Just wondering if anyone knows anything about the various DVD versions of this movie that are available. I've seen "The Grand Duel" bootlegs, "official" versions, and cheap "Storm Rider" DVDs. Does anyone know which version is best?
http://www.quammy.blogspot.com/
I recently bought the Miracle Pictures dvd under the title STORM RIDER because it was cheap ($3.33)and was totally surprised to find that the picture quality to be really good and best of all...it's letterboxed! This is the best region 1 version I have found.
"We can't stop here. This is bat country!"
Well, I think "really good" is overstating the quality of the picture, but it's watchable. The Storm Rider DVD is a decent stop-gap until someone actually takes the time to restore the picture, throw together some extras, etc.
shareif its called stormrider, its cut
shareBesides the obvious cut during the title sequence, how else is the "Storm Rider" version different from other versions?
http://www.quammy.blogspot.com/
There's a new official dvd coming out soon, toghether with Beyond the Law. http://www.wildeast.net/van-cleef-special.htm
http://www.ninjafilms.tk
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Well, the Wild East dvd is anamorphic, plus it's official, so get that instead.
http://www.ninjafilms.tk
Please, if your a fan of this film or if you are a spaghetti western fan wanting to get this film, then buy the WIld East DVD double feature with Beyond the Law (also with Lee Van Cleef). Each film has GREAT picture quality and they are both in animorphic widescreen. The films come on a double sided dvd and come with some nice special features. The DVD can even be bought on amazon.com for $19.99 and it's well worth the price tag.
shareAt the Walmart bargin bin, I found St. Clair Vision's Spaghetti Westerns boxed set (2005). "The Grand Duel" is included in this set, along with eight other movies. I wouldn't think this version is the best, though this is letterboxed. This is a nice movie, I'm glad I got the chance to discover it.
sharei got the set for 4.99. like the other person said, its maybe not the best copy of it (ive seen a whole lot worse stuff on these type of cheapie dvd's) but it is letterbox. a disclaimer at the beginning says they were taken from the original masters and cleaned up a bit. and the sound is decent.
or to put it another way, im sure this version is 10 times better than it ever was just watching it on TV or seeing a well worn copy at an arthouse cinema.
for the money its well worth it. even if you didn't watch the other EIGHT movies in the set.
"in this world there's two kinds of people ... those with loaded guns, and those who dig."
The Wal-Mart bin box "Westerns" set version (which is the same films from "Spaghetti Westerns" repackaged )that I got was absolute garbage. It looked like a copy of a video tape that had been kicked around for a few years and then chewed on by a hungry dog. No exaggeration--there are VCR-type tracking lines that appear at some points. Absolutely the *worst* movie transfer I have ever seen! The contrast is way off, the framing is horrible, the sound crackles loudly through the whole movie. The quality is so bad that the movie suffers. I can put up with age, watermarks, hairs on the films, and deterioration, I can't put up with the poor framing.
shareDefinately get the Wild East Version. The best I have seen. Since I was in this movie, I have tried over the years to get the best possible copy. At last I have it.
While stationed in Italy in the early 1070s, I had the chance to play the Deputy Sheriff who went up to the stagecoach in the early part of the movie. What a thrill and honor. Lee van Cleef was a true gentleman as were the rest of the cast.
Buy this one and forget the others.
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That's me. It was a blast, but hard work. We shot the scene where Lee comes outs from about six different angles, some with him in the scene and others with his stunt man/double, X Brand, of Yancy Derringer fame. Meeting Jess Haun, the stage coach driver was also a treat. He was an Indiana boy who went to WWII and never returned. Did a lot of French TV and movies. What a nice guy. The deputy on top of the rock with the Gila Bend sign was an NCO who worked for me. We were the only two local Americans in that part of the movie. My favortie line what was not cut was "Let him go Bill, he's just anohter one of them vultures", but the best line, even though cut was, "Yeah, blood thursty and money hungery".
Feel free to share all you want -- it was an experience I will never forget.
bob
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The only version to buy is the Wild East one. IT is full length and good quality. I have it and got one for each of my children this Christmas so they could see me in my wonderful role facing down Lee coming out of the stage.
shareThe DVD is unavailable at Amazon right now. Don't know where to get this in the USA....
shareIf you have a Blu-Ray player, I would highly recommend the double-feature of "The Grand Duel" and "Keoma", both excellent films. Both are presented in decent transfers and it's only $5.99 on amazon.
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I didn't notice any out of sync audio on my BD of Keoma/Grand Duel - perhaps there was a faulty batch?
shareMy GRAND DUEL/KEOMA Blu-ray had bad sound (audio out of sync) as well.
The good news: Blue Underground is releasing a widescreen/16x9 version of THE GRAND DUEL on DVD that looks just as good -- and has no sound issues.
Street date for the BU edition is May 21st.
I got the BR and am watching it now.
FWIW.. I watched these films in theatres in the 70s and on VHS in the 80s.. the sound was always a little out of sync in parts.
The BR -- the transfer is very good. I have never seen this look so good. Its not good quality like modern films on BR and you can obviously see the grain and all, but its a very good clear picture. You never seen Lee Van look this chizeled. Miles better than it ever looked in in theatres. The prints were always scratched up and so on.
"Oh, Mama, can this really be the end, to be stuck inside of mobile
with the memphis blues again"