Charley Varrick [Blu-ray] (Don Siegel, 1973) Review by Gary Tooze Production: Theatrical: Universal Pictures Video: Koch Media / Indicator (Powerhouse) / Kino Lorber Disc: Region: 'B' / 'B' / 'A' Oppo Blu-ray player ) (as verified by the Runtime: 1:50:32.876 / 1:50:35.837 / 1:51:03.490 Disc Size: 46,678,602,467 bytes / 46,807,459,498 bytes / 48,871,367,990 bytes Feature Size: 31,345,551,360 bytes / 32,835,804,096 bytes / 31,337,379,840 bytes Video Bitrate: 32.54 Mbps / 35.02 Mbps / 33.93 Mbps Chapters: 16 / 12 / 9 Case: Standard case / Transparentcase / Standard BD Case Release date: March 19th, 2015 / January 22nd, 2018 / November 12th, 2019 Video ( all three ): Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1585 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1585 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) DUB: DTS-HD Master Audio German 1571 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1571 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit The Guardian Lectures:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps DTS-HD Master Audio English 1554 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1554 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)

Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps Subtitles: German, none / English (SDH), none / English, none Extras: • Last of the Independents: Don Siegel and The Making of Charley Varrick (1:12:14)

• Super 8 excerpt footage (16:53)

• Trailers (German and English - 2:21)

• Photo Gallery • Last of the Independents: Don Siegel and the Making of ‘Charley Varrick’ (2015, 72 mins): a feature-length documentary on the making of the film (1:15:19)

• The Guardian Lecture with Don Siegel (1973): archival audio recording of an interview conducted by Tony Sloman at London's National Film Theatre (1:14:00)

• The Guardian Lecture with Walther Matthau (1988): archival audio recording of an interview at London's National Film Theatre (1:28:43)

• Super 8 version: original cut-down home cinema presentation (17:34)

• Original theatrical trailer (2:23) with Trailers From Hell commentary (5:46)

• Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography

• New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing

• Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by author and critic Richard Combs, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and historic articles on the film

UK premiere on Blu-ray

• Limited Edition of 3,000 copies • Refracted Personae: An examination of Don Siegel’s signature directorial style and key thematic elements in his later masterpiece, CHARLEY VARRICK by Film Historian Howard S. Berger (35:14)

• Last of the Independents: The Making of Charley Varrick – 72-Minute doc featuring interviews with Kristoffer Tabori (Siegel’s son), actors Andy Robinson and Jacqueline Scott, stunt driver and actor Craig R. Baxley, composer Lalo Schifrin, and Howard A. Rodman (son of screenwriter, Howard Rodman) (1:15:20)

• Audio Commentary by Film Historian Toby Roan

• Limited Edition Booklet Essay by Film Critic Nick Pinkerton

• "Trailers From Hell" with Josh Olson and Howard Rodman (5:47)

• Theatrical Trailer (2:24 - in SD) / TV Spots (1:51) Bitrates: 1) Koch Media (DE) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2 ) Indicator (UK) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE 3) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM Description: Don Siegel directed this offbeat crime thriller which stars Walter Matthau as the titular Charley Varrick. Varrick is a small-time stick-up man who, in tandem with his partner Harman Sullivan (Andrew Robinson), makes plans to rob a small bank in New Mexico. Varrick and Sullivan are expecting a modest payday for a simple heist, but to their surprise they walk away with $750,000 in cash. But it turns out this isn't entirely good news; the bank was flush with cash because a number of well-connected Mafia chieftains have been using the bank to launder their ill-gotten gains, and they're determined to get their money back. Before Varrick can figure out a way to return the money, sadistic hired killer Molly (Joe Don Baker) is on his trail, forcing Varrick to outwit both the cops and the robbers if he is to stay alive. *** Charley Varrick (Walter Matthau) is a former stunt-pilot who makes his living robbing small banks in the American Southwest. His latest heist sees him unwittingly steal from the local mafia, setting a psychotic hit-man on his trail and unleashing a maelstrom of violence and destruction.



Directed by the great Don Siegel ( Invasion of the Body Snatchers , Dirty Harry ), Charley Varrick is one of the best thrillers of the 70s: action-packed, memorably lurid and gleefully unsentimental. The Film: Marvellous, toughly eccentric thriller which confirmed that Siegel had more responses to '70s paranoia than a mere Magnum blast, and decisively removed Matthau from the wasteland of Neil Simon wit. Varrick, 'the last of the independents', unwittingly hits a Mafia payroll; staying alive means outwitting Molly (Baker), the Mafia's freak-killer hitman. The defensive odyssey is through sunlit noir territory, populated exclusively with cherishably individuated oddballs. Clever, but never cold. Excerpt from Timeout located HERE Matthau plays the title character, a small-time bank robber who mostly flies crop dusters for a living. When Charley and his partners, including Harman (Andrew Robinson), a wild-eyed, much younger man, rob a bank in the desert town of Tre Cruces, New Mexico, they end up with more than they bargained for: $750,000 in mob money. Charley is familiar enough with the territory to know that he's in major trouble if he keeps the cash, but Harman isn't about to fork it over. So a methodical and sadistic hit man named, of all things, Molly (Joe Don Baker, in chilling form), is dispatched to kill Charley and Harman.



A tense game of cat-and-mouse ensues, during which Charley reveals that he's got far more up his sleeve than his mob enemies might realize. A small-timer only in theory, he manages to stay several steps ahead of Molly, although hot-headed Harman keeps tripping things up. Siegel peppers this ingenious, character-driven narrative with several jolting action sequences, and the dialogue (by co-screenwriters Dean Riesner and Howard Rodman) is tinged with sardonic black humor. Excerpt from TCM located HERE Image : NOTE : The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. An excellent action-crime-drama from the 70's, Charley Varrick , looks great on Blu-ray from Koch Media in Germany. The image quality is sharp with some nice depth and it looks very film-like without undue gloss. It is from a very clean source - no speckles or damage - and is transferred on a dual-layered disc with a very high bitrate. I appreciated the depth and I would guess the 1.85:1 aspect ratio 1080P transfer is a strong replication of the theatrical appearance some 40-years hence. This Blu-ray provides a solid video presentation. Visually this gets high marks. Short story is that the Indicator has slightly warmer skin tones and a shade less gloss - but most systems would show very little difference between the two Blu-ray images. The Indicator has a high bitrate and may also be marginally better in-motion. If forced to choose - the Indicator wins. The Kino is described as being from a "Brand New 4K Master!" It is unusually different in terms of the video. Comparing to the Indicator, it seems less-sharp and has even warmer skin tones, plus there is a slight ratio discrepancy between the others. I can't say which is correct but I do think the Indicator looks the best of the three. The Kino is consistent and on a dual-layered disc with a high bitrate. CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION Subtitle Sample 1) Indicator (UK) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2 ) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM 1) Koch Media (DE) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2 ) Indicator (UK) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE 3) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM 1) Koch Media (DE) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2 ) Indicator (UK) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE 3) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM 1) Koch Media (DE) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2 ) Indicator (UK) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE 3) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM 1) Koch Media (DE) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2 ) Indicator (UK) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM 1) Koch Media (DE) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2 ) Indicator (UK) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM 1) Koch Media (DE) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2 ) Indicator (UK) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM 1) Koch Media (DE) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2 ) Indicator (UK) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM 1) Koch Media (DE) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2 ) Indicator (UK) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM 1) Koch Media (DE) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP 2 ) Indicator (UK) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM More Blu-ray captures Audio : Koch use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track at 1585 kbps in the original English language and a similarly robust German DUB option. There are plenty of effects in the film - car chases, airplanes, explosions etc. and they come through flat but with depth. The score is by Argentinean. It all sounds excellent, crisp and even with clear dialogue and buoyancy in the effects. There are optional German subtitles and m y Oppo has identified it as being a region 'B'-locked . Indicator wins with a linear PCM track - in 24-bit and advances in depth (helicopter etc.) as well as in the Lalo Schifrin score. The Indicator has optional English (SDH) subtitles and their Blu-ray disc is also Region 'B' but limited to 3,000 copies. Kino use their usual DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (16-bit.) It is in the original English and still supports the film well, if a notch below the Indicator in terms of depth - notable in the effects and Lalo Schifrin score (famous as the guy behind the Mission: Impossible theme as well as Day of the Animals , Hit! , Man on a Swing , Tango and many other films.) Kino add optional English subtitles on their Region 'A'-locked Blu-ray . Extras : We get a great supplement here on the Blu-ray : Fiction Factory's 1 1/4 hour documentary Last of the Independents: Don Siegel and The Making of Charley Varrick described HERE as "Don Siegel’s classic crime thriller CHARLEY VARRICK, made in 1972 in the wake of the immensely successful DIRTY HARRY, stars Walter Matthau in what is probably the actor’s finest dramatic role, airshow pilot turned crop duster turned bank robber turned mob target Charley Varrick. This feature-length documentary takes the viewer back to the time of the shooting of this cult item and features original interviews with Siegel’s son, Kristoffer Tabori, actors Andy Robinson and Jacqueline Scott, stunt driver and actor Craig R. Baxley, composer Lalo Schifrin, and Howard A. Rodman, whose father co-wrote the screenplay. LAST OF THE INDEPENDENTS, directed by Robert Fischer, was shot in August 2014 in Los Angeles." There is also 15-minutes of Super8 excerpt footage, trailer in both English and German and a photo gallery. Excellent! Indicator duplicate the 2005 Fiction Factory's 1 1/4 hour documentary Last of the Independents: Don Siegel and The Making of Charley Varrick also found on the Koch Media but add an 1 1/4 hour Guardian Lecture with Don Siegel (1973): archival audio recording of an interview conducted by Tony Sloman at London's National Film Theatre that plays to the film and a second Guardian Lecture with Walther Matthau (1988): archival audio recording of an interview at London's National Film Theatre running 1.5 hours. The latter is especially appealing to fans of the actor. We get another (but slightly longer) Super 8 version - original cut-down home cinema presentation of the film, an original theatrical trailer with the optional of a Trailers From Hell commentary and there is an image gallery: on-set and promotional photography. The indicator has a limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by author and critic Richard Combs, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and historic articles on the film. Kino offer a new audio commentary by film Historian Toby Roan who immediately announces that Charley Varrick is one of his favorite films. He talks about the locational shooting in Genoa, and Dayton, Nevada. We usually associate Toby with westerns - but here he is certainly well prepared, knows his stuff and I enjoy hearing his insights. A valuable addition. What I also really enjoyed was the 35-minute visual essay entitled "Refracted Personae" by Film Historian Howard S. Berger. It is an examination of Don Siegel’s signature directorial style and key thematic elements (ex. abstracts, identity, symbolic associations, transformations, and dehumanizations) in his later masterpiece, Charley Varrick. He identifies many scenes with visual cues supporting these style elements. It's a fabulous extra - one of the best visual essays I've seen in years. Also included is the same Fiction Factory 1 1/4 hour documentary "Last of the Independents: The Making of Charley Varrick" found on the Indicator and Koch – featuring interviews with Kristoffer Tabori (Siegel’s son), actors Andy Robinson and Jacqueline Scott, stunt driver and actor Craig R. Baxley, composer Lalo Schifrin, and Howard A. Rodman (son of screenwriter, Howard Rodman). The "Trailers From Hell" video piece with Josh Olson and Howard Rodman is also repeated. There is a trailer for the film (and others films) and two TV Spots. The package has a limited Edition booklet Essay by Film Critic Nick Pinkerton. Koch Media (DE) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray Indicator (UK) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM LINE:

Charley Varrick is one of the greats from the 70's and I hadn't seen it in years. What a treat! I might even call it neo-noir with its ant-hero protagonist and thoroughly disreputable characters. What a cast - Walter Matthau, Joe Don Baker, Felicia Farr, Sheree North, John Vernon etc. I think this was a fabulous choice for Koch to release on Blu-ray . I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting the film and the wonderful extra documentary buoyed my appreciation further. Excellent job by Koch and we can strongly recommend! With superiority in a/v and extensive extras the Indicator is the definitive home theatre Blu-ray edition of the film. It gets better each time I watch it - strongly recommended! Kino's addition of the the Roan commentary and Howard S. Berger visual essay make it worth the indulgence. While the a/v transfer would go to Indicator, some of the film's cult following will want these valuable and impressive new supplements. Each time I watch Charley Varrick, it seems to get better and I see more in it. Don Siegel was one of the greats and fabulous to have his work looked at with new interesting perspectives decades later. Gary Tooze May 21st, 2015 January 25th, 2018 April 4th, 2020