Last Stand at Saber River (1997) Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

When you say the name Tom Selleck most would think Magnum P.I. but he was so much more than just the cool private investigator with the amazing moustache. About a decade after the ultra-cool show left the air Tom Selleck went to the old west for the 1997 TNT original film Last Stand at Saber River.

Warner Archive Collection has been releasing some simply amazing westerns. Some of my favorite release so far have to be The Fastest Gun Alive, The Naked Spur, and The Searchers on 4K! But I never thought I would see a TNT original film on Blu-ray from Warner Archive, but here it is Last Stand at Saber River.

Synopsis: "Used to be nobody gave two nickels about me." Ex-Confederate Paul Cable observes. Cable liked it that way. Now the would-be homesteader is drawing too much notice. And far too many bullets. Tom Selleck rides into Western adventure in grand, gritty style as Cable in Last Stand at Saber River, from the novel by Elmore Leonard (Get Shorty, Out of Bounds) . With his strong-willed pioneer wife (Suzy Amis) and two children (Haley Joel Osment and Rachel Duncan) Cable return to his Arizona home to resume a quiet life. Instead, he finds Union sympathizers (David and Keith Carradine) have taken possession of the small spread. The war should be over. But Cable faces one more battle before the healing can begin.

Last Stand at Saber River is adapted from the novel by Elmore Leonard and expertly directed by TV movie director Dick Lowry (Project ALF). Along with Tom Selleck we get the acting talents of Suzy Amis (Titanic), Harry Carey Jr., Keith and David Carradine and Haley Joel Osment who won a YoungStar Award for Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Made for TV Movie.

Last Stand at Saber River is not the typical cowboys and Indians feature. This is more of a drama filled with heart and emotion, but don't worry there is still enough action to keep you entertained. It is actually very good for a made-for-TV movie. No wonder in 1998, the film received the Western Heritage Awards Bronze Wrangler for Television Feature Film.

Warner Archive Collection has transferred this film to Blu-ray in 1080p and it is presented in the original full screen format in 1.33:1 aspect ratio. The audio is a DTS HD-Master Audio 2.0 Stereo audio. There is the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard or hearing.

Last Stand at Saber River looks really nice in HD! The picture is crisp and clean. I saw no damage on this print anywhere while screening it. The grittiness of the old west is on full display here. The transfer has no digital artifacts, and the audio is clean with no hiss or pops. This is a wonderful looking transfer.

This Blu-ray is void of bonus features, save a trailer. Now I understand this is a TNT original made-for-TV films so it is understandable there is no making of featurettes, though it would have been nice to see one though. Maybe an interview with Tom Selleck reminiscing about this film. That would have been a welcomed addition to this Blu-ray! 

I am so impressed that Warner Archive Collection have rescued this TNT film and released it on Blu-ray. This gives me hope for more TNT Original films possibly getting a Blu-ray release from Warner Archive. Specifically, one of my favorite adaptions for A Christmas Carol starring Patrick Stewart. One can only hope.

So, if you are a fan of Tom Selleck or TV westerns why no add this new Blu-ray release of Last Stand at Saber River to your library today. head over to MovieZyng or Amazon and order your copy today.


Out of 4 film reels (4 being the best) Warner Archive's Blu-ray of Last Stand at Saber River receives....