The Long Goodbye 1973 Extras 1080p Bluray 2021 ^new^ Direct

The 2021 Blu-ray release of Robert Altman's 1973 film The Long Goodbye

, distributed by Kino Lorber Studio Classics, features a significant upgrade in both picture quality and supplemental content. This "Special Edition" was released on December 7, 2021, and is built around a brand-new 4K restoration from the original 35mm interpositive. 2021 Special Edition Extras

The release includes a mix of newly produced features and archival materials ported over from previous editions:

New Audio Commentary: Featuring film historian and critic Tim Lucas, providing detailed analysis and comparisons between the film, Leigh Brackett's script, and Raymond Chandler's original novel. Exclusive New Featurettes:

David Thompson on Robert Altman: A look at the director's career and his unique approach to this adaptation.

Tom Williams on Raymond Chandler: Biographer Tom Williams discusses the author's background and his vision of Los Angeles.

Maxim Jakubowski on Hard-Boiled Fiction: An exploration of the history of the "hard-boiled" and pulp detective genres. Archival Featurettes:

"Rip Van Marlowe": A 24-minute documentary featuring interviews with director Robert Altman and star Elliott Gould.

"Vilmos Zsigmond Flashes The Long Goodbye": Cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond explains the "post-flashing" technique used to give the film its signature desaturated, hazy look. Promotional & Vintage Materials:

Trailers From Hell: A segment with screenwriter and podcaster Josh Olson. the long goodbye 1973 extras 1080p bluray 2021

American Cinematographer Article: An animated reproduction/text piece of a 1973 article on the film's photography.

Audio/Visual Spots: Two theatrical trailers, a TV spot, and five radio spots. Packaging:

Reversible Art: Features original poster art by Jack Davis on one side.

Limited Edition O-Card Slipcase: Included in the initial print run (availability may now vary). Technical Specifications The Long Goodbye (Special Edition) (Blu-ray) - Kino Lorber

Product Extras : * LIMITED O-CARD SLIPCASE NO LONGER PROMISED FOR NEW ORDERS. KINDLY REFRAIN FROM ASKING. * Brand New 4K Master. * Kino Lorber The Long Goodbye Blu-ray (4K Restoration)

2021 Kino Lorber Studio Classics Blu-ray release of The Long Goodbye

(1973) is a definitive special edition that finally does justice to director Robert Altman and cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond’s unique visual style. Based on a new 4K restoration

, this release offers a significant leap in fidelity over the previous 2014 edition, making it a "revelatory" upgrade for fans of this neo-noir masterpiece. Visual Presentation Restoration Quality

: The new 4K scan manages the film’s difficult "flashing" technique—a process used by Zsigmond to create a hazy, dream-like pastel look—with far greater precision than earlier home video transfers. Contrast & Detail The 2021 Blu-ray release of Robert Altman's 1973

: Colors are deeper and more vibrant, and black levels are significantly improved without being crushed. While the film retains its intentional softness, fine details in costumes and décor now stand out more clearly. Film Grain

: The transfer preserves a consistent, filmic grain structure that resolves naturally, avoiding the "scrubbed" look of heavy digital noise reduction. Audio Performance : The disc features a 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio mono track

: While constrained by the age of the original mix, the audio is clean and problem-free. It effectively captures Elliott Gould’s "mumble" performance and the iconic, recurring John Williams/Johnny Mercer theme song. Subtitle Support

: Optional English SDH subtitles are included, which are helpful for following Altman’s signature overlapping dialogue. Blu-ray.com Comprehensive Bonus Features

4. “Nothing Is What It Seems: The Filming of The Long Goodbye” (Documentary)

• Format: HD / Approx. 30 minutes.
• Participants: Includes screenwriter Leigh Brackett (archival interview) and film critic Geoffrey O’Brien.
• Key Details:
  • Leigh Brackett: This is a vital extra for film history buffs. Brackett wrote the original The Big Sleep (1946) and returned to write this adaptation 25 years later. She discusses the difficulty of adapting Chandler for a modern audience and the decision to change the ending to make Marlowe a more active, cynical participant rather than a passive observer. She defends the controversial ending which outraged purists.
  • The Ending: The documentary dissects the final scene where Marlowe kills his friend Terry Lennox. Critics discuss how this act kills the "knight errant" myth of the 1940s, replacing it with a 1970s reality where honor is dead.

