The Professionals Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "The Professionals" delivers an exemplary video quality that breathes life into Conrad Hall's Oscar-nominated cinematography with its 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer, showcasing the film in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The restoration work has evidently paid off, offering a level of detail and clarity that surpasses previous versions of this classic film. The vivid portrayal of the desert landscapes, from the red and tan rock faces to the bright, clear skies, is particularly impressive. Colors are rendered with a richness that reflects the film's original Technicolor process, providing a stunning visual experience. The granularity of the desert terrain, the textures of clothing and facial features, including every bead of sweat under the harsh Mexican sun, are displayed with remarkable detail. Film grain is present throughout, enhancing the cinematic quality without detracting from the high definition clarity.

However, the video presentation is not without its flaws. A significant drawback is the noticeable edge enhancement, which creates halos around objects and people against the sky, detracting from the overall viewing experience. Although these artifacts tend to diminish as the film progresses, they never completely disappear. This issue, coupled with a tendency for wide shots to lack the detail and clarity found in closer angles, suggests some inconsistency in the transfer's quality. On a more positive note, the transfer handles shadow detail well, even in low-light conditions and day-for-night shots, which is crucial for a film with many sequences set at dusk or under moonlight. The color palette, though featuring a dusty scheme in line with the film's setting and era, contains striking hues that are crisply rendered, with adequately digitized film grain that maintains a filmic appearance without succumbing to noise.

Overall, while the Blu-ray release of "The Professionals" impresses with its vibrant colors, detailed textures, and faithful rendering of dramatic landscapes, it is somewhat marred by occasional technical shortcomings such as edge enhancement. Despite these issues, fans of the film and aficionados of classic cinema should find much to appreciate in this high-definition transfer, which offers a visually richer experience than any previous home video edition of this landmark film.

The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack featured on "The Professionals" Blu-ray provides a mixed bag in terms of audio quality. Despite its conversion from the original monaural to a 5.1 mix, the audio frequently falls short of delivering a fully immersive experience. Dialogue is presented clearly, predominantly through the center channel, yet it encounters moments where it feels compressed, lacking the depth and separation desired for a more engaging listening experience. The film's grand sound effects, including gunshots and explosions, exhibit a somewhat hollow and thin quality, failing to convey the tangible presence that one expects from high-stakes action sequences. This lack of depth and breadth in the soundscape is noticeable despite attempts to expand the audio across the front three channels and essentially leaves the subwoofer underutilized, contributing only minimal impact to the film's dynamic elements.

What truly shines through in this audio presentation is Maurice Jarre's iconic score, which is treated with greater care in the mix. The music benefits from a cleaner separation and distribution across the soundstage, with particular detail paid to instrumental clarity. The score breathes life into the viewing experience, featuring moments where different musical elements are discretely delivered through various channels, enhancing the auditory depth. However, at times, this detailed separation leads to an unbalanced front soundstage, particularly when different instruments emanate prominently from the left and right speakers. Despite these inconsistencies, Jarre's music remains a standout component, offering richness and acoustic transparency that directly contrasts with the overall treatment of sound effects and dialogue.

Overall, while "The Professionals" delivers a nostalgic auditory journey faithful to its era, the soundtrack's transition into a 5.1 mix results in a somewhat uneven experience. The attempt to modernize the audio presentation does bring Maurice Jarre's score into beautiful focus, showcasing it as the highlight of the mix. Yet, it struggles to evenly distribute and properly leverage the surround channels, largely sidelining them in favor of a front-heavy presentation that does not fully embrace the potential of contemporary home theater systems. The soundtrack's presentation underscores a missed opportunity to enhance the cinematic experience with a more robust and nuanced audio design, leaving listeners longing for a balance that might have elevated both the explosive action sequences and quieter moments of dialogue equally.

Despite its appearance as a lean addition to the Blu-ray, the extra features of "The Professionals" Blu-ray edition offer substantive insight and nostalgia, making this collection surprisingly compelling. Encapsulating the essence of the movie through three concise featurettes, viewers are treated to a well-rounded exploration of the film's creation, its cultural impact, and personal reminiscences from those who brought it to life. The first featurette, 'The Professionals - A Classic,' serves an appetizing recap of the movie's plot and notable characters, enriched by firsthand accounts from director Martin Campbell and other luminaries. Following, 'Burt Lancaster - A Portrait,' interweaves intimate memories and an academic overview of Lancaster's dynamic career, punctuated with rare on-set footage that highlights his physicality and dedication. The centerpiece, 'Memories From The Professionals,' offers an engaging deep dive into the production through engaging anecdotes from Claudia Cardinale and others, complemented by Conrad Hall's technical insights. While the absence of living male stars leaves a nostalgic gap, the package is rounded off with crisp trailers, preserving the cinematic legacy of this classic.

