As ’50s westerns go, Man Without a Star, from King Vidor, still works nicely. It’s not one of the great westerns of the era, but it’s a good one, and with a sense of humor.
It’s a late 1954 production, released in March of 1955, which makes it questionable Eastman Color. From the appearance of the Universal production, there may have been problems with the original negative, as what I’m seeing looks to be from sep masters.
That can be good or bad.
In this case, it’s somewhere in between. Close-ups and medium shots look fine, but go to fine detail, and the image begins to fall apart, with registration issues. One might presume that the elements went to a lab, which recombined without really taking a close look.
But generally, the image is okay.
Track likewise.
MWaS is probably a purchase for Douglas and Vidor completists. Jeanne Crain and Claire Trevor go along for the ride.
For others, it’s a safe rental.
Image – 3.25
Audio – 4.5
Pass / Fail – Pass
Upgrade from DVD – Why not?
RAH
Robert has been known in the film industry for his unmatched skill and passion in film preservation. Growing up around photography, his first home theater experience began at age ten with 16mm. Years later he was running 35 and 70mm at home.
His restoration projects have breathed new life into classic films like Lawrence of Arabia, Vertigo, My Fair Lady, Spartacus, and The Godfather series. Beyond his restoration work, he has also shared his expertise through publications, contributing to the academic discourse on film restoration. The Academy Film Archive houses the Robert A. Harris Collection, a testament to his significant contributions to film preservation.
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