It’s taken a while, but I finally got a chance to finish my look at the Sorcerer 4K/Blu-Ray set from Criterion. Of course, it’s terrific — a favorite film in an absolute Cadillac presentation, with some great extras to back it up. It’s the kind of attention this picture’s been deprived of for going on 50 years.
As I see it, more than a review, what’s needed here is a comparison to the nice Blu-Ray we were treated to back in 2014 from Warner Bros. What does this one give you that the other one didn’t? If you could only keep one, which would it be?
The Video Both the WB and Criterion discs are wonderful — both are bright, clean and sharp as a tack. Both companies did the movie proud.
Where they differ really comes down to one thing: the color. I love the intense greens in the jungle with the WB disc. It really blew me away. But, and this is so important, the Criterion version is closer to what I remember Sorcerer looking like at the Valley Twin back in 1977. It stayed a week; I saw it twice. Maybe it was just the print that made its way to Raleigh, but the color was not that saturated.
The Audio The six-track magnetic sound I heard back in 1977 remains the best use of surround I’ve ever experienced. The audio made the jungle ALIVE, with all sorts of odd noises coming from all around: bugs, birds, wind, rustling leaves and God knows what else.
The sound design in the bridge sequence took the scene’s intensity to a new level. The trucks growled, groaned and roared as the wind and water swirled around them. Turn the sound down on your TV and watch this scene again — the difference the sound makes is unbelievable.
When the WB Blu-Ray arrived, I was shocked to learn that the audio had been revisited and remixed. It was clean and crisp, for sure, but it wasn’t RIGHT. Something was missing. My old laserdisc sounded better. I’m so stoked Criterion brought back the original audio.
And I haven’t even gotten to the tacked-on gunshot at the end of the film’s newer track. Can’t understand why anybody, much less Mr. Friedkin, would feel that was necessary.
The Extras Criterion always does a nice job when it comes to the supplements — and I’m not saying that because I’ve been one of those supplements (One-Eyed Jacks). The home movie footage was something I was dying to have in a better presentation than YouTube. And the stuff with Walon Green and Bud Smith is awesome.
Back when I was covering all of Friedkin’s effort to resurrect Sorcerer on my Twitter thing, he had plans to record a full commentary for the Blu-Ray. That didn’t happen in the end, which is a real shame.
The Package Even though I’m a stickler for using the original poster art, I really like what Criterion came up with. It’s very cool, sort of a cross between the poster and those crew t-shirts (above).
And I like having both the 4K and Blu-Ray versions of the film in there. Wouldn’t it have been cool if Tangerine Dream’s soundtrack CD could’ve gone in there, too?
OK, so just thinking about the presentation of the film itself, I see the Criterion as a certain improvement over the 2014 release. While I like the ramped-up color, I will always defer to how something looked in the theater at its time of release. And the revived 1977 audio mix is reason enough to double dip.
It makes me feel good to see Sorcerer get the attention it’s enjoyed over the last 10+ years. I’m glad Mr. Friedkin got to see some of it. Sure wish Roy Scheider had.
I’d bet money that most of the folks who read this already have the Criterion set, so I’m not gonna sway anybody. So let’s just all be glad we can drag this thing out and enjoy it any time we want. And I think I’ve convinced myself that it needs to happen at my house again tonight.
Came across a good piece on Sorcerer this morning. Click on the photo to read it.
By the way, the screening at Nashville’s Belcourt Theater last week was terrific. It looked great and Friedkin had the audience from the first frame — it’s fun to watch the crowd in the bridge sequence.
Remember that Sorcerer shirt Stephen Spielberg had on during the shoot for Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (1977)? See below. Well, now you can have one of your very own — or at least something really close to it.
Click on the image up top to get yours. I didn’t make these and don’t get a cut or anything. Just thought they were really cool.
Nashville’s Belcourt Theatre has put together A Tribute To William Friedkin, and Sorcerer opens the event on September 9th. There’s a showing on Thursday, September 14 — if anybody wants to grab coffee or a beer before or after that show, let me know.
THE BELCOURT THEATRE 2102 Belcourt Avenue Nashville TN 37212
The Belcourt’s also running The French Connection (1971), The Exorcist (1973), Cruising (1980) and others. Click on the image above to visit their website.
If you hear of any similar Friedkin screenings, please let me know so I can post ’em here.
The Sorcerer Blog. 