Red Line 7000 Blu-ray Review
Limited Edition
Score: 76
from 2 reviewers
Review Date:
Red Line 7000, a Hawks film for the 1965 teenage drive-in crowd, gains a stellar HD transfer and exceptional bonus features in Arrow Video's definitive release.
Disc Release Date
Video: 76
Red Line 7000's Blu-ray offers a superior AVC encoded 1080p transfer with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, benefiting from additional restoration by Arrow, resulting in more saturated color timing and fewer damages compared to the previous Kino Lorber release, though minor age-related wear is still visible.
Audio: 81
Red Line 7000's audio presentation on this Limited Edition Blu-ray features a PCM Mono track, offering clear dialogue, clean sound effects, and a faithful rendition of Nelson Riddle’s score. Despite inherent boxiness in some racing effects, the overall mix is robust and superior to the previous Kino Lorber DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track.
Extra: 76
The Blu-Ray extras for 'Red Line 7000' are robust, featuring insightful commentaries by Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman, a detailed interview with Bruce Kessler, and critical visual essays from Howard S. Berger and Kat Ellinger, complemented by a poster, image gallery, and booklet essay by Martyn Conterio on Hawks’ late period.
Movie: 61
Red Line 7000, directed by Howard Hawks during the latter part of his illustrious career, offers solid storytelling, with James Caan and George Takei among a predominantly rising cast. Despite formulaic elements and some ambivalent performances, it captures thrilling racing sequences thanks to veteran cinematographer Milton R. Krasner.
Video: 76
"Red Line 7000" on Blu-ray, presented by Arrow Video, showcases a meticulously executed AVC encoded 1080p transfer in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The high-definition master, sourced from Paramount and Kino Lorber, has undergone additional grading and restoration by R3Store Studios in London. This transfer stands out for its impressive consistency in color saturation, presenting a more balanced visual appeal compared to earlier releases, like the Kino Lorber Blu-ray. While some racing scenes display evident variances due to the mix of stock and newly filmed footage, the overall presentation remains largely pristine, marred only by minor age-related wear.
The film’s presentation benefits significantly from Arrow Films' cleanup efforts, which preserve the natural film grain and fine details while enhancing the color palette without over-brightness. Notably, this release exhibits minimal instances of scratches, tears, and dirt, confined mostly to stock footage segments. The improvements in color timing and palette suffusion make this edition superior to the previous Kino Lorber release, ensuring that "Red Line 7000" appears as visually compelling as it likely ever will on home video.
Audio: 81
The audio presentation of "Red Line 7000" on this Blu-ray release utilizes an LPCM Mono track, deviating from the previous Kino Lorber DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono format. The track is generally robust, delivering an intermittently boisterous and at times rambunctious listening experience. While there is some inherent boxiness in the racing sound effects, the overall auditory experience is solid. The interpolation of rock 'n' roll tunes at the local watering hole projects a decently full-bodied sound, and dialogue clarity is upheld across most scenes, despite occasional nascent mumblecore tendencies from Caan.
In terms of audio fidelity, this Limited Edition Blu-ray release presents dialogue, the sound mix, and Nelson Riddle’s music score with remarkable clarity and fidelity, exhibiting minimal distortion artifacts such as crackling, clicking, popping, and hissing. This presentation likely marks the best auditory performance the film has achieved on home video to date. Optional English subtitles are available, providing further support for clear dialogue comprehension.
Extra: 76
The Blu-ray extras for “Red Line 7000” are well-curated, offering a comprehensive and engaging glimpse into the film’s production and its place in Howard Hawks’ oeuvre. The audio commentary by Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman provides insightful perspectives, particularly enriched by Kirgo's familial connection to the screenplay writer George Kirgo. Bruce Kessler's interview, blending personal anecdotes and movie insights, is compelling, and Howard S. Berger's involvement ensures a deeper understanding of the film's themes. Kat Ellinger's essay on the "Hawksian Woman" adds an intriguing academic slant, despite some notable omissions. The assortment of supplements, complemented by a rich insert booklet and reversible sleeve, enhances the overall value, making it indispensable for fans and scholars alike.
Extras included in this disc:
- Audio Commentary: Archival commentary by Nick Redman and Julie Kirgo.
- Bruce Kessler: Man in Motion: Appreciation and interview with the assistant director.
- Gas, Gears, Girls, Guys & Death: Visual essay by Howard S. Berger.
- A Modern Type of Woman: Kat Ellinger’s exploration of the Hawksian woman.
- Image Gallery: Collection of 36 stills.
- Double-Sided Foldout Poster
- Booklet featuring an essay by Martyn Conterio
Movie: 61
"Red Line 7000," directed by Howard Hawks in 1965, arrives as an intriguing if somewhat uneven entry in the director's prolific career. Known predominantly for his work in screwball comedies and westerns, Hawks ventures into the high-octane world of stock car racing, a genre less familiar in his oeuvre. While the narrative shows signs of Hawks attempting to capture the zeitgeist of the youth market, it is executed with his characteristic directorial competence. The film features a mix of stock footage and carefully orchestrated racing sequences under second unit director Bruce Kessler, contributing to the adrenalized pacing of the movie. Notably, veteran cinematographer Milton R. Krasner’s work on the visuals adds a significant layer of authenticity and excitement to the action scenes.
The story focuses on the drivers in Pat Kazarian’s (Norman Alden) racing team, with a plot that intertwines romantic entanglements and professional rivalries. James Caan, in a relatively early role, plays Mike Marsh who consoles Holly (Gail Hire) after her fiancée Jim Loomis's fatal crash, while grappling with the presence of new team member Dan McCall (Skip Ward). Despite solid direction from Hawks, George Kirgo's multi-layered script suffers from performances that do not always connect on an emotional level, leaving the audience somewhat detached from the characters' fates. Although the personal dramas occasionally risk slipping into melodrama, they are steered clear of being excessively soapy, thereby maintaining a balance between track action and character arcs.
Supporting performances notably include George Takei, who would soon gain fame as Mr. Sulu on "Star Trek," and Marianna Hill as McCall’s girlfriend Gabrielle Queneau. The ensemble cast also features memorable contributions from Charlene Holt, Carol Conners, and Teri Garr in early roles. Despite its flaws, "Red Line 7000" stands as a solid piece of storytelling with engaging racing sequences, capturing the thrill of the sport and adding to Hawks' diverse filmography.
Total: 76
"Red Line 7000," directed by the legendary Howard Hawks, is a film that initially met with mixed reactions both from critics and audiences back in 1965. However, it has since garnered a minor but dedicated cult following, likely bolstered by fans like Quentin Tarantino and the early appearances of future stars such as James Caan and George Takei. Although Hawks seemed somewhat hesitant to tailor his craft to suit the teenage drive-in crowd of the mid-60s, the film does feature some intriguing ensemble performances and exhilarating racing sequences.
Arrow Video has truly outdone itself with this Blu-ray release, likely marking the definitive home video edition of "Red Line 7000." The HD transfer is notably superior to the previous Kino Lorber release, showcasing significant improvements in video quality. This is a commendable feat considering the age and condition of the original materials. Moreover, Arrow's package includes an exceptional array of supplemental features, retaining the insightful commentary track from the Kino release while adding new and enriching bonus content that delves deeper into the film's background and production history.
In conclusion, "Red Line 7000" receives a highly robust recommendation for both existing fans and newcomers alike. This release not only enhances the viewing experience with its technical improvements but also offers valuable contextual material that elevates viewers' appreciation of this unique entry in Hawks' illustrious filmography. For those considering an upgrade from previous releases, this edition from Arrow Video is undoubtedly worth the investment.
Blu-ray.com review by Jeffrey KauffmanRead review here
Video: 80
Detail levels are generally secure, but it's the improvement in color timing and general suffusion of the palette that puts this release ahead of the Kino Lorber release....
Audio: 80
The interpolation of some frankly bizarre "rock 'n' roll" tunes at the local watering hole sound decently full bodied, and all dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly, with the possible exception of Caan's...
Extras: 80
A Modern Type of Woman (HD; ) is another interesting piece from Kat Ellinger, though (and, yes, reviewer obsession alert noted) her omission of Frances Farmer in Come and Get It as a paradigmatic example...
Movie: 60
After his epochal achievements in the thirties and forties, Hawks' output started becoming a bit more intermittent as the fifties gave way to the sixties, but as some of the supplements on this disc get...
Total: 60
The ensemble cast has some interesting folks in it (the commentary gets into some of the rather peculiar histories of some of the actors), and Hawks gets some exciting race footage shoehorned into the...
Home Theater Forum review by t1g3r5fanRead review here
Video: 80
The film – presented here in its 110-minute re-release form – is presented in its original 1:85:1 aspect ratio, taken from an HD transfer previously used for the 2017 Kino Blu-ray release, but given some...
Audio: 90
Comparing this to the previous Kino Blu-ray release, this Limited Edition Blu-ray release is now likely the best the movie will ever sound on home video....
Extras: 80
Gas, Gears, Girls, Guys & Death: Trophy Hunting in Howard Hawks’ Cinematic Arena (36:23) – Berger and Angela McEntee – who’s surprisingly not mentioned in the press release – look at how this film differed...
Movie: 70
In the end though, Red Line 7000 hems closely to the Hawks formula of action and drama as a catalyst for examining the roles that we play in certain situations while also capturing the excitement of the...
Total: 80
Met with ambivalence from both the critics and audiences upon initial release, Red Line 7000 has become a minor cult favorite – Quentin Tarantino is among the film’s fans – due to the presence of the legendary...
Director: Howard Hawks
Actors: James Caan, Laura Devon, Gail Hire
PlotThe story revolves around the lives of three race car drivers, their romantic entanglements, and the high-stakes world of professional racing. Mike Marsh heads a tight-knit team striving for glory on the circuit but faces repeated challenges and personal losses along the way. He is joined by the rookie and hotshot driver, Ned Arp, and the experienced, yet troubled, Dan McCall. Each driver is drawn into their respective relationships and personal dramas off-track, which inevitably influence their decisions and performance on the racecourse.
Delving into their personal lives, Marsh finds himself in a complicated relationship with Julie, a girl who brings both joy and turbulence. Ned gets entangled with Holly, whose presence is as electrifying as it is tempestuous. Meanwhile, McCall deals with deep-seated issues of his own that affect his career and his connection with girlfriend Lindy. As the pressure mounts both on and off the track, each character grapples with their demons while striving for success in a fiercely competitive sport. Their stories unfold against a backdrop of thrilling races and perilous challenges, creating a blend of high-octane action and emotional depth.
Writers: George Kirgo, Howard Hawks, Steve McNeil
Release Date: 09 Nov 1965
Runtime: 110 min
Rating: Approved
Country: United States
Language: English