WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Lonely Are The Brave
Genre:Western

Reviewed In Issue 10 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Kirk Douglas, Gene Rowlands, Walter Matthau, Michael Kane, Carroll O’Connor, William Schallert.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3
Sound Rating: 2.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): MCA/Universal Home Video
(Catalog Number): 41784
(MPAA Rating): Not Rated
(Retail Price): $34.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 107
(Color Type): Black & White
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1962
(LD Release Date): 06/01/94
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): David Miller
(Screenplay/Written By): Dalton Trumbo
(Story): NA
(Music): Jerry Goldsmith
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Alexander Golitzen & Robert Smith
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Leon Barsha, ACE
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Edward Lewis

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.40:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Mono Sound
(Theatrical Sound): Optical Mono
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Lonely Are The Brave is based upon the novel, Brave Cowboy by Edward Abbey about a modern-day cowboy still living by the code of the Old West. Kirk Douglas stars (and Executive Produces) in this modern-day western saga as Jack Burns, a daring cowboy who gives a valiant attempt to free his friend from jail only to end up on the run alone. Walter Matthau plays the tough and wise sheriff who, despite his personal sympathy for the renegade, must bring him to justice. This is one of Douglas’ own personal favorites. The script by Delton Trumbo, who had at the time just emerged from Hollywood’s blacklist, develops various antiestablishment themes. The film was shot in New Mexico with a cast of then-unknowns (Walter Matthau, Gena Rowlands and in his screen debut, Carroll O’Connor).

LaserDisc Picture:
Shot in black and white Panavision® it is framed at 2.40:1. The picture overall is lacking in contrast but images are sharp and shadow detail is generally good. There is some grain and some minor artifacts.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack is undistinguished monaural with a low fidelity presence but dialogue is always intelligible.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
(Aggressive System Surround): No
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): No
(Aggressive Split Surround): No
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: