxon Family. But things are much worse for Philip than that. He is being pursued by the accused victims three sons. All of whom are just as ruthless as their father. Philip soon finds an help from an unlikely source. An ex-sheriff named Clayton (Van Cleef). A man who lost lost his badge in a previous run in with the Saxon family.
While The Grand Duel is not as great a film as Sergio Leone's masterpieces of cinema, that doesn't mean it isn't a good film. The Grand Duel is an action packed adventure in the old west. Even if the story isn't the strongest.
As for this blu-ray release Arrow Video has given this film a new 2K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative and is presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1. The original mono audio. There is both the English version and the Italian version of the film. There is also the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing. I have to say the picture looks really good. Which is no surprise as Arrow Video always does a remarkable job with their releases.
Now if an beautifully restored version of a classic western wasn't enough to make you want this release. Arrow Video goes above and beyond. They load this blu-ray with bonus features. Here is what is included;
• Brand new audio commentary with director Leszek Burzynski
• Brand new audio commentary with special effects artist Hank Carlson and horror writer Josh Hadley
• Brand new audio commentary with The Hysteria Continues
• There’s EVIL Underground… - brand new making-of documentary featuring interviews with director Leszek Burzynski, cinematographer Nancy Schreiber, production manager Alexandra Reed and actors Alex Kubik and Sullivan Hester
• Upper Michigan Tonight - 1988 television documentary on Windsor Lake Studios, featuring footage from behind the scenes of Trapped Alive and contemporary interviews with director Leszek Burzynski, producer Christopher Webster and production designer Brian Savegar
• Leszek Burzynski: The Early Years - the Trapped Alive director discusses his early forays into genre movie-making
• Reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork by Justin Osbourn
As you can see this is a loaded release. So if your a fan of westerns or Lee Van Cleef, this is one you are going ti want to add to your collection. Head over to MVDShop.com and pick up your copy today.
Audiences: Adults
Objectionable Material: Violence, Mild Profanity, nudity
Length: 1 hour 34 minutes
Genre: Western
Blu-ray Rating: A
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