In 1967, Robert Aldrich directed a thrilling and engaging war picture unlike anything audiences had seen up to that point. Of course, I am talking about The Dirty Dozen. We are coming upon the film's 60th anniversary and Arrow Video has decided to restore and release this film in 4K for the first time ever.
Synopsis: As the Allies prepare to strike Nazi-occupied France, Major John Reisman (Lee Marvin) is tasked with a top-secret mission to tip the scales of war: break into and destroy a French ch̢teau housing numerous high-ranking Nazi generals. His team? Twelve vicious criminals Рthe worst of the worst Рpromised a pardon if they survive. Somehow, Reisman must turn these twelve mutineers into one unified fighting force, or certain death awaits them all...
The Dirty Dozen gave the theatergoers a realistic look at war and, for the time, was really violent. The screenplay is well written, but the cast really elevates this film with tremendous acting. The cast is led by the great Lee Marvin, but also includes Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, Jim Brown, John Cassavetes, Richard Jaeckel, George Kennedy, Trini Lopez, Ralph Meeker, Robert Ryan, Telly Savalas, Clint Walker and Robert Webber.
Arrow Video has restored The Dirty Dozen, transferred it to 4K (2180p), and presented it in widescreen format. The 4k restoration is taken from the 35mm camera negative and the result is a wonderful-looking film. The colors are bright and vibrant and the picture is not overly sharp, but sharp enough to be a definite upgrade.
2-DISC 4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
• Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Sean Hogan and Paul Talbot as well as excerpts and photos from Dwayne Epstein’s Killin’ Generals: The Making of The Dirty Dozen, and Alain Silver and James Ursini’s What Ever Happened to Robert Aldrich? His Life and His Films
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tom Ralston
DISC 1 – FEATURE (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)
• Brand new 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative by Arrow Films
• 4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original restored lossless mono, 5.1 audio, and a newly restored 6.0 (70mm mix) track
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Brand new audio commentary by film scholars Alain Silver and James Ursini
• Archival audio commentary with actors Jim Brown, Trini Lopez, Stuart Cooper, and Colin Maitland, producer Kenneth Hyman, novelist E.M. Nathanson, film historian David J. Schow, and veteran military advisor Capt. Dale Dye
• Archival introduction to the film by actor Ernest Borgnine
• Theatrical trailer
• Image gallery
DISC 2 – SPECIAL FEATURES (BLU-RAY)
• The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission, a feature-length TV sequel starring Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine (standard definition only)
• Newly discovered on set footage and an interview with Lee Marvin from Peter Whitehead’s archive
• "War Is Over", a brand new appreciation by film historian Kim Newman
• "The War March", a brand new breakdown of Frank De Vol’s score by David Huckvale
• "Armed and Deadly: The Making of The Dirty Dozen", an archive featurette on the making of the film
• "The Filthy Thirteen: Real Stories Behind the Lines", an archive featurette on the history behind the film
• "Operation Dirty Dozen", a original promotional featurette
• "Combat Leadership: The Ultimate Challenge", a Navy recruitment film narrated by Lee Marvin
As you can see, Arrow Video spared no expense making this deluxe 4k/Blu-ray release. New features and archival features are all part of this release. But perhaps the one that stands out to me is that Arrow Video rescued the made-for-TV sequel movie "The Dirty Dozen: The Next Mission. Okay, so it is not as good as the original, but it is a nice sequel and a great addition to an awesome release.
If you love war pictures, The Dirty Dozen should be on your list of must-haves in your home video library. And in my opinion, the best way to have it is with this new Arrow Video 4K release. From the 4k restoration to the tons of bonus features, this is just a great release. If you would like to add this 4k to your home video library, head over to MVD Shop or Amazon and order your copy today.
Final Verdict: A to F
Movie: A
4K UltraHD Quality: A
Bonus Features: A
4K UltraHD Release: A-