WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

“Valdez Is Coming”/ Lawman
Genre:Western

Reviewed In Issue 26 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Burt Lancaster, Susan Clark, Frank Silvera, Jon Cypher, Richard Jordan, Barton Heyman & Hector Elizondo

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 2.5
Sound Rating: 1.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): MGM
(Catalog Number): ML105729
(MPAA Rating): PG
(Retail Price): $59.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 91
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1971
(LD Release Date): 12/9/97
(THX® Digitally Mastered):

Credits Information
(Director): Edwin Sherin
(Screenplay/Written By):
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DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.66:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.66:1

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:
From the novel by Elmore Leonrard, “Valdez Is Coming” is the terse message of revenge proclaimed by the aging Mexican-American Bob Valdez (Burt Lancaster). A low-key sheriff, Valdez converts himself into an infuriated one-man army after the ruthless Frank Tanner (Jon Cypher) refuses to pay support to the widow of a man he wrongfully killed. Battered, tarnished and humiliated, Valdez realizes the only way to make Tanner pay is by beating him at his own game. Taking Gay (Susan Clark), Tanner’s girlfriend, hostage, Valdez leaves a bloody trail of men through the valleys and the mountains. As Tanner closes in on Valdez, Gay reveals a dark secret about the wrongfully accused man. “Valdez Is Coming” shows Lancaster’s versatility as a meek lawman who becomes an enraged avenger.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture, matted at 1.66:1, exhibits undersaturated color fidelity, dark, undefined blacks and brown fleshtones. Images are wanting in sharpness and detail throughout. Shadow detail and contrast is mediocre. Artifacts are apparent throughout, but noise and grain are minimal.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The undistinguished monaural soundtrack sounds dated and compressed with distorted dialogue and other sound elements throughout.
(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: