(1973) features a brand new 4K master. Released on December 7, 2021, this special edition includes a mix of newly commissioned content and legacy archival materials. The release includes the following supplements: The Long Goodbye Blu-ray (Arrow Academy) (United Kingdom)
Listening to that interview after watching the 2021 transfer, you understand the "extra" value. It’s not about technical specs. It’s about the anger. The Long Goodbye is an angry film. It’s angry at the 1940s for lying to us about justice. It’s angry at the 1970s for being too stoned to care.
The 2021 Kino Lorber release is not merely an upgrade in picture quality; it is a vital archival project. The extras allow viewers to understand the immense collaborative effort that went into a film that was largely misunderstood upon its initial 1973 release.
Working from a sharp script by Leigh Brackett (who co-wrote classic noir The Big Sleep in 1946), Altman infused the film with his signature stylistic tropes: overlapping dialogue, a restless wandering camera, and a dark sense of humor. The film was notoriously misunderstood upon its initial release, but time has been incredibly kind to it. Today, it stands alongside Chinatown as one of the definitive revisionist noirs of the 1970s. Video Quality: The Challenges of Post-Flashing in 1080p the long goodbye 1973 extras 1080p bluray 2021
One of the most radical creative choices Altman made was utilizing only one theme song—composed by John Williams and Johnny Mercer—and playing it continuously throughout the movie in various arrangements (as a jazz standard, a radio jingle, supermarket muzak, and a funeral march). This featurette explores the genius of John Williams’ early work and how the repetitive nature of the score mirrors Marlowe’s psychological stagnation. 5. Hard-Boiled in Hollywood
A fascinating look at the film’s visual style. Cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond discusses the technical challenges of the shoot, including his signature use of zoom lenses and pre-flashing the film stock to achieve the desaturated, hazy look that defines the movie. 4. "David Thompson on Robert Altman"
To appreciate the 2021 Blu-ray, one must first understand the film's unique place in the 1970s New Hollywood canon. By 1973, director Robert Altman was at the height of his creative powers, having just deconstructed the Western with McCabe & Mrs. Miller . He turned his revisionist lens to the film noir genre, specifically Raymond Chandler's 1953 novel The Long Goodbye . What emerged was not a straightforward adaptation but a brilliant act of genre subversion. (1973) features a brand new 4K master
: The disc features an English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track, providing clear dialogue and a strong presentation of the protean variations of the theme song by John Williams and Johnny Mercer. Special Features and Extras
: 1080p High-Definition transfer from a 4K master, presented in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio . The new restoration offers richer contrast and deeper black levels compared to previous releases. Audio : English Master Audio Two-Channel Mono. Subtitles : Optional English SDH.
– A technical deep dive into the legendary cinematographer’s bleach-bypass and flashing techniques. Rare behind-the-scenes stills and audio from Zsigmond’s archives. This alone is worth the price for film students. It’s not about technical specs
: Region A locked, single-disc standard Blu-ray case (initial orders included a limited O-card slipcase). Film Background and Legacy
– Film critic Tim Lucas delivers a dense, scene-specific track. He doesn’t just narrate; he connects Altman’s choices to The Big Sleep , Chandler’s original text, and even Gould’s later career. A bit dry at times, but packed with insight.
One specific extra delves into the casting of Arnold Schwarzenegger (yes, pre-Terminator) as a silent, muscle-bound thug. In the featurette "Rip Van Marlowe: 1973 vs. 2021" , they argue that Arnie’s character represents the future: brute force without dialogue, spectacle without reason. Marlowe talks; Arnie just punches. Watching that in 2021, you realize Altman predicted the death of the literate protagonist.
Released in , The Long Goodbye famously transplants Raymond Chandler’s 1950s private eye, Philip Marlowe (played by a "mischievous" Elliott Gould), into the hedonistic, cat-obsessed culture of 1970s Hollywood. While initially divisive, it is now celebrated for its original vision and its iconic filming locations, such as the High Tower Apartments in Los Angeles. The film also features a notable early, non-speaking appearance by Arnold Schwarzenegger as a mob thug.
: A segment with screenwriter and podcaster Josh Olson.