Extras included in this disc:

• The Professionals: A Classic: A brief overview of the film's significance, featuring Martin Campbell among others.
• Burt Lancaster: A Portrait: Insights into Lancaster's career and personal anecdotes, offering a closer look at his work on "The Professionals."
• Memories from The Professionals: Rich stories from the making of the film by Claudia Cardinale, Marie Gomez, and other contributors.

"The Professionals," despite not reaching the iconic status of classic Western staples such as "The Magnificent Seven" or "The Good, The Bad And The Ugly," makes its mark as a riveting adventure yarn that delights with its smart dialogue and intense set-pieces. Starring Hollywood legends such as Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin, and Jack Palance, the film introduces us to a former revolutionary who's now the subject of a gritty rescue mission. Set in the early 20th century against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution, it crafts a narrative filled with moral complexities and the rugged charm of its ensemble cast, engaging audiences in a narrative that's as visually stunning as it is emotionally gripping.

The movie thrives on its strategic pacing and well-composed cinematography, courtesy of Conrad L. Hall, showcasing the vast, unforgiving landscapes that set the stage for this high-stakes mission. Despite the film's deliberate pace potentially challenging the patience of modern audiences, its intelligent script and charismatic performances ensure a compelling watch. The portrayal of characters who are not just mercenaries but have depth and personal connections with their targets adds layers to what could have been a straightforward action-packed narrative. It embodies the essence of a classic Western while injecting a dose of sophistication and reflection on themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the concept of professionalism.

However, it's impossible to discuss "The Professionals" without acknowledging its technical accomplishments on Blu-ray. The 1966 classic benefits from a robust transfer that, despite minor setbacks like edge enhancement, provides viewers with an immersive experience complemented by Dolby TrueHD audio. This enhances the film’s ambient soundscape and dialogue clarity, thereby elevating its dynamic action sequences and dramatic exchanges. While some elements reflect the era's limitations—such as dated stereotypes and the deployment of actors outside their ethnic backgrounds—the film remains a testament to the genre's enduring appeal through its narrative ambition and aesthetic execution. This release serves both as an essential piece for Western aficionados and a testament to the talents of its celebrated cast and crew, making "The Professionals" a monumental entry in Hollywood’s depiction of rugged heroism and complex moral dilemmas.

"The Professionals," a seminal classic in the Western genre, arrives on Blu-ray, offering a visual and auditory restoration that is likely to impress both cinephiles and enthusiasts of Americana. Utilizing an array of high-end equipment including the Sony VPL-VW50 SXRD 1080p High Definition Front Projector and the Panasonic DMP-BD30 Blu-ray disc Player, amongst others, the film’s presentation on Blu-ray is subject to rigorous evaluation. The video quality stands out as excellent, especially when considering the film's vintage. It's complemented by an audio mix that, while only adequate, faithfully presents the original sound design with as much fidelity as current technology allows. The addition of supplements, though not exhaustive, adds value to the package.

The equipment setup employed for this review underscores the substantial improvements in picture quality, revealing the care taken in transferring the film to Blu-ray format. Utilization of devices such as the Oppo 970HD universal disc player and the Marantz DV7001 Universal Disc Player further highlights the Blu-ray's compatibility with high-end home theater systems, ensuring that Richard Brooks' directorial nuances are preserved and presented in a manner as close to his vision as technically possible today. Despite criticism over the sound quality and the relatively sparse extras, these shortcomings are mitigated somewhat by the strength of the film's visual transfer and its significance within the Western canon.

In conclusion, "The Professionals" Blu-ray stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Westerns in American cinema. While the audio presentation may not meet the loftiest expectations, and the bonus features leave room for more depth, the excellence of the video quality ensures that this classic film can be experienced anew with remarkable clarity. It represents a worthwhile acquisition for collectors and a compelling rental for those yearning for a taste of classic Hollywood, especially for those looking to balance their cinematic diet after indulging in lighter fare.