Get Carter, 1971.
Directed by Mike Hodges.
Starring Michael Caine, Ian Hendry, John Osborne, and Britt Ekland.
SYNOPSIS:
As I mentioned when I reviewed the recent Blu-ray, a 4K Ultra HD version of Get Carter was imminent, and I can confirm that it’s worth the wait. The remaster is stellar, and you get a nice big batch of bonus features, including two commentary tracks, a nice, long interview with director Mike Hodges, and other content. You also get a Blu-ray disc that also features the remaster, so it’s not the old Blu-ray just tossed in here. Highly recommended.
When I reviewed Get Carter on Blu-ray from Warner Archive Collection, I noted that a more robust 4K Ultra HD edition was on the way. Well, it’s here and it’s fabulous. It was definitely worth the wait for anyone who passed on Warner’s recently reissued warmed-over Blu-ray disc.
You can read my earlier review to find out what I think about the movie, but here’s a quick recap: Get Carter stars Michael Caine as Jack Carter, who works for mobsters in London but is pulled back to his hometown of Newcastle after his brother dies.
Jack can’t help but come to the conclusion that the official story of a drink driving death seems fishy, so he ignores admonitions from his bosses to not get involved and takes the low road anyway. Soon he’s in up to his neck in various dangerous situations, and as I said in my review, it “was probably a great way to kick off 1970s cinema.” (I say “probably” because I was born in 1970.)
Get Carter has been remastered for this release, and the image quality is superb. I know, I’ve said this about many other 4K Ultra HD releases, but this disc is definitely the pinnacle of image quality for this film on home video. I mean, yeah, unless your home theater is literally the size of a movie theater screen, but if that’s your thing, I imagine you have enough money and connections to own source files of movies or whatever.
The film is also included on a Blu-ray disc, and I should stress that it’s not the same Blu-ray that was previously available in the US. My understanding is that both discs use the transfer created by BFI Video when the film was issued on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray in the UK in 2022. And if it’s not literally the same transfer, my understanding is that it’s pretty much identical.
That poor aforementioned Blu-ray only offered a commentary track with with Michael Caine, director Mike Hodges and cinematographer Wolfgang Suschitsky, along with a trio of trailers. The same commentary is found here, along with the following extras:
• Commentary track: Film critics Kim Newman and Barry Forshaw got together in 2022 to record this track, which is the perfect kind of “film class on a disc” commentary that I love. It’s a really great presentation of Get Carter’s place in not just overall film history but also, specifically, UK film history.
• Mike Hodges in Conversation (60:12): Recorded by BFI in 2022, this is a great overview of the director’s career, which also included the cult classic Flash Gordon, which has a special place in my heart.
• Klinger on Klinger (24:09): Producer Michael Klinger’s son, Tony, discusses his father’s career, which included everything from dramas to sex comedies.
• The Sound of Roy Budd (17:07): Score composer Roy Budd gets his turn in the spotlight here, thanks to film music expert Jonny Trunk.
• Don’t Trust Boys (21:53): Petra Markham, who played Jack Carter’s niece in four scenes, discusses her involvement with the movie. The number of scenes she’s in isn’t meant to be any kind of commentary on her acting ability: I’ve pointed it out because it allowed her to also appear in plays at the Royal Court, as well as shoot her scenes for the BBC sitcom Albert and Victoria.
A short introduction to the movie shot by Caine in 2022 and a trio of trailers round this one out.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Brad Cook