2. “The Long Goodbye: 40 Years On” (Featurette)

• Format: HD / Approx. 22 minutes.
• Participants: Features interviews with director of photography Vilmos Zsigmond and actors Jo Ann Brody and David Carradine.
• Key Details:
  • Vilmos Zsigmond: The legendary cinematographer discusses the "flashing" technique he used on the film. This process involved pre-exposing the film negative to light to soften the contrast and give the image a hazy, sun-bleached look, perfectly capturing the "hangover" atmosphere of 1970s Los Angeles.
  • David Carradine: He discusses his brief but memorable role as the cellmate, Sylvia. He shares anecdotes about the improvisational nature of the scene where he hangs himself (a moment that startled Marlowe in the film).
  • Atmosphere: The piece explores the antagonistic relationship between Altman and Gould during filming, and how that tension fed into Marlowe's alienation.

The Long Goodbye (1973)

"The Long Goodbye" is a film adaptation of Raymond Chandler's novel of the same name. The movie stars Elliott Gould as private investigator Philip Marlowe. It's known for its complex narrative, which explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and betrayal.

1. Executive Summary

The 2021 Blu-ray release of Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye is widely considered the definitive home video presentation of the film. While the 4K UHD restoration garners significant attention for the feature film, the 1080p Blu-ray disc included in this set offers exceptional value through its robust collection of supplemental features.

This report analyzes the quality and content of the extras, noting that the 2021 release aggregates archival material with newly produced content, resulting in a comprehensive retrospective on Altman’s revisionist masterpiece.

Breaking Down the “Extras” on the 2021 1080p Blu-ray

The keyword for this release isn’t just “video quality”—it’s extras. Both the Kino Lorber and Arrow Video editions (region-dependent) pack hours of material. Here is a detailed breakdown:

Overview

The 2021 Blu-ray release of The Long Goodbye offers a significant upgrade in picture quality (from a 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative) and includes a robust set of special features. These extras are notable for their depth, featuring both new and archival material that explore the film’s production, its subversion of film noir, and its lasting influence. Format: HD / Approx

3. “Vilmos Zsigmond: The Spirit of Light” (30 minutes)

A standalone featurette focusing solely on the cinematography. The 1080p transfer allows you to see the subtle imperfections Zsigmond loved: the lens flares, the under-exposed shadows, the handheld jitter during the Mexican border climax. This extra explains why the film looks the way it does.

List of Extras (Kino Lorber Studio Classics, 2021)

1. Audio Commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas

• Lucas (editor of Video Watchdog) provides a detailed, scholarly track covering Altman’s improvisational style, cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond’s “flashing” technique, Elliott Gould’s casting, and the film’s thematic ties to Raymond Chandler’s novel versus Altman’s deconstruction.

2. “Rip Van Marlowe” – An Interview with Actor Elliott Gould (2021, 14 min)

• A newly produced featurette where Gould reflects on his iconic portrayal of Philip Marlowe, working with Altman, and how the character’s anachronistic nature mirrors 1970s disillusionment.

3. “Vilmos Zsigmond Flashes The Long Goodbye” (2021, 11 min)

• A technical but accessible piece on the legendary cinematographer’s use of pre-flashing (exposing film stock to light before shooting) to create the hazy, dreamlike Los Angeles atmosphere. Includes commentary from film restoration experts.

4. “On Location in Malibu” (2021, 8 min)

• A then-and-now featurette visiting key shooting locations, including the infamous beach apartment complex and the real grocery store used in the film’s opening.

5. “The Long Goodbye: Lost in the ’70s” – A Video Essay by Film Critic Imogen Sara Smith (2021, 18 min)

• An insightful essay connecting the film to post-Watergate cynicism, the death of old Hollywood, and the evolution of the private detective genre. Rich with archival photos and film clips.

6. Archival Interviews (2002, 20 min total)

• Excerpts from a documentary produced for the film’s earlier DVD release, featuring:
  • Robert Altman on subverting Chandler’s Marlowe.
  • Elliott Gould on the famous “Hooray for Hollywood” ending.
  • Screenwriter Leigh Brackett on adapting the novel without reading it (per Altman’s request).

7. Theatrical Trailer (1973, 2 min)

• Restored in HD, featuring the original ad campaign that tried to sell the film as a conventional mystery – a stark contrast to the actual movie.

8. Radio Spots (1973, 3 min total)

• Three vintage promotional audio spots.