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One-Eyed Jacks

Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 12:08 pm
by Ribs
Image

One-Eyed Jacks is a film with a troubled history. It was almost the feature debut of emerging television director Sam Peckinpah, who penned the original draft screenplay, and it was almost the only Western to be directed by Stanley Kubrick before he too left the project. The eventual director was Marlon Brando, stepping behind the camera for the first and only time.

Brando is Rio, a bank-robber who is double-crossed by his friend and mentor, Dad (Karl Malden). Rio is imprisoned for his role in the crime, but escapes with thoughts of revenge. He tracks down Dad only to find that, during those years spent behind bars, Dad has used his ill-gotten wealth to become the sheriff of Monterey…

A strange, baroque Western, One-Eyed Jacks met with bewilderment by critics and audiences upon release, but slowly developed a cult following despite a succession of below-par masters. Now, thanks to an outstanding new 4K restoration from Martin Scorsese’s The Film Foundation, audiences can finally see the film as intended once again and recognise the masterpiece it always was.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

New 4K restoration by Universal Pictures and The Film Foundation, in consultation with Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
Uncompressed Mono 1.0 PCM Audio
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Brand new audio commentary by Stephen Prince, author of Savage Cinema: Sam Peckinpah and the Rise of Ultraviolent Movies, recorded exclusively for this release
Introduction by Martin Scorsese
Marlon Brando: The Wild One, Paul Joyce’s 1996 documentary on the actor, featuring interviews with Dennis Hopper, Shelley Winters, Martin Sheen and Anthony Hopkins
Additional, previously unseen interview material from Marlon Brando: The Wild One with Francis Ford Coppola and Arthur Penn
Theatrical trailer
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Jacob Phillips

FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector’s booklet containing new writing on the film by Jason Wood and Filippo Ulivieri, Karl Malden on Marlon Brando, Paul Joyce on Marlon Brando: The Wild One and an excerpt from Stefan Kanfer’s Somebody: The Reckless Life and Remarkable Career of Marlon Brando.

Re: One-Eyed Jacks

Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 12:14 pm
by domino harvey
Whoa, a Prince commentary! So glad I put off picking up the Criterion

Re: One-Eyed Jacks

Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 12:23 pm
by Ribs
I picked up the Criterion and won't double-dip despite this clearly being the better release but this release's booklet seems a little insanely comprehensive.

Re: One-Eyed Jacks

Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 1:02 pm
by tenia
The 34 min of Brando recording ideas for the movie, which can be found on the Criterion disc, seemed quite interesting, though.

Re: One-Eyed Jacks

Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 1:38 pm
by Costa
I'm banging my head on the wall for rushing to buy the Criterion, since I have a hunch this might have much better encoding!

(fortunately I can say this sentence here without being bullied :lol: )

Re: One-Eyed Jacks

Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 2:46 pm
by zedz
domino harvey wrote:Whoa, a Prince commentary! So glad I put off picking up the Criterion
Has he been a lot more prolific lately, or have I just been lucky in my recent kevyip mining?

Re: One-Eyed Jacks

Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 4:30 pm
by The Elegant Dandy Fop
As much as I love Stephen Prince, I'm not sure if it's worth the second purchase. The two visual essays have a commentary's wealth of detail, info, and behind the scenes phots thato give you an idea of the film's turbulant production and the results from it. Plus the Marlon Brando audio notes are great and reveal him at his most candid and unpoetic. In fact, when talking about a dancer in the film, he describes wanting to cast a woman with "big fucking tits, and a big fucking ass, just jiggling everywhere".

Re: One-Eyed Jacks

Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 4:56 pm
by Finch
Even though this may turn out to be the definitive release of the film, I can't justify a double-dip on this film either. The Criterion is a very fine release in its own right and there is so much else coming out this year I'm interested in. Region-locked UK folks, however, have a great film and a wonderful package to look forward to.

Re: One-Eyed Jacks

Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 8:27 pm
by rapta
Despite Arrow's current Universal dealings, I completely didn't see this one coming. Was somewhat hopefully crossing my fingers Criterion would port it over here, but this is even better news! Pre-ordered it immediately.

PS: I wonder if any other Criterion-Universal titles are game now then...how about Arrow Video editions of Traffic/The Game/Being John Malkovich, or an Arrow Academy edition of Topsy Turvy - or even some Sirk, or some more Sturges?

Re: One-Eyed Jacks

Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 8:28 pm
by domino harvey
Michael said Arrow was interested in doing a Sturges box if Sullivan's Travels sold well, but the implication was it hadn't

Re: One-Eyed Jacks

Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2017 4:46 am
by MichaelB
domino harvey wrote:Michael said Arrow was interested in doing a Sturges box if Sullivan's Travels sold well, but the implication was it hadn't
Fran Simeoni said that, not me - or rather, if I said it as well, I was quoting him. I have no idea about sales figures: my involvement with these projects ends as soon as the master is delivered to the replicators.